Updating Users, Groups, and Devices with CSV Files

When you update Vocera data with data from a CSV file, you must specify key fields to indicate which Vocera database record to update.

The following table lists key fields for users, groups, and devices:

Table 1. Key fields for updating records

Data Type

Key Field(s)

User

User ID

Group

Group Name

Site

Device

MAC Address

You cannot use CSV files to modify key fields—you must edit those fields manually in the Administration Console.

When you use CSV files to update the database, the CSV data must be formatted as described in About the Templates.

You typically export existing user, group, or device data to a CSV file, edit the CSV file, and then use the update feature to copy data from the CSV file back to the Vocera database. For each row in the CSV file, new field values overwrite corresponding values in the database, blank field values leave the corresponding database values unchanged, and the literal string value *blank* in a CSV row erases the corresponding value in the database.

For example, suppose a user profile in the database includes the following data:
User ID Last Name First Name Identifying Phrase Email Address
jsmith Smith John   jsmith@xyz.com

Next, suppose a row in a CSV file contains the following field values:

jsmith, , Jack, , *blank*

When you upload the CSV file, the value of the User ID field specifies which database record to update, the values of the Last Name and Identifying Phrase fields are not changed, the value of the First Name field is changed from John to Jack, and the value of the Email Address field is erased (empty).

To update user, group, or device data with CSV files:

  1. Prepare a CSV file for the data you want to update or delete.
  2. Click Maintenance in the navigation bar.
  3. Click the Update tab to display the Update page.
  4. In the Update box, click either Users, Groups, or Devices to specify the operation you want to perform.
  5. Click Browse and navigate to select the CSV file you want to use.
  6. Do either of the following:
    • Click Validate to examine the data in the CSV file for errors without modifying the database.

    • Click Update/Delete to update records in the database immediately.

      Vocera displays a dialog box showing you the progress of your action. When the action is finished, Vocera displays the progress as 100%.

  7. If necessary, click Show Errors to display the Errors dialog box. Vocera provides details to help you correct the error. Review any errors, then click OK to close the Errors dialog box.
  8. Click OK to close the Progress dialog box.