Introduction to Field Mapping

Introduction to Field Mapping

Once you have an Import Configuration set up, the next critical step is field mapping. This is the process of telling the system exactly which column from your source file should populate which field on your form. This connection is made directly within the Form Editor for each individual form element.

This guide will walk you through the standard process for mapping a single field.

How to Map a Form Field

Mapping is done on a field-by-field basis using the Import Panel in the Form Editor.

Step 1: Select the Target Element

Open your form in the Clevr Form Editor and click on the specific form element (e.g., a text input, dropdown, or text area) that you want to populate with imported data.

Step 2: Open the Import Panel

With the element selected, look for its properties panel (typically on the right side of the editor). Locate and click the Import settings icon to display the mapping options.

Step 3: Set the Import Source

In the "Import" panel, find the Source dropdown menu and select "Generic Data Import." This tells the form element that it's ready to receive data from an Import Configuration.
Locate the Alias dropdown menu. This list contains the Aliases of all the configurations you have set up in the Import Module. Select the specific Alias you want to use for this element.

Step 5: Define the Data Mapping Expression

Info
Note: For the column header dropdown to be available, your Import Configuration must be saved with a valid file path, and the source file must already be uploaded to that location.
In the Expression text area, you'll define which data maps to this field.

Methods for Entering an Expression
There are two ways to enter your expression:
  1. Recommended (Select from Dropdown): Because the system has already processed the file linked to your selected Alias, the easiest and most accurate method is to select a column from the dropdown menu available in the Expression field. This ensures the column name is spelled correctly.
  2. Manual Entry: You can also type an expression directly. When doing so, use curly braces {} to specify a column name from your import file (e.g., {StudentID}). The name inside the braces must exactly match the header in your source file.
Types of Expressions
Regardless of the method you use, you can create three main types of expressions:
  1. Simple Expression
    A direct mapping to a single column from your file.
    Example: {CaseManager}
  2. Combined Expression
    A mix of multiple columns and static text.
    Example: {LastName}, {FirstName} or ID: {StudentID}
  3. Indexed Expression
    An advanced expression used to pull data from a specific row when multiple source file rows are grouped together for a single record. The index starts at [0] for the first row.
    Example: {GuardianName[0]}

    For a complete guide on how to set up and use indexed expressions, see the Advanced Mapping: Using Indexed Expressions article.

Step 6: Repeat and Publish

Repeat the steps above for all other elements on the form that you wish to populate. When you are finished, Publish the form to make your mapping changes live and ready for the next import run.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics of mapping a field, you can explore more advanced scenarios for handling complex data.

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