New Import Profiles

Import profiles are an Alma feature defining how records from a file are imported, normalized, and mapped to Alma records. Their configuration is multi-faceted and complex, and they may have wide-reaching (and unanticipated) implications across our system. To maximize our efficiency in configuring them and to minimize potential risks, the Alma Tech Team has defined the following criteria for review and activation of new import profiles. We use three types of import profiles: New Order, Repository, and Update Inventory. Whichever the type, two important protocols pertain:

1. Configuration, testing, and review of any import profile is always done in the sandbox first 2. Review is always done by someone other than the author

1. Configuration, testing, and review of any import profile is always done in the sandbox first 2. Review is always done by someone other than the author

Also note that review is always needed first in the sandbox and then in production.

Criteria for Reviewing New Import Profiles

1. Repository Import profiles with Electronic Inventory

Condition	Procedure	Review Needed (Sandbox then Prod)

Condition	Procedure	Review Needed (Sandbox then Prod)
Needed for a one-time load or infrequent loading	Load the records as standalone portfolios and associate them with the appropriate collection.	No (but still recommended)
Repository load for e-books that uses the standard collection import profile with only the electronic collection name changed	Make the change. No need to create a ticket.	No (but still recommended)
Repository load for e-books modifying the standard collection import profile with any change other than the electronic collection name	Create a ticket in alma-config, but the user submitting the ticket can close it.	No (but still recommended)
Unique new import profile requiring different matching criteria, merging criteria, or a special norm rule applied	A New Import Profile ticket must be created in alma-config for the import profile	Yes

2. All Other Import Profiles

Condition	Procedure	Review Needed (Sandbox then Prod)

Condition	Procedure	Review Needed (Sandbox then Prod)
New Order, Repository (without electronic inventory), or Update Inventory	A New Import Profile ticket must be created in alma-config for the import profile	Yes