When you have handful to hundreds of assets to add or update, you can use the CSV import process. For new assets, you'll start by exporting a CSV file to use as a template, add the new assets to the file, and import the updated CSV file. The process for updating existing assets is similar—export a CSV file of the assets, make the necessary updates, and import the CSV file. If you only need to add a few assets, this can be completed from the Create Asset option available from the Asset Management view.
Topics include:
-
You must be assigned to the Administrator role within Asset Tracker.
-
When adding an asset, its External ID (column B) and Type (column D) are required.
-
Asset Types must be created. You will need the name of each Asset Type.
If any Asset Types have Attributes, be sure that you have one asset created for each Asset Type - this will provide the attributes for each Asset Type. In the CSV export file, the columns after the T column (Acquisition Return Date) are the Asset Types' attributes.
-
If you need to update an asset's External ID, enter its updated ID into the NewExternalId (column C).
-
Advanced Settings: Assigned Home Location
To assign the Home Location to an asset, Smart Location setup must be complete. This includes campuses, buildings, and departments.
The ID of a location is obtained from its unique Smart Location URL.
To get an ID, go to Smart Location > navigate to the location of the ID you need > from the URL; the ID is located at the end of the URL.
Example Campus ID: https://app.cloud.(us or uk).kontakt.io//smart-location/campuses/217540
Example Building ID: https://app.cloud.(us or uk).kontakt.io/smart-location/campuses/217540/buildings/215403
Example Department ID: https://app.cloud.(us or uk).kontakt.io//smart-location/settings/departments/details/3dbfe390-90d3-4d51-a3fe-1ebe7f0d0b7c
-
Date format requirements: provided in the ISO 8601 format
Example: 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z
Here's a breakdown of the format (the most important value is the date):
2024-10-01: Date in the format YYYY-MM-DD (Year-Month-Day).
T: Separator between date and time.
00:00:00: Time in the format HH:mm:ss (Hours:Minutes:Seconds).
Z: Indicates that the time is in UTC.
|
Column |
Column Name |
Asset Setting Name |
Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A |
Name |
Name |
Allows up to 1 to 35 characters. |
|
B |
ExternalId |
Asset ID |
Required; allows up to 1 to 35 characters. |
|
C |
NewExternalId |
N/A |
For use to update an existing asset's ExternalID. When entering a NewExternalID value, the import process will automatically update the asset's ExternalID to match the value in the NewExternalID. |
|
D |
Type |
Asset Type |
Required; be sure to enter the Asset Type name exactly as it appears within Asset Tracker > Asset Types. |
|
E |
Groups |
Groups |
This value is only for export reference. Adding a new value via the CSV import is not supported. Groups are required to be assigned within Asset Tracker by Asset. |
|
F |
Tag ID |
Assigned Tag |
12 character MAC address Kontakt.io Tag affixed to the asset; printed on the tag). Letters can be in lower or upper case. If not known, this can be assigned from the asset within Asset Tracker. Required format: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX |
|
G |
Home CampusId |
Facility > Campus |
Assigned Home Facility is a "Campus" |
|
H |
Home BuildingId |
Facility > Building |
Assigned Home Facility is a "Building" |
|
I |
Home FloorId |
Facility > Floor |
Reserved for future use. |
|
J |
Home RoomId |
Facility > Room |
Reserved for future use. |
|
K |
Home Department |
Department |
Assigned Home "Department ID" |
|
L |
Manufacturer |
Manufacturer |
Asset Details > Manufacturer value |
|
M |
Model |
Model |
Asset Details > Model value |
|
N |
Serial Number |
Serial # |
Asset Details > Serial # value |
|
O |
PM Required |
Maintenance Required |
Preventative Maintenance > Maintenance Required value Required value, either: FALSE (indicates not enabled) TRUE (indicates enabled) |
|
P |
Next PM Date |
Next Maintenance Date |
Preventative Maintenance > Next Maintenance Date value |
|
Q |
Acquisition Date |
Acquisition Date |
Acquisition > Acquisition Date value Date format required: ISO 8601. Specifically, it represents a timestamp in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Example: 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z |
|
R |
Acquisition Method |
Acquisition Type |
Required value, either: RENTAL PURCHASED |
|
S |
Acquisition Rental Due Date |
Rental Due Date |
Only applies to the Acquisition Type of RENTAL Date format required: ISO 8601. Specifically, it represents a timestamp in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Example: 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z |
|
T |
Acquisition Return Date |
Return Date |
Only applies to the Acquisition Type of RENTAL Date format required: ISO 8601. Specifically, it represents a timestamp in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Example: 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z |
|
U + subsequent columns |
Attribute Field Name |
Attribute > Field Name |
When adding assets for multiple Asset Types, the Attributes for all Asset Types after the T column (Acquisition Return Date). Provide the assets' Attribute values in the corresponding columns that apply to its Asset Type. Leave empty values in columns where an Attribute does not apply for the asset. |
-
You must be assigned to the Administrator role within Asset Tracker.
-
Before you begin, have one asset for each Asset Type being added to provide an example of the data included in an import.
-
You can also perform this procedure to perform a bulk setting update to existing assets. You will export the assets and import the CSV file with the updates.
-
From your Kontakt.io Launchpad, select Asset Tracker.
-
From the Settings menu, select Assets.
If you don't have an existing asset for the Asset Type being imported, add one now.
-
Set the column Type filter to the Asset Types you are adding > select EXPORT CSV.
-
From the exported CSV file, add the new assets.
Do not change or remove any of the column heading names.
-
From the CSV file, add the new assets and their settings.
If you don't have all the column settings available, once imported you can update these settings.
At minimum, the Asset ID and Name are required for each asset.
-
When you're ready to import the CSV file, from the Assets view select IMPORT CSV > select the updated CSV file > select OK.
-
From the Assets view, verify the imported assets are shown.
-
From your Kontakt.io Launchpad, select Asset Tracker.
-
From the Settings menu, select Assets.
-
You can filter the assets to export (for example, set the column Type filter to the Asset Type) > select EXPORT CSV.
-
From the exported CSV file, do not change or remove the header column names.
-
From the CSV file, update the assets settings.
-
When you're ready to import the CSV file, from the Assets view select IMPORT CSV > select the updated CSV file > select OK.
-
From the Assets view, verify the updates have been applied.
When using common third-party apps, these apps may attempt to identify the CSV file's data types in each column and format the numbers. However, automatic detection can sometimes interpret large numbers as a scientific notation, which results in compatibility issues when importing a CSV file.
Be sure to follow the following guidelines when using a third-party app to update the file's values. Once updates are complete, save the file as a CSV file for import.
Open Excel > create a new blank workbook. > From the toolbar, select the Data tab > from the Get External Data section, select From Text/CSV > Locate and select the exported CSV file > click Import.
For all columns, verify they are all set to the type of Text; do not select General or any other format. By specifying the columns as a text format, Excel preserves the original data format.
Create a new spreadsheet > go to File > Import > select the CSV file > uncheck the box next to Convert text to number, dates, and formulas > click Import data.