Import objects with variant relationships from another library

Object Variants

The best option to transfer objects between libraries is to use XML to copy the objects to a different library. However, you can use the option to import from another library.

Recommendations and behaviors:

  • After importing variant content, or creating variables or variant criteria, we recommend that users close and then reopen the library. This refreshes all content in the library and updates all windows, lists, and objects.
  • If the objects already exist in the library that you are importing into, you should import into the same folder to overwrite the existing objects.
  • If you are importing a variant object, confirm that the necessary variant criteria have been set up in the library you are importing into before you start the import - the variant criteria must be created with the same settings in both libraries.
  • After the import, confirm that the Display Name in the Variable properties window uses the name that you want to display in the column header in the object list. If the Display Name field is empty, the column is not displayed in the object list.
  • The variant criteria does not exist in the library you are importing into: The new variant criteria are created and can be checked by the library's Security Administrator. The new variant objects are created in the library with the values assigned.
  • If the variant criteria exists in both libraries but have different settings (for example the values are different and the default value for the library is different), then the new variant objects are created in the library you are importing (using the values that had been assigned in the "export" library). The variant criteria will need to be updated by the library's Security Administrator. This is done by opening the variant criteria window and adding the new values in the List of Values window.

Important: Make certain that you do not have variables and variant criteria with the same name when moving content between libraries. If a variable exists in the library you are importing into with the same name as variant criteria in the "export" library, then the variable will not be overwritten or changed. This is because variables used in the library should not be converted to variant criteria. If you have variables and variant criteria using the same name, consider changing the name of the variant criteria in the "export" library before moving the content.

What happens when you import into a different folder

Behaviors vary when you import primary or variant objects into a different folder, if the equivalent objects already exist in the library.

  • If you import both primary and variant object into a different folder, the objects will be created as "new" objects.
  • If you import the primary object only into a different folder, the object is created as a "new" object.
  • If you import a variant object only (without its primary object) into a different folder, the variant will be added to the folder containing the equivalent "primary" object and a variant relationship will be created.