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Import Group Members

The Import Members wizard enables you to add members to the group using an external file.

The wizards search the directory for objects listed in the external file, and if found, adds them as members to the group.

Supported file formats are:

  • Text (.txt)
  • Comma Separated Value (.csv)
  • Microsoft Excel (.xls and .xlsx)
  • Extensible Markup Language (.xml)

Import group members using a wizard​

Use the Import button on the Members tab of the New Group page and in group properties to launch the Import Members wizard.

  1. On the Lifecycle page, select whether the imported members should be added permanently or temporarily to the group membership. You can also import members from an existing group.

    • Import Members Perpetually: to add imported members permanently to the group membership.
    • Import Members Temporarily: to add imported members to the group membership for a specific period. At end of the period, the imported members are automatically removed from membership.
    • Import Members From Group(s): to add all members of another group or groups to the membership of this group. See Import members of an existing group to this group.

  2. In case of temporary membership, use the Duration list to specify the membership duration of the imported members. Options are:

    • 7 Days, to add members to the group for 7 days starting today.
    • 30 Days, to add members to the group for 30 days starting today.
    • 60 Days, to add members to the group for 60 days starting today.
    • 90 Days, to add members to the group for 90 days starting today.
    • Custom, to add objects to the group for the period you specify in the From Date and To Date boxes.

  3. Click Next.

  4. On the Data Source page, select the data source that contains the objects to import to the group membership from the directory. Select either of the two options:

    • Local File

      1. On the File page, click Browse to locate and select the file containing the data to upload.
      2. Click the Up arrow to upload the file to the Directory Manager server for processing.
      3. The File Options section appears after uploading the file. Select the sheet from the drop-down list.
      4. Click Read Data to complete the selection process.
      5. Click Next.

    • External Data Source

      1. On the Providers page, select Query Designer to create a query. The query will fetch all those members that match the set criteria.

        The Query Designer is not working. After adding provider in the data source, it is unable to read the table.

      2. Click Next.

  5. On the Import page, follow these steps:

    1. In the Import Options section, select this site/domain or the entire directory from the Search drop-down list.

      The wizard compares records in the import file with records in the selected domain or directory to update the group's membership.

    2. In the Map Field area, map a field in the source file (Source Field) with a directory attribute (Destination).

      NOTE: While establishing mapping between a source field and a destination directory attribute, select a source field that has unique values, such as email address or sAMAccountName.

      The value in the selected source field is compared to the value of the selected destination field, and records with matching values are added to the group as members.

  6. Click Next.

  7. The Preview page displays the possible outcome of the import process based on the settings specified on the previous pages. The wizard processes the records from the source file by matching the values of the source and destination fields. Results displayed may include the following types of items:

    • Resolved Items:

      Shows all objects that will be successfully processed.

    • Unresolved Items:

      Shows objects that will not be processed because a matching object could not be found in the destination directory.

    • Ambiguous Items:

      Shows objects for which duplicate entries were found in the destination directory.

  8. If you do not want existing group members to be deleted during import, make sure that the Append existing items (uncheck to replace) check box is selected.

  9. Click Finish to import members from the specified file or provider.

Import members of an existing group to this group​

You can import all members of an existing group or groups to the membership of another group.

Use the Import button on the Members page of the New Group wizard and in group properties to launch the Import Members wizard.

  1. On the Lifecycle page, select the Import Members From Group(s) option to add all members of another group or groups to the membership of this group.
  2. Click the Search Groups button; the Find Dialog Box is displayed, where you can search and select the group(s) whose members you want to import into the membership of this group.
  3. Click Next.
  4. The Preview page lists the groups whose members are to be imported. Click the name of a group to view a list of its members.
  5. If you do not want existing group members to be deleted during import, make sure that the Append existing items (uncheck to replace) check box is selected.
  6. Click Finish to import members from the selected group(s).