Standardize properties accros topics
Discussion Open
Hi,
I am a new user;
I import a large number of topics from excel. Some properties are lists in excel.
- Is it possible to define the property as a list in the import process (I think not) ?
- I am able after import to change the property from "text" to "list" for ONE topic. I would like to have this property be a list (with the list of acceptable values) for ALL topics. Can it be done ?
Note : I saw that I can copy one topic property to all topics but it does not stick if I re-import from exel plus the topic value get copied too overwriting the previous value.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
This is a fairly complex set of questions which I hoped that someone more experienced in importing from Excel (and also using topic property lists) than I am would have answered by now, but I'll have a go.
Unfortunately I think the short answer to your first question is no - all topic properties appear to be treated as text when they are imported from Excel. In addition it is impossible to avoid property values and types being overwritten if you re-import the spreadsheet to the same file.
It's also a bit unclear as to why you want to do this - is it because you want to have the ability to change the list value on a property after import? Also, will the list vary a lot? If not, you could always set up a dummy topic with a list property type, add all then possible options to this list and save the topic as a map part. You could then add this as a floating topic to the map after each import and then copy the list property to all the relevant topics in the map and then select the appropriate value, but this would have to be done manually each time you import.
This is a fairly complex set of questions which I hoped that someone more experienced in importing from Excel (and also using topic property lists) than I am would have answered by now, but I'll have a go.
Unfortunately I think the short answer to your first question is no - all topic properties appear to be treated as text when they are imported from Excel. In addition it is impossible to avoid property values and types being overwritten if you re-import the spreadsheet to the same file.
It's also a bit unclear as to why you want to do this - is it because you want to have the ability to change the list value on a property after import? Also, will the list vary a lot? If not, you could always set up a dummy topic with a list property type, add all then possible options to this list and save the topic as a map part. You could then add this as a floating topic to the map after each import and then copy the list property to all the relevant topics in the map and then select the appropriate value, but this would have to be done manually each time you import.
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