Importing User-Defined Fields

Disclaimer

HindSite Software will NOT be held responsible and/or liable for any damages to or from data loss due to an import run by the user. This article is sole to be used as a guide to help format and inform the user of the prerequisites for a successful User-Defined Field Import. Please feel free to contact the HindSite Software support team before doing any imports for further guidance and/or assistance.

What are User-Defined Fields?

UDFs or also known as user-defined fields are spots that are used to store specified data within a property’s profile. The information that is held in these spots is defined by the user, hence the name. The data held can consist of numerous different types of information that the user would deem useful to have across all customers.

How do we create User-Defined Fields? Method 1

The first method is to manually create them via Home > Settings > User Defined Fields. Please click here if you’d like to learn more about this method.

Method 2

The second method can be found below. The second method is to create the user-defined fields in mass/bulk via an excel import. In this article, you will be learning how to import your excel into Field Central alongside property data.

During the data import, user-defined fields are created alongside the import of property data. Please reference the table below for further in-depth examples.

Here is an example list of common user-defined fields for a standard irrigation company. Please do know that most companies would have their own needs and will always have different user-defined fields to meet those needs.

User Defined Field Group	User Defined Field	**User Defined Field Data Type
Irrigation System	Install Date:	Text > Date Only
Irrigation System	Controller:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation System	Controller Location:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation System	Rain Sensor:	Yes/No
Irrigation System	Rain Sensor Location:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation System	Rotors Heads:	Text > Numeric Only
Irrigation System	Spray Heads:	Text > Numeric Only
Irrigation System	Valves:	Text > Numeric Only
Irrigation System	Valve Boxes Locations:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation System	Drip:	Yes/No
Irrigation System	Other:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation System	Pump:	Yes/No
Irrigation System	Pump Connections:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Backflow:	Selection/Multi-Selection List
Backflow Information	Backflow Location:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Backflow Shut Off location:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Location:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Size:	Text > Numeric Only
Backflow Information	Make:	Selection/Multi-Selection List
Backflow Information	Model:	Selection/Multi-Selection List
Backflow Information	Type:	Selection/Multi-Selection List
Backflow Information	Serial #:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Remarks:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Next Rebuild:	Text > Open Text
Backflow Information	Check Valve #1:	Text > Numeric Only
Backflow Information	Relief Valve:	Text > Numeric Only
Backflow Information	Check Valve #2 - Test #1:	Text > Numeric Only
Backflow Information	Check Valve #2 - Test #2:	Text > Numeric Only
Backflow Information	Backflow Test Pass/Fail:	Selection List
Backflow Information	Most Recent Backflow Device Tester & License Number:	Multi-Selection
Backflow Information	Backflow Device Tester’s Signature:	Signature
Backflow Information	Most Recent Backflow Test Date:	Text > Date Only
Irrigation Zones	Number of Zones:	Text > Numeric Only
Irrigation Zones	Zone 1:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 2:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 3:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 4:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 5:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 6:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 7:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 8:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 9:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 10:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 11:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 12:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 13:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 14:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 15:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 16:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 17:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 18:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 19:	Text > Open Text
Irrigation Zones	Zone 20:	Text > Open Text

**Please know that the data type to each of the user-defined fields must be assigned after the import.

Creating the Excel file

You can download the example of the excel template below for two versions of how these imports can be done. Both version 1 and version 2 will import directly into Field Central in the same way.

Version 1

In this version of importing UDFs, the property data is set up to be imported into Field Central by row and by column.

In the example below, the UDF Name for “Controller:” will be imported directly under a UDF Category named “Irrigation Equipment:” and will have the data “Hunter” as the “Controller:” for customer “123 Main St.”.

Example UDF Import V1 image

Version 2

In this version of importing UDFs, we import each UDF Category and User Defined Name by a single column and then further break it down per row. This method of import is generally easier to clean and correct the data that may be inconsistent.

Example UDF Import V2 image