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We're thrilled to announce the launch of our new Data Import BETA, available for all Building LCA tools.
How can I provide my feedback? Simply reach out to [email protected]. If some of your requests are more important than others, please highlight them as important. If you’d like to discuss the new import in person or if you would be interested in helping us in the development of the product through user interviews and prototype testing, please mention it in your email. Our development team will be happy to talk to you. You can also provide your feedback using this form.
What is new?
To ensure a faster, delightful and straightforward import process:
Powerful AI mapping to get resources based on imported data name, available for all Building LCA tools (see AI Mapping):
Strict match or previous mapping is not necessary to get mapped resources
Support of various languages for imported data (English, Finnish, Swedish, Norvegian, German, French, Italian and Spanish)
Prioritising resources from country of your project
Results are getting better overtime thanks to your mapping changes
Improved resource search and additional suggestions for a quicker resource selection and easier resource comparison:
Suggestion overlay providing 15 additional AI suggestions
Separate search overlay with extra space, faster and better structured results
Typo tolerant search
Results table allows for easier resource comparison without the need to open data cards
Filters are easier to access and use
Applying multiple filters from the same category is possible
Better support of imported Excel file, by giving you more flexibility during the import process:
Mapping of your imported column to One Click LCA columns used for mapping or imported to your project, and possibility to assign custom column as extra information so it stays visible during the import process
Saving of column mapping as import settings for you and your colleagues, so no manual selection is required when importing Excel files with the same column structure.
Set unit and classifications for all data with same imported value, with possibility to filter out data rows. Building part classifications such as Level's, RICS categories, BSAB83 and others are also supported by this feature.
Editing quantity or comment on final step before importing
Possibility to select from which Excel sheet to import
Important information before you get started
Some features are not yet available in the new import process (e.g. searching for private data, import in other queries than Building Materials data input page) but we aim to gradually implement in the new import the useful features that exist in the old one.
Please note that up to 500 rows can be imported to the software, and that you can only add data to a design. If you wish to keep only the latest imported data using new import, create a new design beforehand.
You can upload your own Excel file (e.g. a bill of materials) which has not been formatted beforehand, to make it compatible directly during the new import process. Still, for an even smoother import process, we recommend using available Excel templates from this article.
At the moment, access for old import remains the same. You can still use it to import your data if some specific needs are not fulfilled with the new one. Please raise such needs so we can target them as soon as possible.
How do I open the new data import?
You can access the new data import from the project page, by clicking on a design and then on “NEW Data Import [BETA]”.
The data import will open in a new tab and can be cancelled by closing it.
Notes:
New data import will only be available with Building LCA tools for which “import Excel or gbXML files” (legacy Import Mapper) is available.
You can also access the data import from the data input page of your design.
What are the steps of the new import process?
Data import is done through 6 steps, with little to no action required on some of them:
File upload
Import settings, review or change where to import data and other settings
Column mapping, review column mapping applied automatically based on saved settings and change if needed
Review & filter, review unit and classifications imported values, fix ambiguous and filter out data rows if needed
Combine data, review data that are automatically merged based on preselected combine criteria, and ungroup if needed
Data mapping, review automatic mapping of resources to your imported data, replace if needed or add resource to unmapped rows.
After data mapping step, your data will be imported to your design and you will be redirected to results page.
Find more detailed explanation below.
1. File upload
The first step consists in uploading the source file from which you would like to import data.
You can select the file by selecting it from a folder or with drag and drop. Once your file has been uploaded, you can click on the “Next” button to proceed to the next step.
2. Import settings
Import settings can be reviewed before going further in the import process. Unless you wish to do changes, you can directly click "Next".
The following settings are preselected:
Targeted project, design and tool, preselected depending on where you opened the new import. You can change the target if you wish. The tool will affect data availability for the mapping.
From which Excel sheet to import. "DATA" tab is preselected, or if not available, the first Excel sheet. Only one Excel sheet can be imported per import.
Column mapping saved settings, that you or user from your organisation saved most recently. It will apply column mapping as it was saved in the next step. In case of doubt, you can change import settings or choose "Don't use saved settings".
3. Column mapping
In this step, you can see part of your source file (up to 50 rows) to map One Click LCA calculation and mapping headers to your Excel columns. Unless you choose not to use saved settings on previous step, some column headers will be automatically selected.
You must assign the mandatory headers “Name”, “Quantity”, “Unit” and “Class”. Map all columns you want to import. Columns remaining with “Undefined” header will be excluded from the rest of the import.
If the column you wish to import does not correspond to a parameter of One Click LCA available in the drop-down, you can mark it as extra information column by assigning a custom header after cliking on menu icon. Then the column would remain visible on combine and mapping step, but will not be imported to the software. This menu icon also allows you to remove a header wrongly assigned.
When column headers are correctly assigned, click "Next".
Optional: Once the headers have been assigned, if you did modification and wish to reuse this column mapping for imported files with same column structure, you can click on "Save settings" button. You can either edit your own settings or create a new. You and your colleagues could select it on Import settings step during another import. Then click on "Next".
Notes:
The data rows without numerical value or with 0 in quantity column will automatically be removed.
Building part classifications are available towards the bottom of the header dropdown (RICS categories, BSAB 83, Level's building parts, RE2020 lots...)
The values in the “Class” column can be your own values, as they will be replaced by One Click LCA Class in the next step.
4. Review and filter
On this view, rows will be grouped per imported value for "Unit", "Class" and any building part classification column (here, RICS categories). This step allows you to see imported unit and class that were recognised (no action required) and the ones you may need to fix. Once review is done, click "Next".
You can also filter out data based on imported unit or classification. This is recommanded if you import many rows, as you can import up to 500 data after combining is applied (count is verified when pressing "Next").
Unit tab
Select compatible unit to replace ambiguous unit. The data rows for which there is no applied unit will get automatically deleted when you click "Next".
Class and other building part tabs
A default value will be assigned to the classifications that were not recognised. Data will still be imported. If you are fine with default value, no change is required. If not, you can select among compatible class in a dropdown by clicking under "Applied classification".
Notes:
Class will affect recognition of your data in the Data mapping step, as we reuse your and your colleague's previous mapping for same imported name and Class.
Other building part classifications can always be fixed for imported rows after import, on Building materials page.
5. Combine data
Your data will be merged if they have same value in "Applied combine criteria" columns. Quantity will be summed, other columns values will be either averaged (if numerical) or concatenated.
This step only shows the data that are merged along with the row count and summed quantity, you can directly click "Next".
Optional: If you wish to import separately some of the data rows displayed, you can ungroup up to 500 rows.
6. Data mapping
During the last step, you can review the resources automatically assigned to your imported data, or select a resource for unidentified ones. Once done, click on "Import" and your data will be imported.
Identified data
Our engine identify your data based on the following rules, which is displayed under Mapping basis:
- Strict match between resource property and imported value in column "Name", "EPDNumber" or our internal ID for mapping done within BIM plug-ins "OCLID"
- The software will prioritise mapping in this order "OCLID", "EPDNumber" and then "Name". This means that if a row has all three fields, "OCLID" will be used for the mapping and ignore the other two fields.
- Your previous mapping (if same Name and Class)
- Your colleagues previous mapping (if same Name and Class)
- AI mapping, providing resources based on similarities with imported Name and prioritising resources from your project's country. AI mapping supports many languages as input, and learn with every user action. Read more about AI Mapping.
Note: If you have used "OCLID" or "EPDNumber", the units in your data must be available for the resource, otherwise the mapping will be rejected and classified as unidentified.
Assigned resource are shown in "Map resource" column, and you can click the resource if you wish to replace it. You can also double click on Quantity or Comment field to update it before importing.
To replace a resource, you can select among additional suggestions for a quick selection. If necessary, you can click on "Search" tab and use a powerful search allowing quick comparison and applying filters.
Unidentified data
If you get unidentified data, you need to click under "Map resource" column to select a resource with the search. Data for which you do not assign a resource will get deleted when you click "Import".
Notes:
Available data are restricted depending on the selected tool for import. You will only get resources with consistent. If you don't find your data, you can select a random resource and write a reminder in comment to change it after import on Building materials page.
7. Import is done
Once you press "Import" on Data Mapping step, resources will be imported to the software and you will be redirected directly to results page. Please fill the data from other data input page if necessary to get correct results. If you wish, you can go back to "Building material" to see your imported data.