The Bulk Update feature allows users with the Lab Manager role or with Lab Management permissions to access the Bulk Update template to update multiple inventory items at once. This feature is especially useful for making large-scale changes efficiently, rather than editing items one at a time.
To download the template and update items, from the Lab Management gear icon, select Bulk Update. After confirming that you have read the statements on the screen, the Download Template button is made available.
Working with the Import Template
Once the Bulk Update Template has been downloaded, it will contain a tab for each Inventory Type, and within each tab will be a column representing each field supported in the Inventory Type (default fields, fields specific to each Type, and any custom fields that may have been added). The template includes an exported copy of all the current Inventory Items in the Inventory Lab.
When you are ready to begin making updates, visit the tab that corresponds to the Inventory Type of the Item(s) you would like to update. Make your changes directly to the individual cells for each Inventory Item.
Once you have the template updated with your changes, save a copy of the template, and return to the Bulk Update page to drag/drop the document onto the page or browse to upload the file. After the file is added to the page, the Start Import page appears, with an option to indicate if you would like to update the items without making changes to the quantity of the items. A message will also indicate how many items will be updated during the import.
If there are any errors, they will be listed during upload and must be resolved before the process can finish.
While the update is in progress, a message will appear on the screen and an email will be sent confirming the completion of the update.
Troubleshooting Bulk Update Errors
If an item could not be updated, you will see a notification on the screen. This typically occurs when an Inventory Item was modified in Inventory after you downloaded the template, but before you were able to upload your changes. When this happens, you’ll need to download a new Bulk Update Template with the latest information, and re-run the bulk update for those items.
To see exactly which items failed, frothe Bulk Update page click Download Failed Update Report. This report will show you which items need to be corrected and re-uploaded.
| Action Attempted | What Happens | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Create new items | Upload fails with an error | Use Bulk Import to add multiple items, or Add New Item for single entries |
| Create new fields | Upload fails with an error | Add fields under Inventory Types in Lab Management |
| Create new Inventory Types | Upload fails with an error | Create new types under Inventory Types in Lab Management |
| Create new storage locations | Upload fails with an error | Add storage locations under Locations in Lab Management |
| Edit Item URLs | Upload fails with an error | Item URLs cannot be modified |
| Add attachments | Upload fails with an error | Attach files manually to each item |
| Change an item’s Inventory Type | Upload fails with an error | Update the Inventory Type directly in the Inventory Item edit page |