How To Import Data Into Siebel Through The UI With Drag And Drop

Our clients are always looking for better or different ways to import data from other systems or from spreadsheets into their Siebel applications. In this blog post, I examine one such method; drag and drop.

Starting in Siebel 8.1.1.11 (with patch set 4 applied), you have the ability to drag and drop from applications like Excel directly into Siebel; specifically, into Siebel list applets where this functionality has been enabled.

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As of IP2016, there is still no way to turn it on universally. Rather, for each list applet where you want this functionality to work, you need to add two applet user properties:

• ClientPMUserProp = EnableDragAndDropInList
• EnableDragAndDropInList = TRUE

Once those user properties have been set for the list applet(s) in which you want to drag and drop data, here’s what to do, using an Excel spreadsheet as the data source:

1. In your spreadsheet, make sure the first row contains column headings that match exactly what you have on the target list applet. Note that all of the fields that are required in the list applet must be included in your spreadsheet, complete with valid values.
2. In your spreadsheet, use your mouse to highlight the area you wish to import.
3. Move your mouse to one of the four corners of the area until the cursor changes to four arrows.
4. Hold down the right mouse button while you drag that area anywhere into the Siebel list applet.
5. Release the mouse button to drop the records.

Below is a screen snapshot that illustrates dragging and dropping some data:

Here are some additional points:

• LOVs: The column Activity Type was a drop down list box containing a list of values (LOVs). When importing records that include LOV fields, the values in your spreadsheet must match values in the LOV in Siebel. If they do not, and the LOV field is required, the record will not import. If the LOV field is optional, the record will import, but the LOV field value will be blank. (You can fill it in manually.) Either way, you will receive an error message letting you know what happened, but when the LOV fields are optional, you will still be able to import.

• Pick Applets: The column Contact had an associated pick applet. Pick applets work the same way as LOV fields, in that the values in your spreadsheet must match the options in the pick applet in Siebel. If they do not, and the pick applet field is required, the record will not import. If the pick applet field is optional, the record will import, but the pick applet field value will be blank. (But you can fill it in by hand.) Either way, you will receive an error message letting you know what happened, but when the pick applet fields are optional, you will still be able to import.

• MVGs: This (unfortunately) does not work at all for multi-value group (MVG) fields. You can still import records that include MVG fields in Siebel as long as the MVG fields are not required. But, if the MVG fields are required, drag and drop is not an import option for these records types.

• Potential Bug: Oddly, I needed to add one additional column in the spreadsheet to get this to work. There is no End Date on the list applet to which I was importing. But, when I didn’t include it in the spreadsheet, I received an error message in Siebel when trying to add this data. I’m following up with Oracle to see if this undocumented feature is a bug.