Using Mass Update with Configuration Management record lists

Mass Update enables you to select multiple records from a list of records in order to update the value in a field or several fields across all selected records. The system provides a template form that displays the fields for the selected records and allows a user to change the value of any of the fields displayed. The Mass Update template form does not display all fields in the records. For example, read-only fields in the data policy do not display. You can also perform a Complex Update on the selected records. A Complex Update uses rad expressions that contain variables and concatenated fields to populate other fields in the selected records.

Mass Update is available for device records (Manage CIs), software records (Manage Software), and CI Queue records. By default, the System Administrator security role includes the Mass Update capability.

Update multiple configuration item records

You can use mass update to update a value in one or more fields for multiple configuration item (CI) records. For example, if you want to update CI records that are not compliant with baseline, select the Devices not compliant with the baseline view of the CI queue. The value you enter for a particular field becomes the value for that field for all the records you selected for mass update.

You can use complex update to enter expressions as instructions for actions performed on multiple CI records.

To update multiple CI records by using mass update, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Resources > Search CIs.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records. Select the View list of CI records that you want to update.
3. Using the scroll bar and the ctrl key, select the individual records that you want to include in the mass update. Each record you select remains highlighted.

4. Click Mass Update. A list of fields available for update opens.

5. Update the fields included in the mass update. To do this ,follow these steps:
   1. Double-click the field you want to update, and then type the value for the field in the box or use the Find or Fill feature to display a list of potential values for the field.
   2. Click Next.
   3. Continue updating the fields that you want included in the mass update.
   4. Click Next after each update.
6. Click Execute.
7. If a CI record cannot be included in the mass update, you can choose the following options:
   • Retry: Retry the mass update.
   • Skip: Skip the CI record to exclude it from the mass update and continue with the next record.
   • End: End the mass update and retry later.

To update multiple CI records by using complex update, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Resources  > Search CIs.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records. Select the View list of CI records you want to update.
3. Using the scroll bar and the ctrl key, select the individual records that you want to include in the complex update. Each record you select remains highlighted.
4. Click Mass Update.
5. Click Complex Update.
6. Follow the instructions in the complex update form and type the expressions in the Instructions to be executed ONCE at the beginning of mass add/update field and the Instructions for action on EACH RECORD field.
7. Click Execute.
8. If a CI record cannot be included in the complex update, you can choose the following options:
   • Bypass: Bypass the invalid message and include the CI record in the complex update.
   • Skip: Skip the CI record to exclude it from the complex update and continue with the next record.
   • End: End the complex update and retry later.

Update multiple configuration item software records

You can use mass update to update one or several fields in a set of records. Mass update consists of three related functions: Mass Update, Simple Mass Update, and Complex Mass Update. In a Mass Update, a template displays a list of fields that can be updated. You enter a value for each field updated to complete the process. In a Simple Mass Update, the system displays a record form in which you can enter values for selected fields. The values are then applied to all the records selected for the Simple Mass Update. In a Complex Mass Update, the system displays a form in which you type expressions containing variables and concatenated fields to populate another field in the selected records.

To update multiple CI software records by using mass update, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Resources > Manage Software.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records.
3. Using the scroll bar and the ctrl key, select the individual records that you want to include in the mass update. Each record you select remains highlighted.

4. Click Mass Update. A list of fields available for update opens.

5. Update the fields included in the mass update, follow these steps:
   1. Double-click the field you want to update, and then type the value for the field in the box or use the Find or Fill feature to display a list of potential values for the field.
   2. Click Next.
   3. Continue updating the fields that you want included in the mass update.
   4. Click Next after each update.
6. Click Execute.
7. If a CI record cannot be included in the mass update, you can choose to:
   • Retry: Retry the mass update.
   • Skip: Skip the CI record to exclude it from the mass update and continue with the next record.
   • End: End the mass update and retry later.

To update multiple CI software records by using simple update, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Resources > Manage Software.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records.
3. Using the scroll bar and the ctrl key, select the individual records that you want to include in the simple update. Each record you select remains highlighted.
4. Click Mass Update.
5. Click Simple Update.
6. Type new values into the applicable fields on the form.
7. Click Execute.
8. If a CI record cannot be included in the simple update, you can choose the following options:
   • Retry: Retry the simple mass update.
   • Skip: Skip the CI record to exclude it from the simple mass update and continue with the next record.
   • Force: Force the update on this record and continue with the next record.
   • End: End the simple mass update and retry later.

To update multiple CI software records by using complex update, follow these steps:

1. Click Configuration Management > Resources > Manage Software.
2. Use search or advanced search to find one or more records.
3. Using the scroll bar and the ctrl key, select the individual records that you want to include in the complex update. Each record you select remains highlighted.
4. Click Mass Update.
5. Click Complex Update.
6. Follow the instructions in the complex update form and type the expressions in the Instructions to be executed ONCE at the beginning of mass add/update field and the Instructions for action on EACH RECORD field.
7. Click Execute.
8. If a CI record cannot be included in the complex update, you can choose the following options:
   • Bypass: Bypass the invalid message and include the CI record in the complex update.
   • Skip: Skip the CI record to exclude it from the complex update and continue with the next record.
   • End: End the complex update and retry later.