Duplicate assets of an asset node

Duplicate assets of an asset node and add them to the asset tree with user-defined properties. To do so, you need to complete the following operations:

Create a CSV file with assets and editable properties as an import file.

Edit asset properties in the CSV file.

Import the CSV file with customized properties.

TIP:

Binders, files, folders, and links cannot be duplicated.

Prerequisites

Make sure no other user in the system is in Design mode before importing the CSV file.

Make sure the amount of assets to be added does not exceed the purchased capacity of devices. Once you reach the capacity, you need to reduce the amount of assets or purchase capacity activation for more devices to proceed.

To duplicate assets of an asset node

In the Welcome
dialog, click Next
.

In the Select an option
dialog, select Duplicate assets of an asset node
, and then click Next
.

Create a CSV file with assets and editable properties as an import file.

In the Select an option for asset duplication
dialog, select Create import file
, and then click Next
.

TIP:

If you have already created a CSV import file, go to Step 5.

In the asset view of the Export assets to duplicate
dialog, select a node in the asset tree under which the assets you want to duplicate.

TIP:

If a device asset is selected, its parent container becomes the node. All assets under this node will be exported to the CSV file. If the device asset doesn't belong to any container, the root of asset tree becomes the node. All assets in the asset tree will be exported to the CSV file.

In the File Saving Information
field, specify the file name and file path to save the CSV file, and then click Start
.

(optional) In the Finished
dialog, click Save Summary
to save the result summary as a TXT file.

To continue the importing process, click Back
to return to the Select an option
dialog. If you want to exit, click Finish
.

Edit asset properties in the CSV file.

Locate and open the CSV file on your computer, and edit the asset properties, except for ID
, Type
, and
Path
. If the CSV file includes multiple assets of the same type and name or an asset that has the same type and name as the one under a node where it will be added, a number (like _2) is appended to the asset name to ensure uniqueness.

By default, the Configuration Data
column in the created CSV file is empty. You may enter information in the Configuration Data
column before importing the CSV file. If you import the CSV file without configuration data information, the duplicated assets' Configuration Data
property will be empty. In this case, edit the Configuration Data
property of each asset or use the Edit assets of an asset node
option of the Import Export Utility to edit Configuration Data
.

IMPORTANT:

Do not modify the information in the ID
, Type
, or Path
column. Assets with the ID
, Type
, or Path
property modified cannot be added to the asset tree after the CSV file is imported. A CSV file with any column removed cannot be imported.

To keep the hierarchy of assets as shown in the asset tree when adding them to another node of the asset tree, keep the asset list order in the CSV file. That is, the parent node is listed first, followed by its children nodes or assets. Changing the asset list order will lead to hierarchy changes after the CSV file is imported.

To import an extended property, don't just enter the property value while leaving the property name empty in the CSV file. Such extended properties will be skipped during the import. The default extended properties configured by the Options dialog box: Extended Properties
do not affect the configuration in the CSV file.

Starting from FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 10.00, process device capabilities are not supported. Using the Import Export Utility tool to add process devices to FactoryTalk AssetCentre will consume the capacity activation, and the process devices' hardware and asset properties will be disabled.

Save and close the file.

Import the CSV file with customized properties.

Return to the Select an option
dialog, select Duplicate assets of an asset node
, and then click Next
.

In the Select an option for asset duplication
dialog, select Import
, and then click Next
.

In the asset view of the Import assets to duplicate
dialog, select a node in the asset tree under which the duplicated assets will be created. The node can be a generic container or the root node.

TIP:

If a device asset is selected, the assets will be added to its parent container. If the device asset doesn't belong to any container, the assets will be added to the root, which is the topmost node in the asset tree.

In the File to Import
field of the Import assets to duplicate
dialog, click Browse
to select the CSV import file you have created and edited.

Click Start
.

When device items (except for Asset Inventory) are selected, a message box opens, notifying the status of licensed asset capacity.

- If the amount of assets to add doesn't exceed the purchased capacity, click Yes
to proceed.

- If the amount of assets to add exceeds the purchased capacity, you need to reduce the amount of assets or increase licensed capacity.

A progress bar shows as the tool adds the new asset.

TIP:

Click Cancel
if you want to cancel the current operation. Clicking Cancel
does not delete assets that have already been added to the asset tree. You need to delete them manually.

(optional) In the Finished
dialog, click Save Summary
to save the result summary as a TXT file.

Click Finish
to exit or Back
to return to the Select an option
dialog.

If the process completes without being ended, the CSV file is added under the same node where the new assets are created.