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IMSMANG provides extensive data import and export capabilities and formats designed to support a variety of purposes and needs. Using IMSMANG’s import and export functions, information managers can exchange data directly with other IMSMANG systems, export data for use in external tools and share data with other XML-compliant system.
Contents
Data Entry Forms
The primary mechanism IMSMANG uses for sharing information is the data entry form. As discussed in Chapter 1, data entry forms contain the vast majority of IMSMANG data and are the sole repository for entering operational information into the system. So, exporting and importing data entry forms let information managers easily share information between IMSMANG systems and other IMSMANG tools such as IMSMANG Remote Entry. Information managers can share large or small amounts of data directly with other IMSMANG users whether they are working together in the same programme or in separate countries.
Data entry forms information may be exported and imported in maXML format.
When importing XML data entry forms into IMSMANG, there are occasionally problems with the data that cause the data to not be fully imported. These “import issues” are tracked on each data entry form and must be resolved before the data entry form can be approved. Typically, import issues are the result of references to auxiliary data such as places, organisations, ordnance or country structure elements that do not exist in the importing system. These issues can be resolved easily by creating the necessary auxiliary data and re-importing the data entry forms. This functionality is designed to permit imports to continue even if some of the linked data is missing.
Translations
In addition to data entry forms, the translated terms of data elements can be exported and imported into IMSMANG. Using this functionality, information managers can take any translations that have been created for IMSMANG data elements and export them to .properties files that can be edited in external tools (such as Rosetta-J) and either exchanged with other IMSMANG systems or reimported into the same IMSMANG system.
Auxiliary Data and Map Exports
IMSMANG supports the export of base tables (auxillary data) and map data, but this information cannot be imported back into an IMSMANG system. Instead these exports provide external tools such as IMSMANG Remote Entry with the information to support data entry form data entry. Base tables tend to include auxillary data such as ordnance or country structure information. Moreover, they should always be exported in a maXML format.
Non-Exportable Data
Certain data within IMSMANG, particularly the administrative data, is not exportable in any external format. These include saved searches, impact scoring schemes and users and roles. Also included in non-exportable data are tasks, work items, and summary templates. This data can, however, be shared via backup files.