Import Function in Custom Modules

[simpsond]

I have a problem I've not been able to overcome:

After creating several new modules with Olavo's Module Builder (MB), I tried to import records in from a CSV file. No problem for the default SugarCRM-supplied modules. But NONE of the ones I created with MB even have an Import button. I've tried to code it, but I only get as far as a "blank" button (icon but no text saying "Import"). Clicking that takes me to the "Step 1" screen, which also shows up blank. I've reviewed the code in the /modules/Import directory, but my code mods do nothing. I'm afraid if I make any more mods to the import code, I risk breaking existing code.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm not a professional programmer, and I'm starting to feel I may have hit the proverbial brick wall with my current coding abilities.

[simpsond]

I'm surprised. I've posted this question in two different Sugar forums and no one has responded at all. Is importing an unusual question or a difficult solution? This doesn't bode well for my little project

[ponce]

Hi,

For the text next to the import button, you'll have to edit the language file(s) in your modules/<Module Name>/language directory. Insert a 'LBL_IMPORT' entry in that file. Then in menu.php, you'll add an entry in addition to the ones already there. It should look something like this:

 if(ACLController::checkAccess('<Module Name>', 'import', true))$module_menu[] =Array("index.php?module=<Module Name>&action=Import&step=1&return_module=<Module Name>&return_action=index", $mod_strings['LBL_IMPORT'],"Import", '<Module Name>'); 
  

Now create an Import.php file in your module directory, and that's where you can start coding your own import script. I'm not familiar with using the default sugar import code, I can't help you there. I created my own import script.

I hope that helps!

[simpsond]

OK, I have a partial success!

The import button shows up now, and the label correctly appears.

However, clicking it still takes me to a blank screen. Do I have to write a custom module in the /modules/import folder? If so, where would I start?

Thanks, so far!

[simpsond]

Now create an Import.php file in your module directory, and that's where you can start coding your own import script. I'm not familiar with using the default sugar import code, I can't help you there. I created my own import script.

Whoops... I didn't notice this part of your reply. Going to take a look at the import.php structure.

[simpsond]

Never mind. The index.php file already exists in the module folder. All it does is include the /import/index.php file, which in turn references the /import/config.php. I'm still getting a blank screen that says "Import Step 1: Select the Source".

Looking at the /import/config.php file. It looks like this:

 #import_bean_map = array(
  'contacts' => 'ImportContact'
 ,'leads' => 'ImportLead' 
  

etc., for several modules. I'm guessing I need to add something like

   'mymodules' => 'ImportMyModule' 
  

but I'm not sure where to go from there. Is there a 'bean' reference I have to create elsewhere?

Sorry for so many questions

[ponce]

This may not be the best way to do it, but this is how I did it.

I didn't use any of the modules/Import/ code at all. I removed the statements that included the Import/index.php file. Instead I created my own code to import my custom module's data. I imported a .csv file by creating a loop and using the fgetcsv function to read one line at a time. Then I created a new Bean (ex. $contactbean = new Contact(); ). Then I set the bean's fields one by one from the array returned by fgetcsv. Then simply call the Bean's save() function. If you have your vardefs set up correctly, that's all you need to do.

Using Contacts as an example, this would look like:

 // First line in a CSV is usually the names of the fields.
$headers = array();
$record = fgetcsv( $csv, 5000 );
foreach ( $record as $idx => $fieldname )
{
    // $record is an array with the index as the key, and the field name as the value.
    // Flipping the two around and storing in another array allows us to store future
    // values simply by referencing the field name, not the index.
    $headers[$fieldname] = $idx;
}
 
// Begin the main import loop
$record = fgetcsv( $csv, 5000 );
while ( $record !== false )
{
    /// Create bean
    $contactbean = new Contact();
 
    // Import each field
    $contactbean->first_name = record[$headers['First Name']];
    $contactbean->last_name = record[$headers['Last Name']];
    $contactbean->phone_home = record[$headers['Home Phone #']];
    // repeat until all your fields are set
 
 
    $contactbean->save();
 
    // Get the next record
    $record = fgetcsv( $csv, 5000 );
} 
  

SugarCRM is not an easy software to develop for, at first. There is a steep learning curve, so there will be many proverbial brick walls. It is nice to have a PHP debugger, to help understand the Sugar code.

I wish you the best of luck!

[simpsond]

That's an interesting solution. So you put all that code in your import.php in the /modules/modulename folder? I'll give that a try -- you're right about Sugar being a difficult platform to code for. I'm not really a programmer, so I'm sort of learning this as I go.

Thanks for your last post, ponce. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works.