DropGrid®
DropGrid is a data import tool used to either import data and add a new Trackor® Type, tab, and/or reports, or to import data into a pre-existing Trackor Type.
DropGrid works by importing data from a properly formatted Excel spreadsheet and can create the following components:
Trackor Type
Fields based on the headers of the Excel first row
Tab based on the order of the columns in the Excel Spreadsheet
Import based on the spreadsheet
Report based on the spreadsheet
Menu access items
View that uses the order of the spreadsheet columns
if latitude and longitude fields are detected, create a fully configured Google map and/or a Google public map.
Things to Consider Before Using Dropgrid
Ensure you have proper permissions: Users who do not have full admin rights may have the ability to create new data structures using DropGrid, but lack the permissions necessary to see the structures which they have created.
Verify DropGrid Worked Via the Trackor Browser: Once completing the DropGrid wizard, you should see your new Trackor Type located within the Trackor Browser
Pre-Stage Your Trackor: DropGrid works best when you have first staged the Trackor Type, and use DropGrid to simplify the process of importing the data into an empty Trackor Type already placed where you want it logically within the Trackor Browser.
Setting Up the DropGrid Import File
To import with DropGrid, you need an Excel spreadsheet with column headings and any data that needs to be included. The column headings become the Field Labels in the Vizion Platform system.
Be sure the data in the spreadsheet is consistent, meaning that the data in the columns match the appropriate data type. For instance, a date column has only dates, number columns have only numbers, and so on.
Add Validation Range to Import File for Importing VTables with DropGrid
You can set up your Excel file to include all the values for a drop-down or selector field even when the values are not used in the import data. You will create a validation range which DropGrid will import as the VTable values.
Steps to Import VTable Values with DropGrid | ||
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1 | In your Excel file, include an additional sheet separate from your data sheet to create a validation range listing all the values for the VTable. In our example, we added Sheet1 with the values we want to add for Employment Type and Sheet2 with the values we want to add for Area. |
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2 | In your Data sheet, select the data you are importing which should match one of the entries in the list you added for the VTable. Be sure the data includes only accurate entries. DropGrid will add any entries here along with the data in the additional sheet as VTable values. |  |
3 | Click Data and Data Validation.
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4 | Under Settings, choose: Allow: - List Click OK. |  |
5 | Repeat for any other VTables. |  Video for Adding VTable Values |
Setting up the DropGrid Import File to Import Data Types Only
In the Excel file:
Include the field labels in Row 1. Make sure you have the Trackor Key included (see #1 in example).
In Row 2 add the Data Types for each field/column. These need to match what DropGrid will recognize as a data type.
For the Drop-Down data types, include each desired V_Table value under the Field Type in row 2 (start listing them in row 3 for the appropriate column).
If the Excel row after the headers contains >=50% data type names (empty cells are excluded from the calculation), it is used as a source of Data Types and excluded from the data import. The hint in the Drop Grid Data Type label indicates the Excel row used for the Data Types, and the note under Import Data states the row where the data import starts.
On the other hand, if the row after the headers contains <50% data type names, it is treated as a data row and is included in the data import. In this case, the hint beside Data Type indicates that the Data Types are auto-generated, and the note under Import Data states the row where the data import starts.
Using the DropGrid Wizard
Steps to Use the DropGrid Wizard | ||
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1 | Access the DropGrid Admin page - navigate to Info Center > Data Ingestion > DropGrid | 
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2 | Click Add. |
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3 | The DropGrid Wizard appears. Step 1 - Upload File Drag and drop your Excel import file to this window or click Browse to locate the file to import. |  |
4 | Step 2 - Trackor/Fields Here you will review and make settings for the Trackor Type and Fields. For more information, see DropGrid Step 2 - Trackor/Fields. |  |
5 | Click Next Step. |
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6 | If you chose Key Generation for your Primary Key in Step 2, you will see Step 3 - Trackor Key Setup. Here you will set how the primary key is structured. For more information, see DropGrid Step 3 - Trackor Key Setup. If you chose a field for your Primary Key in Step 2, you will skip to Step 4 in the Wizard. |  |
7 | Click Next Step. |
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8 | Step 4 - Components Here you will decide which components to add to the import. For more information, see DropGrid Step 4 - Components. |  |
9 | Click Start. A warning message displays; click OK. |
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10 | Step 5 - Verification Here you see the results of the import with access (by clicking the pencil icon) to the source page. During the import, sections on the Verification step look expanded while their items are pending/in progress and collapsed when complete. If any section contains an error, it remains expanded. The Operation section is always expanded. For more information, see DropGrid Step 5 - Verification. Once you have imported your data with DropGrid, consider the following:
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DropGrid Step 2 - Trackor/Fields
Once the file is chosen, the following screen appears with data from the file.
In the Field Mapping row, complete the fields according to the chart below.
Field Name | Description |
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Trackor Type | Select Create New to create a new Trackor Type; otherwise select the existing Trackor Type to add data to. |
Label | The label for the Trackor Type. When creating a new Trackor Type, you can make changes to the default label text. |
Prefix | The prefix used to identify the Trackor Type. Users can select whether or not to see the prefix for fields in their User Settings. |
Primary Key | Choose either [Key Generation] to create a unique identifier or a provided field that includes unique data. This field to will be the Primary Trackor Key for the Trackor Type to identify Trackors and prevent duplication. |
In the Is Import Column? row, either click the double check icon to select all fields to import or individually check only the fields to import.
In the Field Label row, verify the field labels (Row 1 from spreadsheet) and make any necessary changes now.
In the Field Name row, verify the field names (system-generated) and make any necessary changes now.
In the Data Type row, ensure that the correct data type displays. For example, you may need to change a “text” data type to be “drop-down” if that is the case. DropGrid will add any data in a drop-down field as a VTable value. In addition, you can add a data validation range to the import file, see Add Validation Range to Import File for Importing VTables with DropGrid.
If you select, Relation, the Related Trackor Type row becomes available to map a parent/child relationship.
You can select only one column as a Trackor Class Data Type.In the Related Trackor Type row, you may have the option to assign a parent Trackor Type if the Data Type is [Relation].
In the Import Data row, you can see the Field labels and data to import.
DropGrid Step 3 - Trackor Key Setup
This step displays only if Key Generation is selected at Step 2 - Trackor/Fields or when you update a Trackor Type which uses autokey generation for its primary key.
If you want to just have a number for your key generation, include the number to start with in the Start At field providing enough digits so that all of your data will have unique numbers.
If you want to include text from a field, static text, and/or a numeric suffix you can complete String Prefix #1, String Prefix #2, String Prefix #3, and/or Numeric Suffix adding any desired delimiters between each.
DropGrid Step 4 - Components
If you do not want to add the component, select Not Needed. Otherwise, select from the following list for:
Tab –
Create New – to create a new tab and add a Tab Label
General Info –to have just the General Info tab
View Options –
Create New – to create a new view and add a View Name
General Info –to have just the General Info view
Report –
Create New – to create a new report and add a Report Name which will be available on the Run Reports page
Import –
If Import Data is not checked on Step2, Not Needed automatically displays for Import; otherwise, Create New displays.
For the following checkboxes:
Configure Coordinate Pairs for maps – Checked when there are latitude/longitude data types included in the import
Create Import Error Filter – Checked to create a filter for import errors
DropGrid Step 5 - Verification
The page display for this step is organized by Design, Presentation, and Operation sections. In addition, users can click the pencil icon to access the source page for the item.
Viewing the Trackor Browser Page Affected by DropGrid Import
On the Verification Window, click the pencil icon beside Import Excel Data. This takes you to the Trackor Browser page that was affected by the import.
The filter is auto-generated to show new Trackors added by the import and is named with the name of the imported Excel file and the time stamp of the DropGrid import.
It is found in the G:DropGrid folder and uses the primary Trackor ID and the filter operator Created By DG showing all of the new Trackors added by the DropGrid Import.
Note that the Created By DG Filter is:
available for the primary Trackor ID AND when users have Read privilege for the ADMIN_DROPGRID security group.
not moved with the Components Export/Import process
Handling DropGrid Errors / Executed With Warnings
There are 2 ways to investigate errors that occur during the import.
Using the Import Log
On the Verification window, click the Import Log hyperlink.
Click the Import Log tab to see details for the import.
To correct the error, click the pencil icon beside Import Excel Data to see the import data on the Trackor Browser page. You can update the field directly on the grid. If there are many errors, it may make sense to redo the import with accurate data.
Viewing Import Errors on the Trackor Browser Page
On the Verification window, click the pencil icon beside Import Excel Data.
Cells that had an error will be blank and have a green triangle in the top right corner indicating there is a new comment.
You can right-click the cell and open the Comments to investigate the error.
You can make any corrections directly in the grid.
Menu Option for Setting Drop-Grid Subgroup
Users are able to set a SubGroup in a menu to hold DropGrid session results. This is configurable on the Menu Application Admin form.
***Watch DropGrid Videos
Administration for DropGridUsers need ADMIN_DROPGRID security group privileges to use DropGrid. |
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