Managing custom value lists

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Managing custom value lists

A custom value list is a set of valid values from which a user can select one or more to fill a custom property. A value list is created by importing a CSV file into Project Portal that defines the columns in the list and that specifies the values in the columns. For information about the format of these files, see Custom value list file format. Before the data is imported into the database, you are shown a preview of the changes that will be made and you can either accept or cancel the import.

You may export an existing custom list to a CSV file in order to edit it and import it again to update the list.

Note Project Portal locks the database for single-user access during the preview and import of custom value lists. An error can result if more than one person attempts this procedure at the same time.

To import a custom value list:

Create a CSV file as described in Custom value list file format.
In the Settings view, click ExtDB Tools. The custom value list options appear.
Click options or type values using the descriptions in the following table.

Custom value list options
Option	Description
EXTDB CSV file for update	Click Browse and select the CSV file that you created or edited.
Empty database before update	Click Yes to discard all existing values in the database for the custom properties that are specified in the CSV file before importing the new data. The default is No, which will update the existing list with data from the file including any new values.

Click Preview update. Project Portal reads the file and shows the fields and values that will be changed in red (new) and strikeout (old) text so that you can confirm that the data is correct. If the data is incorrect, click Cancel, correct the errors, and preview the file again until you are satisfied that the data is correct.
Click Do update. The data is imported and the results are shown.
Create a custom property and field as described in Creating, editing, and deleting custom properties to receive the values that are selected from the list by users. In the Field calculation option, select the property code that you specified in the Property column of the file.

To export a custom value list:

In the Settings view, click ExtDB Tools. The custom value list options appear.
Click Export. Your browser will attempt to download the custom list database as a CSV file with the name extdbexport.csv. Save the file to a location on your PC.