Import Providers

7 min

Import providers load external data into the connector's import table. Choose the provider that best fits your source system.

Text (CSV/TSV/Fixed) Provider

Class

Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportText

Example

<import> <provider>Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportText</provider> <fileName>C:\Imports\employees.csv</fileName> <headers>true</headers> <timeout>300</timeout> <batchSize>0</batchSize> </import>

Options

Path	Required	Default	Description
provider	✅	—	Class name for Text provider.
fileName	✅	—	Fully qualified path to the file.
headers	Optional	true	Indicates the first line contains column names.
oleprovider	Optional	Microsoft.Jet.OleDb.4.0	Underlying OLE DB provider.
type	Optional	Text	Provider type passed to OLE DB.
timeout	Optional	300	Seconds to wait before timing out.
batchSize	Optional	0	Number of rows per batch (0 = provider decides).

SQL Provider (Local/Remote SQL Server)

Class

Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportSql

Example

<import> <provider>Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportSql</provider> <connectionString>Server=SQL01;Integrated Security=true;Initial Catalog=HRDB;</connectionString> <sql>EXEC dbo.GetEmployeesForActivate</sql> <timeout>120</timeout> <batchSize>0</batchSize> </import>

Options

Path	Required	Default	Description
provider	✅	—	Class name for SQL provider.
connectionString	✅	—	SQL connection string (use . for local Activate DB).
sql	✅	—	SELECT or EXEC statement.
timeout	Optional	120	Seconds before command timeout.
batchSize	Optional	0	Rows per batch for remote SQL loads.

Script Provider (Custom Sources & APIs)

Use script when you need to call web services, read custom APIs, or transform input before load.

Class

Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportScript

Example

<import> <provider>Innovation.Activate.Library\Innovation.Activate.Connectors.ImportScript</provider> <script>=/Script</script> <batchSize>10</batchSize> </import>

Behavior

Your script calls AddRow to push rows into the import set.

Rows are committed every batchSize calls to AddRow.

Options

Path	Required	Default	Description
provider	✅	—	Class name for Script provider.
script	✅	—	Pointer to the script to run.
batchSize	Optional	10	Rows committed per batch.

Provider Selection Guide

Text — Simple flat files delivered on a schedule.

SQL — First choice when the source is a database and you can control a view or stored procedure.

Script — For APIs, complex transforms, or multi-source joins.

Operational Tips

Validate column names and types against your schema before first run.

Set conservative timeout and batchSize during early testing.

Use a staging environment to verify row counts and key uniqueness.

Include notify steps in workflows to surface provider failures quickly.