Introduction

HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader (HSDL) allows business users to create and maintain data using spreadsheets. Sometimes the data to be created requires a parent record to be created with multiple child records. For example, a job with many valid grades, or an employee with multiple phone numbers.

This tutorial explains how to define a HSDL spreadsheet template that allows multiple child records to be supplied in the same spreadsheet row as the parent record. This is achieved by duplicating the child object in the template for the maximum number of records you want to create in the spreadsheet. Each duplicated child object becomes another set of spreadsheet columns for the same parent row.

A preconfigured template is used to perform the steps in this tutorial. Apply the same steps when editing your own template.

Note:

You can only duplicate a child object if it doesn't have child objects of its own.

If the child object has child objects of its own, model those records on separate spreadsheet rows instead.

Objectives

In this tutorial you will:

  • Import a preconfigured template for bulk-loading jobs with a valid grade.
  • Learn how to extend the template to allow multiple valid grades to be specified on a single spreadsheet row.

You should already be familiar with creating spreadsheet templates. If you've not used the Spreadsheet Templates task before, first complete the Creating HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader Templates tutorial.

Prerequisites

To complete this tutorial, you need a HSDL Template Designer role to:

  • Access the Spreadsheet Templates task.
  • Import templates for the Job business object.

Follow tasks 2 and 3 in the Configure Access to Design and Maintain HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader (HSDL) Templates tutorial to create such a role.

Note:

This tutorial assumes you've enabled Redwood. Follow the Release 25C version of this tutorial for the navigation and screenshots if this isn't the case.

Task 1: Importing a Template

In this task you'll import a preconfigured template to complete the steps in Task 2. If you're updating your own template, ensure the child object you want to duplicate is already selected in the template before starting Task 2.

Note:

This task summarizes the steps for importing a preconfigured template. The Importing HCM Spreadsheet Data Loader Templates tutorial provides detailed steps, if required.
  1. Download the Sample_JobTemplate.zip file and extract it to access the XML file it contains.
  2. Navigate to the Spreadsheet Templates task and click Import.
  3. On the Import dialog window, specify a name of Job with Valid Grades and optionally a description.
  4. Select the downloaded Sample_JobTemplate.xml file using the Import field.
    5. Specify and name and select the downloaded xml template file

  5. Click Import.

    6. A processing message will display while your template imports.

    Once imported, a success banner is displayed providing the ability to review the download log file and your template is available in the table.

    Click OK


Task 2: Add Multiple Child Objects

In this step, you'll duplicate and configure the Job Valid Grade component in the template.

  1. Click on your template name within the Spreadsheet Templates task to edit it.
  2. Navigate to the Configure attributes step in the guided process.
  3. Filter the list of attributes to the Job Valid Grade object and click the Show Hidden Attributes toggle.
    4. Click OK

    Tip:

    All selected attributes for the component will be duplicated, including those that are hidden from the spreadsheet.
  4. Click More actions > Duplicate Attributes on the table toolbar.
    5. Click More actions > Duplicate Attributes

  5. Edit the row for the object you want to duplicate and specify the number of additional occurrences you want to create.
    6. Specify how many duplicates to create

    Note:

    Only objects included in your template that can be duplicated are displayed in the Create Duplicates panel.

    Tip:

    You may want to expand the panel size if the list of selected attributes is long.
  6. Click Create. This creates the specified number of copies of every attribute included in the template definition for the duplicated component.
    7. Click OK

    Tip:

    The new attributes will have a number appended to their name to identify which occurrence of the object they belong to.
  7. Click Save.

    8. Tip:

    On saving the list of attributes is refreshed and the order of the attributes will change.
  8. Edit the default value of any hidden attributes where the configuration changes between occurrences. For example, if you're creating multiple phone numbers, you may want to configure the first phone type to be the work phone, the second to be mobile phone and so on.

    9. Tip:

    On the Job Valid Grade component, the values of the hidden attributes aren't dependent upon which occurrence of the valid grade so there are no edits required.
  9. Edit each attribute to provide a more meaningful column heading, such as Grade Code 1, Grade Code 2, Grade Code 3, etc.
    10. Click OK
  10. Click Save.
  11. Clear the filter to review all attributes in your spreadsheet. The order of the spreadsheet columns is determined by the order of the rows in this table.
    12. Review all attributes and the order in which they will be displayed

  12. Drag and drop table rows into the order you want spreadsheet columns displayed.
    13. Click OK

  13. Save your changes.


Acknowledgements

  • Authors - Ema Johnson (Lead Principal Product Manager, HCM Data Loader & AI)

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