Building audit inputs may be uploaded into the Audit Template individually or in bulk to save data entry steps and to facilitate the transfer of data from other software platforms using .csv or .xlsx files.
Building audit inputs may be imported into the Audit Template after creating and editing an import template by following the steps below, or they may be imported from files that had been created by exporting existing Audit Template building audit reports (see Exporting Audit Report Buildings to Spreadsheets for details), and then following step #3 listed below.
Importing from a Spreadsheet Template
Building audit inputs may be imported into the Audit Template after creating and editing an import template by following the steps below:
1. Download a Report Template file from the Import Buildings page:
- Click on the blue Import Buildings Button from the Buildings page
- Select a file format (either .cxv or .xlsx)
- Select a Report Type from the available types that are currently supported
- Add values to listed input field groups that you want to collect data from. This will create appropriate group and input field column headings to collect data inputs to the spreadsheet. If a '0' is displayed for a field group, a column will not be displayed in the template file. For example, if you would like to collect up to 5 Lighting Fixtures and associated lighting details, enter '5' in the Lighting Fixtures row.
- Click the Download Template link
- Populate the downloaded spreadsheet (.csv) file with building audit report data for single or multiple buildings (entered on separate rows)
2. Populate the downloaded spreadsheet (.csv) file with building audit report data for single or multiple buildings (entered on separate rows)
3. Upload spreadsheet into the Audit Template:
- Select the Choose file button and identify the edited .csv file
- Select the Import button (may take a few minutes to load)
- View the list of Validations Errors (if present)
- Select the clickable link(s) to open building Audit Template report
- Manually enter any missing data into the Audit Template that may have been identified on the Validation Errors screen
- Users may choose the ‘Delete imported buildings’ option if they want to delete and re-import prior to opening a building in the Audit Template
Validation Error Reporting
A list of incomplete fields and their associated input sections may be displayed after importing inputs from a spreadsheet. This list contains the same fields that may be present when selecting the 'Validation Errors' link at the top of the screen when editing a building in the Audit Template. Values for these fields must be added before a building may be considered complete and submitted to a jurisdiction.
Unsupported Field Mapping
The following attributes are not yet fully mapped. Inputs for these fields will need to be manually entered into the Audit Template after importing. All inputs should be reviewed for accuracy before submitting a report to a city.
- Available Energy Supply Sources
- Energy Use by End Use
- HVAC Systems (N/A Checkbox Fields)
- Elevators & Operations
Steps to import building as table
Step 1. Download the table template.
Click the “+ Create Import Template” button.
Step 2. Configure the template fields in the “New Template” prompt.
From the “File Format” dropdown list choose file format (Show “Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) as an example)
From the “Report Type” dropdown list choose the report type. (Show “ASHRAE Level 2 Report” as an example.)
Click the “Export Template” button after finishing the configuration.
Click the “Refresh” link to check the status until the table is ready to download.
Click the “Download” button to download the table template.
Part of the table might look something like the following:
Step 3. Fill out the template table to import.
Tip: a user can export an existing building as table to get a sense about the information to fill.
Here is an example building with filled information: ASHRAE_report_for_screen_capture.xlsx
Step 4. Import the table.
Back to the “New Table Import” section.
Select “Report Type” from the dropdown list. (Note: the type of the configured building report needs to be consistent with the chosen “Report Type”.)
Click “Choose File” and choose the file to import, then click “Import Buildings” button.
Step 5. Complete the import.
In the prompt, refresh to check the status to import building as table.
If everything works as expected, a user will see the building is successfully imported similar to the following screenshot.
Common issues and solutions
Using wrong template table for importing
Users need to assure that the report type in 'step 2. Configure the template fields in the “New Template” prompt' and in
'Step 4. Import the table' are consistent. For example when template A requires the cell I3 be "ZIP Code" then using a table format with cell I3 be "Postal Code" would cause the required "ZIP Code" data not found error. See the validation error information table and notice that the "Column" and "Column (Microsoft Excel)" columns are empty, which indicates that such columns are not found in the to-be-imported spreadsheet.
To resolve this issue, users should choose the proper report type when creating the spreadsheet template. Another approach is to export an existing building of the desired report type from the system and replace the data, then import such modified spreadsheet later. The latter approach makes sure the spreadsheet header complies with the report requirement and also gives concreate example about the entering data. (For more details about exporting building to spreadsheet, please see Exporting Audit Report Buildings to Spreadsheets.)
How to identify issue during table importing
When an issue appears during the table importing step, it will be listed as a tabular format that provides information to identify the issue. For example, the following validation error information indicates that the I4 cell with value "not-a-number" is the issue. And the "Message" column indicates the reason of the error, since it "is not a number". With such information, it should help the user identify the key problems of the table to be imported and determine the resolution.
