Import a .csv File into a New or Existing Answer File

The Ask Question Editor allows the import of both answer and question data contained in a .csv (comma-separated value) file.

Format the .csv File

The .csv file must have the following specific format shown in the following sample line . (Exclude the Question/ Answer row in your imported .csv)

Question Answer
What is the overview of [System]? LSRESOLVE|overview|[System:ID]

Question Column

  1. Use plain text for the Question except for placeholders for any input matchers that are assigned to the answer. These should be presented in the form of the matcher name, in brackets (as in “[System]” above).
  2. Consult the custom.ask.cfg (found in c:\Program Files\SysTrack\WebServices\api\AskSysTrack\Custom) for the list of matcher elements located in a list (use the Name attribute) at the bottom of the file.
  3. Alternatively, to match text and input it directly into an answer URL parameter, use that parameter’s name in brackets.

Answer Column

Set up the answer configuration with a pipe (“|”) separated string of data. The separated data points represent the target and parameter values that define an answer. (Note that if the same answer string is seen twice, the associated questions will be assigned to the same answer.)

Target

The first data point is the target (usually, a reference to an app, but sometimes to a high-level component of one). In the example above, “LSRESOLVE”, refers to SysTrack Resolve. Consult the custom.ask.cfg file that will be used for the new answer file for the list of valid targets. They will be the value for the “type” attribute in top-level “target” elements.

Parameter Values

The following data points should be values representing how the parameters of the target should be used. These parameter values will be evaluated during import as if they were in the same order as those assigned to the chosen target. The number of parameter values included determines which answer link template is used. In the sample above, the use of “LSRESOLVE” as the target, and the number of parameters (2) indicates that the 1st Resolve type link should be used, i.e. “/Resolve/?system={systemid}#{pageid}” Consult the custom.ask.cfg file for the list of link templates for each target. These templates are the internal text of each "url" element contained in each "link" element in the selected target's element.

Parameter values can be presented as a preset fixed string, a dynamic input matcher, or an external setting from a dedicated file from the SysTrack installation. Each of the three value types should be presented as follows:

  • Fixed String: Plain text. This value will be directly substituted for the corresponding parameter’s placeholder in the answer URL. In the sample above, “overview” signifies that the “pageid” placeholder will be replaced with that text, taking the user to the SysTrack Resolve Overview page.

  • Input Matcher: The matcher name should be in brackets. This signifies that the text in the equivalently labeled portion of the associated question will be extracted and substituted for the parameter’s placeholder in the answer URL. Optionally, the matcher value property can be specified by using a colon (:) and the property’s name along with the matcher, in brackets. In the example used above, “[System:ID]” signifies that Ask will attempt to match the extracted text in the form of the System GUID. This should be substituted for the "systemid" parameter.
    Alternatively, when using a question whose matched text is substituted directly for a parameter, use empty brackets (“[]”).

  • External Setting: Similar to Input Matchers, but using braces (“{}”) instead of brackets. The text in the braces must refer to the desired external setting in the external .settings file setup during SysTrack install. The value hard-coded for the setting will be substituted for the parameter placeholder in the URL.

    NOTE: If you want to include external systems in your Ask SysTrack questions, contact Lakeside Software for assistance.

Import a .csv File

To import the .csv file into an answer file:

  1. From the Ask Question Editor, click either the Import CSV into Existing Answer File, or Import CSV into New Answer file button, as appropriate.

  2. From the Custom folder, select the answer file into which you wish to import the CSV file, or enter a name for the new answer file to be created.

  3. Click the Browse button beneath the CSV File field and select the CSV file you wish to import.

  4. Click the Start Import button.