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Update multiple records with Mass Update

Applies to User Roles:

System Administrator

Mass Update enables a user (ADMIN or SYSADMIN) to update one or several fields in a set of records. Mass Update consists of three related functions, template Mass Update, Simple Mass Update, and Complex Mass Update. In a template Mass Update, a template displays a list of fields that can be updated. The user enters a value for each field to be updated to complete the process. In a Simple Mass Update, Service Manager displays a record form in which the user can enter values for selected fields. These values are then applied to all of the records selected for the Simple Mass Update. In a Complex Mass Update, Service Manager displays a form in which the user enters RAD expressions containing variables and concatenated fields to populate another field in the selected records.

The Mass Update function can be used with the following applications:

  • Change Management
  • Configuration Management
  • Incident Management
  • Problem Management
  • Service Desk

The Database Manager also uses Mass Update to update the following tables:

  • contacts
  • company
  • department (dept)
  • location
  • operator

The Mass Update functions in Database Manager also let you modify the contents of each record in the list of records accessed from Database Manager, by entering one or more processing statements, which Service Manager executes during adds, updates, and deletes. When add is set to true, Service Manager also executes Format Control, triggers, and macros, if present for the form.

You can update multiple records with Mass Update by using the Mass Update template form, Simple Update, or Complex Update. Choose one of the following methods to update multiple records.

Options for Mass Update errors

The following are the available options for Mass Update if validations on format control fail:

Option Action
Retry Reruns the mass update function on the selected records. Service Manager once again validates each record in the mass update against its format control.
Skip Skips the current record without making any changes.
Force Updates the current record with whatever information that you entered, regardless of format control.

Update multiple records with Mass Update by using the Mass Update template form

To update multiple records with Mass Update by using the Mass Update template form:

  1. Click System Administration > Base System Configuration > Companies.
  2. Click Search.
  3. Select the records in the record list you want to update.
  4. Click Mass Update.
  5. Type the value for the field in the text box or use the Find feature to display a list of potential values for the field.

    Note: The value(s) you enter in the form are propagated to all of the records you selected.

  6. Click Next.
  7. Continue updating fields and click Execute when you complete your updates.

Note: If you exit the Mass Update template form or Complex Update form without pressing Execute, all of your changes are cleared on the respective form.

Update multiple records with Mass Update by using Simple Update

To update multiple records with Mass Update by using Simple Update:

  1. Click System Administration > Base Configuration > Companies.
  2. Click Search.
  3. Select the records in the list you want to update.
  4. Click Mass Update.
  5. Click Simple Update.
  6. Type new values into the appropriate fields on the form.
  7. Click Execute.

Update multiple records with Mass Update by using Complex Update

To update multiple records with Mass Update by using Complex Update:

  1. Click System Administration > Base Configuration > Companies.
  2. Click Search.
  3. Select the records in the list you want to update.
  4. Click Mass Update.
  5. Click Complex Update.
  6. Type the RAD code in the Complex Update form.
  7. Click Execute.

Related topics

Updating multiple records