Overview of importing time sheet data from external applications

If you need to import large volumes of time sheet data from an external application into PPM before or after using Time Management, you can use the time sheet data importer script, kTMDataConversion.sh to facilitate this process. This section introduces the kTMDataConversion.sh script.

Capabilities

The kTMDataConversion.sh script imports time sheets from .xml files. Imported time sheets function identically to those created in Time Management and retain their original status, for example, submitted or approved, and all standard Time Management features.

The time sheet data importer script does the following:

Processes data from .xml files that represent time sheets. The data in the .xml files must conform to the formats specified in the provided ML Schema Definition (.xsd) file.
Converts the time sheet data into time sheets in Time Management, without modifying any source data.
Validates data integrity and enforces time sheet policies.
Supports all work item types, including projects, tasks, requests, packages, and miscellaneous work items.
Supports time data recorded in hours or days (both logged daily and for an entire period), or percentages.
Populates approver information for time sheets that are in Unsubmitted, Pending Approval, or In Rework status, when the relevant information is absent in the import file:
- Time approver for each time sheet line
- Billing approver for the time sheet.
Determines time sheet status based on imported time sheet line statuses. For information about time sheet status and time sheet line status, see Summary of time sheet line statuses and time sheet statuses.
Creates audit trail records for each time sheet line, including the creation time, approver, and approval date, if specified in the .xml file.
Runs processes in parallel using multithreading to enhance performance.

Considerations

Consider the following when using the time sheet data importer script to import external time sheet data:

Run the time sheet data importer script as needed for different source data.
Previously imported time sheets are preserved. If a second import includes a time sheet with the same resource, time period, and sequence number, the script does not process the new data and logs an error.
If the imported time sheets include projects or tasks with actual effort logged in the .xml file, the imported data does not automatically sync to the project work plan. You need to run the kTMPMSync.sh script to establish the synchronization.