Import/Export FAQ

Page Contents

Overview

Welcome to Frequently Asked Questions for ZenGRC import/export functionality.

How do I create an import template?

Follow these steps:

1. Click Settings | Custom Attributes and create your custom attributes.

2. Click Tools | Data Import.

3. Choose the desired object type from the list on the right-hand side of the page and download the CSV and template

4. Open the template with Google Sheets or Excel.

5. Fill in all desired information (pro-tip: only columns with * are mandatory. If there are any non-mandatory columns which you don’t need, feel free to delete these columns)

6. Save the CSV in the same format as it was generated by ZenGRC.

7. Click Tools | Data Import and import it.

How do I fill in an import template?

Please see the information under Data Import.

How do I import values for a checkbox type custom attribute?

If you have a checkbox-type custom field, put ‘yes’ if the checkbox should be checked and leave the cell empty otherwise.

Is there a limit to how many custom attributes can be created for one specific object type?

There is no technical limit, however, we suggest to keep the number of custom attributes as low as possible.

Can I create a custom attribute from the import template?

First, create the custom attribute in ZenGRC in Settings | Custom Attributes. If you have done this, you can import values for the custom attribute using the respective import template. On the Data Import page, download the CSV template which will already have your custom attributes and complete it.

How do I map objects in the import template?

On the import template you have to fill in the mapping column (e.g. mapping column will be: map:control) and copy the CODE of the object to be mapped here.

I downloaded requests from one audit and want to import them into a different audit. Where do I put the new audit name?

When you first download the requests in Tools | Data Export, make sure to select the Audit checkbox. Although, the CSV column name says Audit*, the information required is the code of the audit, not the audit name. So find the code to your new audit and put it in this column.

How can I edit authorization via import templates?

For system wide authorization, download a people import template (or navigate to Data Export and download the list of the current users) and under the ‘Role’ column, change the authorization level to one of the following roles:

1. No Access

2. Contributor

3. Reader

4. Editor

5. Administrator

What should I do if I don’t know yet who is going to be the owner of a specific object? Can I create an object without an owner?

Every object in ZenGRC must have an owner. You can assign objects to yourself or to create a placeholder account.

Can a department be an owner of an object?

No, it has to be a person.

I have two "Owners" to put in one field. Can I do that?

A: Yes. You can add more than one item in one cell if you separate them with a line break (ctrl+return) in the cell. This is true for any field in the template. Or, if one owner is the main contact, you can create a custom attribute for "Secondary Owner" and then add the field and name to the template. But you need to first create the attribute.

What format do I use in date fields?

Our Data Import supports three types of date formats:

• YY-MM-DD

• MM/DD/YYYY

• MM/DD/YY

Can I change the CODE of an object with an import template?

No, not directly. If you have to change the CODE of objects, you can do it from the user interface one by one. Alternatively, you can do it with import templates following these steps:

1. Download the objects

2. Create a delete import (put TRUE value in the delete column) and delete all the objects

3. Modify the CODE in the originally exported spreadsheet and import it back again into ZenGRC (note: make sure to remove the delete column)

How can I delete objects using an import template?

Put 'TRUE' in the Delete column on the template in the row of the items to be deleted.

How can I delete information in a field without deleting the object?

Information in fields can be deleted through the import. This only pertains to fields where text is not required. To do this, place the string <!CLEAR|!CLEAR> in the field on the CSV that you want to clear.

Can I delete a user?

A: No, you can’t, but you can revoke the access by modifying the access rights to 'No access.' This is a great solution because in this way all the logs related to this user remain untouched and information about the user’s previous activity can be retrieved.

Why is my import so slow?

It's always possible that there are underlying technical problems; however, it's usually because of file size. We've found that importing under 1,000 rows of data in a CSV template is a safe number. From 1,000 to 1,200 rows, the import starts to lag, and anything over 1,200 will probably crash your instance. Our recommendation is to divide your CSV files into separate files that allow for manageable imports.

Is the CODE column case sensitive?

Yes, This field takes into account capitalization.