Importing Geofences

You can add geofences into Engagement services by using the Import Geofence button. The feature helps you do a bulk import of geofences.

To import geofences, follow these steps:

On the Location page, click the Import Geofence button to navigate to the Import Locations page.

The Import Locations page appears.

Important: You can import any number of geofences by using the sample .CSV file or create a file similar to the .CSVfile, including all the mandatory fields.
Click the link (sample CSV file) below the Import Location header to use the sample.CSV file. The sample.CSV file is downloaded to your local system.
If you create a .CSV file, the data entered in the .CSV file should have all the mandatory fields. For example, NAME, RADIUS, LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, and DESCRIPTION. You can also use alphanumeric and special characters to fill in the data.
Import Type: Select the desired option from the drop-down list. There are three options to import geofences in bulk.
- Insert Only: By default, the Import Type option is set to Insert Only. The option reads the data in the file and inserts geofences in the Engagement server. If insert fails, the system displays an error.
- Update/Insert: The option reads the data in the file and tries to update each record first. If the record update fails, the system inserts the new records.
- Delete All and Insert: The option deletes existing geofences data and inserts new data in the Engagement server. As a prerequisite, you need to take backup of your data before selecting the option.
Delimiter Type: Select the type of delimiter from the Delimiter Type drop-down list, such as Comma (,), and Semicolon (;) or PIPE. By default, the feature is set to comma.
If you do not want to upload the .CSV file, click the Cancel button to exit from the window without saving any information.
Upload File: Click the Choose File button to locate your .CSV file, and then click the Open button. The .CSV file name appears in the Upload File field.
Click the Validate and Upload button to validate the .CSV file.

If the file upload is successful, the system displays the confirmation message that the file uploaded successfully and import is underway. The system also displays the assigned request ID.

Note: If there are error notifications, you need to modify the information in the relevant fields in your .CSV file and re-validate the file. The following error messages may appear:
- If the selected file format is not correct, the system displays a warning message to upload a .CSV file.
- If any of the required attributes (in the header) are missing in the uploaded file, the system displays a warning message.

To view the current status of file uploaded, click the request ID. Clicking the request ID navigates you to the Settings > Status > File Upload page.

Updating Imported Geofences

You can update an existing geofence in the Engagement server by providing the same name in the .CSV file. For example, you import the geofence - Griffith Observatory with the following parameters:

NAME,RADIUS,LATITUDE,LONGITUDE,ALTITUDE,DESCRIPTION,TAGS,CLIENT_ACTION,MESSAGE,CUSTOM_LOGIC,
METADATA

Here NAME, RADIUS, and LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, ALTITUDE, and DESCRIPTION are the required parameters. You can provide a empty value for the optional parameters. For example, for the CUSTOM_LOGIC parameter, an empty value is passed.

Griffith Observatory,50.0,36.1193,-119.3002,90, Griffith Observatory Los Angeles CA 90027 USA, Telescope%Solar%Eclipse,localNotification, Welcome to Griffith Observatory,,key1=Lunar%key2=cycle

Required Parameters

The table displays the assigned values to the required parameters:

NAME	RADIUS	LATITUDE	LONGITUDE	ALTITUDE	DESCRIPTION
Griffith Observatory	50.0	36.1193	-119.3002	90	Observatory Los Angeles CA 90027 USA

Optional Parameters

The table displays the assigned values to the optional parameters:

TAGS	CLIENT_ACTION (MESSAGE)	CLIENT_ACTION (CUSTOM_LOGIC)	METADATA
Telescope%Solar%Eclipse	Welcome to Griffith Observatory	Null value	key1=Lunar%key2=cycle

The imported geofence appears in the list-view.

Next, you update the RADIUS parameter value from 50.0 miles to 51.0 miles.

Griffith Observatory,51.0,36.1193,-119.3002,90, Griffith Observatory Los Angeles CA 90027 USA, Telescope%Solar%Eclipse,localNotification, Welcome to Griffith Observatory,,key1=Lunar%key2=cycle

When you upload the updated geofence, the system displays the confirmation message that the file uploaded successfully and import is in progress. The system also displays the assigned request ID to view the current status of the file upload.

Preparing a .CSV file for importing or updating Geofences

Here is a checklist to consider when you prepare .CSV file to import or update locations.

Ensure that the data provided in the .CSV file is properly escaped for the delimiter in use. For example, you want to include a text message with a comma in the .CSV file. You need to enclose the text message in double quotes to escape the comma (delimiter).

The following .CSV file displays the use of comma and double quotes to escape delimiters.

The examples from the above .CSV file are as follows:
- “Hello, This is comma – escaped description” : An example for escaping the comma with double quotes.
- “ alert (“” Hello World!””)”: An example for escaping double quotes with double quotes.
- You should not keep a string value with a double open quotes as it is a special escape character for .CSV parsing.
- Example: The following example with a double open quote throws an error.
  Rodeo Drive hosts high-class events ranging from” luxurious jewellery festivals to holiday specials…
To avoid the error wrap the text in double quotes and also escape the double quotes with another double quotes.
- “Rodeo Drive hosts high-class events ranging from”” luxurious jewellery festivals to holiday specials…”