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How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

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What the best repeatable process for DMF IMPORT of data with multiple entities, such as creating new products or released products and all their related entities with specific mapping and sequencing?

I had been advised that a DMF Template is most useful to quickly generate an Export project. A Template is not as helpful to create an Import project since to attach the files you want to import, you have to "Add File" for each entity you want in your project, and then answer that you want to overwrite the current line, but then be sure to answer NO to the remapping question. This sounds pretty nasty. Instead I was told to use the Template to create an Export project, then execute the Export, then save that as a data package. Then extract the files from the zip file, modify the data within the Excel files within the data package, re-zip it up with the same Package header and Manifest as before. Then create a new Import project from scratch, "Add file" and use the Data Package zip file as your input (with file type "data package"). That adds all the lines to your new import project with all the correct inputs and sequencing and maps. That seems like an awful lot of work to do each time you want to import new data.

I just discovered the Re-import menu option to attach new files to each entity in an Import project. I'm thinking that I would first create the reusable import project from the Template, and then use this Re-import button as the magic to be able to reuse that import project over and over with new inputs, without the extra step of locating the correct Manifest and Package header and zipping them up.

I am curious what the process is used in other companies to streamline the data import process, in a real day-to-day work scenario. Thanks!

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André Arnaud de Cal... 292,892 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at

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RE: How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

Hi Lynn,

You can consider using Power Automate for the import process instead of linking multiple sheets for multiple data entities. I have done this before at a customer. Users did prepare data in an Excel sheet. All details were on one line; regardless taking into consideration which entities should be used. This was understandable and manageable for end user. With a button on the Power Automate app on their phone, they could start the flow where the Excel file was picked up and all details were published to Dynamics 365 with help of multiple insert actions into multiple product related entities using the FinOps connector using a single flow.
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RE: How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

Thank you Chris. I am with you up to the point of creating the import project from the template. This is the crux of my question. How do I then attach the Excel or CSV files to each entity within the data project I created from the template? It seems I can only attach a file if I do "Add file" not "Add template". But then I discovered the "Re-import" button! I tried this by creating an import project from a template, then clicking Re-import and uploading my Excel file. But it wouldn't accept my file because the name of the tab in the workbook wasn't stored with the template and therefore was blank on the entity within my import project ("sheet lookup"). So is Re-import the right approach or is there another way to upload the file to use for the import?

The template wasn't created from a project, but by hand, so maybe that is the problem. Maybe I should always create my templates from an export project that had Excel as the file format so the name of the tab is stored with the template? I actually don't see anywhere on a template to store this bit of information. So I'm still a bit confused.
Chris Segurado 612 on at

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RE: How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

Hello Lynn,

I hope you and your family are doing well.

You can create templates under Data Management Workspace/Templates.

You can create a template from an existing data project that you loaded prior. (import, export or copy into LE data project)

Custom mapping, filters, etc. can be set up here. Now you can use the template and its setup in your import project - either as a merge or replace.

Thank you!

Best WIshes,

Chris Segurado
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RE: How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

Thank you for your reply. The process is more like you said, "collect data internally in e.g. an Excel workbook". We have a centralized master data maintainer team. Various parts of our business may have the need to create new products or release a product to additional legal entities. They format their request using a Sharepoint site where approvals are obtained through a workflow. The Product Data Steward reviews the request and ensures that all internal policies and data practices are being followed, then is responsible for getting the data into the system, whether that be updates to existing records or adding new records. If the request is large enough, they will want to use DMF to load the data. The idea is that the templates on the Sharepoint site will already be formatted with the correct column headers and required fields in Excel sheets, suitable for import. The import projects will have already been created with the right mappings. What I'm still struggling with is the process the data steward will use in DMF to upload the correct files to the correct entities within the import project and then launch it.

So it really isn't a recurring integration, it's more on demand.
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André Arnaud de Cal... 292,892 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at

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RE: How to build a reusable DMF Import project?

Hi Lynn,

You only described some technical details. Can you also provide more details about your process? What is the source of the new released products? Is it e.g. a web service, file from an external party or do you collect data internally in e.g. an Excel workbook?

Depending on the process, you can have a look at Recurring integrations, Power Automate or Logic Apps to make it easier.