Import Custom Element

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Import Custom Element - Step 2 of 2

The dialogs for importing a Custom Element, Metadata form, or a Custom Field are similar. The Import (object type) - Step 2 of 2 dialog identifies all required and optional items included in the object archive, checks for required resources with options for completing, canceling, or editing the import, and displays validation or error information.

The dialog displays the following three sections:

Resource Assignments (optional)
Warning(s) (optional)
Packet Information

Resource Assigments

CommonSpot checks and detects any resources required by imported objects and displays them for your review and mapping. If no resource dependencies are detected, this section of the dialog does not display. See Resources and Libaries for more information on how to manage resources in CommonSpot.

The detected resources are listed in a scrollable grid with the following columns:

Name: Displays the name or alias assigned to the resource. See Add Resource Library.
Status: Displays an icon indicating the status of the resource to be imported (first icon), plus a "comparison" icon, which when clicked will show details for each resource. Icons can be any of the following:
- indicates that a matching resource exists locally - no new aliases need to be created.
- indicates that a matching resource exists locally, and an additional alias will be added.
- Indicates that no matching resource name or alias was found. You need to decide whether create a new resource, or use an existing one if exists locally by another name.
- indicates that no resources exist locally and the import process will create new one(s).
Click the Comparison icon to compare the resource in the packet to your local version.
Action: You can accept the detected local resources without importing a new one or create a new local resource from the packet. Pick one of the following actions for each resource:
- Use existing local resource <'resource-name'>: This option applies when a local resource with the same name or alias(es) already exists locally. You do not need to import this resource as it exists locally.
- Update existing local resource <'resource-name'>: This option applies when a local resource with the same name or alias already exists, but the import packet has additional aliases. This resource does not need to be imported as it is exists locally. However, if selected the new aliases will be added to the resource
- Create New Local Resource <'resource-name'>: TThis option applies when you do not have a local resource with the name or alias of the resource in the packet. By selecting this option a new local resource with this name will be created.
  Choose Local: This option applies when you do not have a local resource with the name or alias of the resource in the packet. Select this option when the resource exists locally, but under a different name. Pick from the dropdown to select the equivalent local resource (one that is the same but with another name). Note, the resource name and any aliases from the imported resource will be added as aliases to the local resource. Pick from the dropdown:
- Stop import process - Choose this option if the resource being imported is not the same as the detected resource. In this case, the import process cannot continue until the local resource name or alias(es) are changed to resolve the conflicts.

Warning(s)

This section displays any warnings. For example, if the packet being imported is already associated with a previously imported object.

If no warnings exist, this section is not displayed. See Export Errors.

Packet information

For all imports, this dialog displays the following for your review or verification:

Imported Object GUID - A unique CommonSpot-assigned identifier for maintaining links between exported and imported objects, for updates and for maintaining object integrity, for example, to protect against inadvertent object overwriting or unintended duplication, as shown in the error above. See Locked Objects for more information on CommonSpot's handling of object protection and updates.
Objects within the Import packet - Expand or Collapse to verify the contents of the import packet.

Note: If you are importing a custom element that includes custom field types or render handlers housed within the Application Development Framework (ADF), CommonSpot checks to see if the ADF is installed and stops the import if it does not find it. If you are using the ADF, check that both your ColdFusion mapping (/ADF), web server mapping (/ADF), and the ADF directory are named ADF (all caps).

Click Prev to return to Step 1 or Cancel to exit without importing. Click Import to complete the import operation. CommonSpot automatically installs the new object on your site.

Related Links

You can download PDF versions of the Content Contributor's, Administrator's, and Elements Reference documents from the support section of paperthin.com (requires login).

The following guides are available from the support site and are in the /docs/directory of your CommonSpot Server:

You can also download these other guides from the support section of paperthin.com (with login):

For technical support:

http://www.paperthin.com/support/