Limitations of the Master ListLimitations of the Master List

The Master List is an Excel template that you can fill with data and import into your Pure. It is a simple way of populating your Pure with basic data. Its limitations mean that it is best suited for one-time imports of basic data during an implementation project, while more sustainable data population and maintenance methods such as XML synchronizations are being developed. It is only recommended for long-term use for small Pures with uncomplicated requirements - for instance, no more than 500 Person records and no multiple affiliations on Persons.

For most Pure clients, the Master List functionality is not enabled by default. Please contact your Pure Implementation Manager or Pure Support if you are interested in using it.

This page describes some of the limitations of the Master List in comparison with XML imports and synchronizations. It is not exhaustive.

Scope of the dataset

• Complete current dataset must be uploaded each time; if records are removed from a Master List using 'Manage data outside Pure' mode before a subsequent upload, then they are given an end date by Pure

Timeliness of integration

• Cannot be scheduled - a manual upload is required each time

Locking of records

• All data in a Master List is either locked for editing in Pure when imported in 'Manage data outside Pure' mode or unlocked for editing in Pure when imported in 'Manage data inside Pure' mode - it is not possible to control this field by field and there are no other locking-related configurations
• When a field that allows multiple values (such as Title or Image) is locked by a Master List import, the imported values cannot be edited but more values may be added manually in Pure
• Duplicates imported by the Master List in 'Manage data outside Pure' mode cannot be merged within Pure
• The Master List does not lock classification schemes; manual edits can be made to these schemes in Pure that will then be overwritten when a new version of the Master List is imported

Flexibility of integration

• Because the Master List autogenerates IDs when it is imported into Pure, the process of moving from Master List imports to XML synchronizations can be complex, as these IDs must be retained or extracted and modified

Maturity

• Stable but not in active development

Error handling and logging

• Pure validates Master List imports like XML bulk imports or synchronizations, but the Excel template is sensitive to trailing spaces, capitalisation, unexpected characters and lineation, which Pure does not identify during the validation process
• Error messages can be unspecific, e.g. 500 internal server error

Coverage and functionality

• The Master List can only import Organisational Unit, Person and User data, and a small selection of classification schemes
  Person affiliations are limited to the Staff type (Student, Honorary and Visiting affiliations are not supported)
• The available fields are limited and not extensible in any way - for instance, it only supports one Title type and three ID types
• It is not possible to import Keywords with Master List