What this is
The Bulk Import feature lets you add or update many tools at once — no need to create them one by one.
It’s designed for Editors and Admins who manage tool data, calibration assets, or other reusable equipment.
💡 When to use it:
During initial setup of the system
When migrating tool data from Excel
When refreshing an existing tool list
How to do it
1️⃣ Access the Import Menu
In the main menu, go to Modeling → Tools → Import.
The Import Table will open in edit mode.
You can fill it directly in Next Plus
Or copy/paste data from an Excel file
Or prepare the Excel file offline using the same column structure
2️⃣ Understand the Import Table Structure
Each row represents a tool record.
Each column defines a specific attribute of that tool.
Column | Description |
Name | 🟢 Required. The tool name. If missing, the import will not run. |
P/N | Optional part number or internal code. |
Description | Optional short text describing the tool. |
Is Serial? | Indicates whether the tool is serial-based ( |
Serial | Unique serial number (only for serial-based tools). |
Expiration Date | Optional — the date when the tool expires or requires recalibration. |
Active | Marks whether the tool is active ( |
Groups | Optional — assign the tool to one or more groups. Separate multiple values with a semicolon ( |
Custom Fields | Dynamic columns added per customer configuration. These appear only if defined for your site. |
💡 Note:
The Groups and Custom Fields columns depend on your company’s setup and may appear or disappear based on feature flags or recent configuration changes.
3️⃣ Fill the Data
You can:
Type directly into the Next Plus table, or
Paste a range from Excel (Ctrl/Cmd + V), or
Upload a prepared Excel with identical headers.
Key rules to remember:
Every tool must have a Name.
Without it, the import stops entirely.All-or-nothing validation:
If even one row has an error, the whole import fails until all issues are resolved.Multiple tools with the same name must be marked as serial and given unique Serial numbers.
Multi-select fields (like Groups or Departments) must be separated by
;
Example:Maintenance; Production; QA
4️⃣ Import Your Data
Once your data is ready, click Import tools at the bottom-right.
The system validates every row:
✅ If all rows are valid, tools are created immediately.
⚠️ If any error exists, the import stops and displays a validation dialog.
Error dialog includes:
The row number
The field name
The reason for failure (e.g., missing Name, duplicate serial, invalid group)
Fix the issue in the table or Excel, then click Import tools again.
⚙️ Validation Rules & Examples
Rule | Example | Result |
Name required | Name missing | ❌ Import blocked |
Duplicate names without serials | Two “Ben” entries, both non-serial | ❌ Error |
Unique serials for serialized tools | “Ben #1” and “Ben #2” | ✅ OK |
Invalid dropdown values | “Group X” doesn’t exist | ❌ Error |
All-or-nothing | 99 OK + 1 invalid | ❌ Nothing imported |
💡 Pro Tip:
Use the latest import template every time you make changes.
If a new custom field was added or removed, column positions may have shifted — causing your old Excel file to fail import.
🧮 Multi-Select (Array) Fields
For any field that allows multiple selections (e.g., Groups, Compatible Lines, Categories):
Use semicolons (;) to separate values.
Example:
Assembly; Packaging; Calibration
If you enter a value that doesn’t exist in the predefined list, that row will be rejected with a clear validation message.
🧱 Column Changes & Custom Fields
If your site admins modify the configuration of tool fields, new columns may appear or change order.
⚠️ Always open the Import screen before uploading a new Excel file to verify that your column order matches the current setup.
Example:
A new column “Random” is added and later removed — your old Excel might still include it in the wrong position.
Re-copy the headers from the Import screen to avoid mismatch errors.
🔍 Error Handling
When an error occurs:
A pop-up window appears with the exact row and field name.
The import stops immediately.
The error description explains what caused the failure and how to fix it.
Example messages:
“Name is required.”
“Invalid value for Groups.”
“Duplicate serialized tool without unique Serial.”
🧠 Pro Tips
✅ Use the latest Excel template from the Import screen before every upload.
✅ Review all rows before importing — one error blocks the entire upload.
✅ Pay attention to capitalization and exact dropdown values (case-sensitive).
✅ The error messages are self-explanatory — read them before retrying.
✅ You can edit, add, or remove tools anytime in Modeling → Tools after import.