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How to Import an Excel File into a Data Set

There are two ways to create a data set: import an Excel spreadsheet or create a file online. This article shows you how to create a data set by importing an Excel spreadsheet.

For more information about the other method, see: 

Getting started

Before importing data, you need to create an Excel file on your computer with column headers and rows of data. Each row should contain data for one record (also called item).

In the image below, we created a data set with four column headings and six rows. Each row contains content for a different product (i.e. room for rent). 

upload-3a.png

You cannot upload images inside an Excel file. You can, however, upload an Excel file and then later place images in a data set. See below Step 4.4.7.

 

Data set tools

A toolbar runs across the top of the data set page. To learn about these tools, see:

tool-1.png

Next steps

After creating a data set (using either the online or import method), you need to complete two more steps -- in this order -- if you want to build a template with dynamically loaded data:

  1. create a template page, and then
  2. map the data.

There are two ways to create a template:

  • Learn how to create a Repeater template page here.
  • Learn how to create a Details template page here.

After creating a template page (either Repeater or Details), you need to link the template to information in the data set. This linking process is called mapping. For more information, see:

 

 

1  Opening the Data page

  1. On the main dashboard, click WEBSITE on the top menu.
  2. If not already open, click the CONTENT menu heading.
  3. Click Data. The Data page displays.

 

.content-1a.png

 

2  Creating a data set file

The next step is to create a data set file. 

  1. On the Data page, click the Create Data Set button. You can also click the linked text to get the same result. The Create Data Set panel displays.

dataset-1d.png

 

  1. In the Create Data Set panel, enter the name of the file you want to create. In the example below, the filename is Rooms for Rent. This filename helps you organize information but doesn't appear on a website. 

 data-1a.png

 

  1. Click Save. The Create Data Set panel closes and an empty data set displays.

data-2.png

 

3  Importing data

  1. Scroll to the right side of the screen and then click the Import/Export button. A menu displays.
  2. Click Import Excel File. The File Manager displays.

import-1a.png

  1. Select a file on your computer and then click Open. The file uploads and the Import Data panel displays.

 import-3.png

 

 

4  Configuring data fields

The next step is to configure the data in the Excel spreadsheet before importing the file into the data set. This work is completed in the Import Data panel. 

To configure data, scroll down the panel, click a field name, and choose a setting for each of the three variables. In most cases, the default setting for the first two variables (Configure Field and New Field Name) is the best choice. For the third variable (Field Type), you must select an option from the drop-down menu. 

4.1  Remove data fields

To prevent unwanted fields (i.e. columns) from loading into the data set, uncheck field names.

  1. Scroll down the list in the Import Data panel.
  2. Uncheck any field you do not want to import into the data set. 
  3. Uncheck fields marked as empty.

import-4a.png

 

4.2  Configure Field

This option labels the field as new or existing. The default setting in the drop-down menu is New Field. Use the default if you are importing a file for the first time.

import-5a.png

 

4.3  New Field Name

By default, the Import Data panel uses the field name that is in the Excel spreadsheet. Use this feature to change the old field name to a new name.

  1. Click a field on the left side of the panel. 
  2. On the right side of the panel, enter a new name in the box under New Field Name.

import-6a.png

 

4.3.1  Changing field names 

After importing a file, it is possible to change the field names in a data set. 

  1. Open the data set.
  2. Hover the mouse pointer on a field name and then click the three dots. A panel displays.

change-1.png

  1. Click Rename in the panel. The Update Field panel displays.

change-2a.png

  1. Type a new field name and then click Update.

change-3.png

 

4.4  Field Type

You must define the type of data in every field you create in a data set. You define type by selecting an option from the Field Type drop-down menu. The default setting is Text. 

Field type cannot be changed after a column has been created. If you need to change the field type, delete the column and create a new one.

  1. Click a field name on the left side of the panel. 
  2. On the right side of the panel, click the box under Field Type. A drop-down menu displays.
  3. Select a type.

Each data type is described below.

import-9a.png

4.4.1  Text

Select Text if each cell in a field contains a few words.

 

4.4.2  Long Text

Long Text is a good choice if each cell in a field contains a short passage (up to 30 words). Unlike Rich Text, you cannot format Long Text. To edit Long Text, click a cell in the data set. A text box displays the passage.

long-text-1b.png

 

4.4.3  Number

A number can be many things, like a quantity or calendar year, but not a date (see below for Date field type). 

 

4.4.4  Decimal

Select this type if you want to display numbers with decimal points.

decimal-1.png

 

4.4.5  Date

This option displays dates as YYYY/MM/DD. 

date-1a.png

 

If you enter a date with an improper format, an Invalid date message appears in the data set column. 

date-1a.png

 

4.4.6  Rich Text

Choose this type to style text in the data set with the Edit Content tools (e.g. bold, add links, underline, italics, and lists). The Edit Content tool panel is only available for columns configured as Rich Text.

If you plan on publishing blog content or text with specific style requirements, formatting rich text inside the data set is recommended. Because the Data tool is designed to scale up web publishing rapidly, you cannot style text on individual published pages. 

rich-test-1.png

  

4.4.7  Image

It's not possible to import an Excel file with images. We suggest you import the Excel file first and then create a field in the data set for images.

 

4.4.7.1  Placing an image in a data set

The first step is to create a new column in the data set with the Image field type.

  1. Finish importing the Excel file into a data set.
  2. On the right side of the data set, click the green (+) button. The Add New Field panel displays.

add-row-1d.png

 

  1. With the Add New Field panel open, enter a field name and select Image type from the drop-down menu.
  2. Click OK.

photo-1.png

 

4.4.7.2  Inserting image files

Now that you have created a column with an Image field type, you can insert images. 

  1. Hover the mouse pointer on a data set cell with the Image field type. A green cross displays.

car-1.png

  1. Click the cell. The Image Picker panel displays.
  2. Click the pointing finger to insert an image from your Sinorbis file manager.
  3. Click the Cloud button to upload an image from your computer or drag a photo file from your computer to the Image Picker panel.

photo-2a.png

  1.  Click OK. The photo now appears in the cell.

photo-5a.png

  

4.4.7.3  Deleting an image

  1. Double-click the cell with a picture. The Image Picker panel displays.
  2. Click Clear Image and then OK. The image is removed from the cell.

photo-4a.png

 

4.4.8  Image Gallery

Create an Image Gallery in a data set when you want to place a Carousel component inside a Details template. A data set cell labelled Image Gallery can hold multiple photos. You cannot upload multiple images into a cell labelled Image type.  

gal-3a.png

As noted above, you cannot import an Excel file with images. We suggest you import the Excel file and then add an Image Gallery field to the data set.

 

Photos inside an Image Gallery cell can be mapped to a Carousel component. A Carousel component can be placed on a Details template page; it cannot be placed on a Repeater template page. 

4.4.8.1  Loading multiple images inside a single cell

  1. Click a cell with an Image Gallery field type. The Image Gallery panel displays.
  2. Hover the mouse pointer on the grey image block. An edit tool displays.
  3. Click the pencil icon. The Edit Image panel displays.

gallery-1.png

  1. On the Edit Image panel, click the pointing finger to insert an image from your Sinorbis file manager.

gal-4a.png 

  1. To upload an image from your computer, click the Cloud button and then select a photo. Or, drag the file from your computer to the Edit Image panel.
  2. On the Edit Image panel, add a caption. (optional)
  3. Translate a caption to Simplified Chinese. (optional)
  4. Add a link to the image (optional). Image links must begin with http:// or https://.
  5. Check the box to open a link in a new tab. (optional)
  6. Click OK one time.

To place an additional image inside the same cell:

  1. Click the round (+) button to add a new grey image block.
  2. Repeat image insert or upload steps described above.
  3. Click OK to close the panel. 

gal-1a.png

 

4.4.8.2  Deleting an image block

  1. To delete an empty block or a single image, hover the mouse pointer on a block.
  2. Click the trash bin.

gal-5.png

 

  1. To remove all images inside a cell, click the Clear Images button.
  2. Click OK.

gal-2a.png

 

4.4.9  Currency

Select this field if you want to display money amounts. 

currency-1.png

  1. Select a currency from the drop-down menu.
  2. Check the box if you want to include decimal points.

currency-2a.png

 

Currency symbols and commas don't appear in the data set.

price-4.png

Symbols and commas are displayed on published template pages. The sample image below shows a template page with a product image, price, and US dollar sign.

price-1.png

  

4.4.10  Reference

The reference tool connects two different data sets. This is an essential tool if you want to build a website that uses dynamically loaded data. For more information, see:

 

4.5  Text translation

Use this tool to translate text to Simplified Chinese. Text in data set cells is translated; field headings are not translated.

The translation tool is not recommended for data labelled Rich Text. For rich text, we recommend entering Chinese script directly.

trans-2a.png

 

  1. Click a field name on the left side of the panel. 
  2. To insert Simplified Chinese, check the translation box.
  3. Repeat for each field you want to display Simplified Chinese script.

trans-1a.png

 

 

5  Next steps

After importing an Excel spreadsheet and creating a data set file, you need to complete two more steps: create a template page and then map the data.

For more information, see:

 

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