{{tag>Index Glossary Import Action Instance Business_Object}}
===== Import =====

Import is an [[glossary:action|action]] that reads values of [[glossary:attribute|attributes]] of a [[glossary:business_object|business object]] from a file in the [[glossary:operation_mode|operation mode]] and inserts its contents into a [[glossary:business_space|business space]] creating or replacing business objects as necessary. In addition to inserting separate object data it can also preserve relations between objects allowing for importing complex data. For example, it is possible to import customer details together with all his accounts and transactions on those accounts.

It can be used to acquire data on a one-off or [[glossary:scheduling|regular basis]], for example to transfer data from software systems that do not support [[glossary:communication_channel|direct communication]]. It is especially useful for the initial migration of data from older software applications into a newly created business space.

It is also possible to use the import action in combination with the [[glossary:export|export]] action to allow for editing of multiple object data in specialised software applications.