Adding a Bridge Import Definition

A Bridge import definition specifies the property settings and options for importing data in PCS Axis. It defines the data transfer options; location of the import file; and field mappings in PCS Axis and the import file.

To add a Bridge import definition, follow these steps:

1	Select one or more pipeline segments in the Select ROWs window. Choose pipeline segment(s) with facilities you want to include in the Bridge definition. Click Save to close the window (Figure 10-3).

Figure 10-3. Select ROWs

2	Click Tools > Bridge to open the Bridge window (Figure 10-4).

Figure 10-4. Bridge

3	Click Basic to open the basic definition panel (Figure 10-5).

Figure 10-5. Basic Definition Panel

4	Type a unique name for the definition in the Name field (Figure 10-6).

Note: Clicking the Bridge Definitions bar collapses the panel allowing you to view more of the definition panel. Clicking the bar again expands the panel.

5	To set properties in the Data Transfer group box, follow these steps (Figure 10-6):

a	Click the Import check box.

b	If you are importing large amounts of data, click the check box Reindex after import to reindex the PCS Axis database after the import process completes.

Note: Enabling this option prevents index fragmentation from occurring in the PCS Axis database, which in turn may result in slow system performance. Index fragmentaion may occur after importing large amounts of data in PCS Axis using Bridge Import, Bullhorn Bridge, or Field Computer. You can also reindex the database using the option Reindex Database in Job Service Viewer (Tools > Job Service Viewer).

c	If you want PCS Axis to automatically run the import file at a scheduled time, click the Scheduled check box and then type a scheduled time in the adjacent field. Enter a scheduled time using 12-hour time format to specify the hour, minute, and AM/PM setting (HH:MM AM or PM).

When the import file is not scheduled to run automatically, you can run it manually by clicking the Import button.

Important: When scheduling a time to run Bridge, choose a time that does not impact other network services or computer resources. For example, consider a staggered time schedule instead of running Bridge at the same time as other scheduled network services.

6	To set properties in the Options group box, follow these steps (Figure 10-6):

a	Click the Public check box if you want the import definition file available for use by all PCS Axis users. When the check box is empty, the definition file is available only to the user who creates it.

b	Click the check box Use Facility Key if you plan to map facilities to a user defined field (UDF) set up previously for an external system ID. See Using a Facility Key in Bridge for more information if needed.

When facilities are not mapped to a facility key, they are mapped to the following required fields: ROW Code, Milepost, and Facility ID.

c	If you plan to run the Bridge definition manually and want Bridge to rename the file after importing data, click the check box Rename files on manual bridge runs.

Figure 10-6. Bridge Import Definition

7	Click Save and then click Full View to hide the group boxes Data Transfer and Options. Clicking Full View again displays these group boxes.

Note: Clicking the toggle button in the information bar displays important information related to required property settings.

8	Choose the data item(s) you want to import in PCS Axis. Click Add Data Item to open the Data Items window and then complete the following steps (Figure 10-7):

a	Open the folder(s) containing the data item(s) you want to import. Repeat this step as needed for other folders. For example, the folders CPDM and Rectifier are selected in the following figure (Figure 10-7).

b	Double-click to select a data item and move it to the right pane of the window. Repeat this step as needed for other data items. For example, the data item Rectifier Inspection is selected in the next figure.

Figure 10-7. Data Items

Note: The right pane of the Data Items window lists all selected data items for import. To remove a data item for import, double-click the data item in the right pane to move it back to the left pane.

c	Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the definition panel. Then click Save.

9	Identify the location of the import file using the following steps (Figure 10-8):

a	Click the ellipsis button … in the field Import File Name to open the Import File dialog box. Navigate to the import file and then select it.

b	Click Open to close the dialog box and return to the definition panel. The path to the import file displays in the field Import File Name.

10	To assign inspections to a survey folder based on the inspection date, complete one or both of the following steps in the Options group box as required (Figure 10-8):

a	If you want to assign inspections to an annual survey folder, click the check box Assign inspections to an Annual Survey.

b	If you want to assign inspections to a periodic survey folder, click the check box Assign inspections to a Periodic Survey.

Figure 10-8. Definition

11	To map fields in PCS Axis with fields in the import file, follow these steps:

a	Click Edit in the Maps group box to open a field mapping window (Figure 10-9).

Note: Fields in the Mappings panel with a lock icon are required fields for mapping, such as ROW Code, Milepost, Facility ID, and Inspection Date shown in the following example (Figure 10-9).

b	Choose PCS Axis fields for mapping. Click the toggle arrow for a field category in the Internal Fields panel to view a list of available fields. For example, Rectifier Inspection Fields is selected in the following figure (Figure 10-9).

c	Click the check box for one or more PCS Axis fields listed in the Internal Fields panel. Then click the top arrow button to move selections to the Mappings panel. Double-clicking a field also moves it to the Mappings panel.

For example, the PCS Axis fields Rectifier Output Current Found (Amps) and Rectifier Output Volts Found (Volts) are selected for mapping in the next figure.

Figure 10-9. Field Mappings

d	If you want to sort import fields listed in the Transition Fields panel in alphabetical order, click the check box Sort Alphabetically.

e	To map PCS Axis fields with fields in the import file, follow these steps:

•	Select a PCS Axis field in the Mappings panel. Map the selected field to a field in the import file by double-clicking a field listed in the Transition Fields panel. Repeat this step for remaining fields you want to map.

Note: When the Auto Map button is enabled and the names of fields in the import file match those in PCS Axis, double-clicking a PCS Axis field in the Mappings panel automatically maps to an import field listed in the Transition Fields panel.

•	If the definition is set up to use a facility key, click the Facility Key option button in the Mappings panel for the field you want to use as the facility key, such as ROW Code or Milepost.

•	If the field Choose a conversion... is present in the Mappings panel for a pair of mapped fields and you want to apply a conversion option, click the field Choose a conversion ... and select an option in the selection list.

f	If you want to preview fields for mapping in the import file, click the Preview button to open the import file in the Preview Maps window.

g	To remove a field mapping in the Mappings panel, select the field in the Mappings panel and then click Delete Map. Double-clicking the field also removes it. Unmapped fields are moved to the Internal Fields panel.

12	Click OK to close the mapping window and return to the definition window. Then click Save.

Field mappings display in the Maps group box.

13	To validate the definition, click the Prevalidate button. When the validation process completes and the following message displays (Figure 10-10), click View Job Status to open the Job Status window or Return to Definition to open the Definitions window.

Note: The Prevalidate process confirms the definition file is set up correctly; it does not post data in the database.

Figure 10-10. Validated Message

14	If you want to manually import data in PCS Axis, complete one of the following steps:

a	If the Job Status window is open, click Run for a selected import file listed in the Job Status window. Then click Refresh to update status information.

b	If the Definitions window is open for the import file, click Import.

15	To view the status of a Bridge session, click Job Status in the Definitions window to open the Job Status window (Figure 10-11). Clicking Log for a Bridge session opens the log file for the selected session.

Note: For a description of the icons and colors used in Job Status, see Icons and Colors Used in Bridge Job Status.

Figure 10-11. Job Status

16	To copy the Bridge definition to a file, such as a Notepad or Microsoft Word file, follow these steps:

a	Click the Definitions tab if the Definitions window is not open.

b	Click Copy to Clipboard.

c	Start the software program, such as Notepad or Microsoft Word.

d	Open a new file and then Paste the definition file. Click Save.