In This Article

Overview

Importing from Template

• Step-by-Step Instructions

Importing Linked VDTs from Value Hound

• What is a Linked VDT?
• Step-by-Step Instructions

Special Considerations

• Emissions Nodes

Summary

• VDT Node Types After Import
• Import Methods Comparison

Overview

Value Driver Trees (VDTs) can be imported into Ideas/Initiatives to save time and ensure consistency across your organization. Instead of manually creating complex VDT structures from scratch, you can reuse existing VDTs or import pre-configured VDT templates. For more information on prerequisites, adding and importing from the VDT Library, refer to VDT Library and Template Management: Adding to and Importing from VDT Library Part 1 article

Importing from Template

The Import from Template option allows you to import VDT structures from a pre-configured Excel file. This is ideal for standardized VDT structures that you use repeatedly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Import Dialog

• Click the library icon in the VDT toolbar
• Select Import from Template
• A pop-up dialog will appear
  
  
  

Step 2: Download the Template

If you don't have a template yet:

1. Click Download Template in the dialog
2. An Excel file will download to your computer
3. This template shows the required format for VDT imports
   
   
   

Step 3: Prepare Your Template File

The Excel template must include the following required fields:

• Title: The display name for each node
• Node Type: Parent, KPI, Constant, Variable, or Reference
• Reference Character: The letter/character used in formulas (e.g., A, B, C)
• Formula/Expression: How the node calculates for parent nodes (e.g., =A*B)
• Values: Baseline and target values for constant, variable and KPI nodes
  

Template Best Practices:

• Use clear, descriptive node names
• Maintain consistent reference characters
• Test formulas before importing
• Document any special configurations

For more information on how to populate the template, please see this Rules and Samples article: Idea Value Driver Tree Import Rules and Sample : Helpdesk

Step 4: Configure Import Settings

    1. Replace Existing VDT Tree Checkbox

• Check to replace your entire current VDT
• Leave unchecked to import into a specific parent node
  
  

    2. Select Import To Node

• Choose the empty parent node for the import
• This is where your template structure will be inserted
  
   

    3. Select Template File

• Click Choose File or Browse
• Navigate to your prepared Excel template
• Select the file and click Open
  
  
  

Step 5: Complete the Import

• Click Import to process the template
  
   
• While the system validates the template structure, the following notifications will appear
  
  
  
• You can verify whether the import was successful or not by viewing the import status from your notifications panel
  
  
  
• If successful, the VDT structure appears in your selected parent node

Importing Linked VDTs from Value Hound

When importing VDTs from the Value Hound module into an Idea/Initiative VDT, special considerations apply because Value Hound supports linked VDTs (VDTs that reference other VDTs), but Ideas/Initiatives do not.

What is a Linked VDT?

• A linked VDT is a VDT that contains nodes referencing another complete VDT
• This creates a parent-child relationship between VDTs
• Common in Value Hound for complex organizational structures

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start the Import

• Follow the same steps as "Import from Library" above
• Select a Value Hound VDT from the dropdown
  
  

Step 2: Review the Warning

• If the Value Hound VDT imported into an Idea/Initiative VDT contains linked nodes, a warning message appears that states:
  • The system detects linked child nodes
  • A warning explains that linked nodes will be converted
  • You can choose to continue or cancel
    

Step 3: Decide to Continue or Cancel

• Continue: The linked child nodes will be converted and the following occurs:
  • Linked child nodes become constant nodes on the Idea/Initiative VDT
  • The current values from the linked VDT are captured
  • The connection to the original VDT is removed
    
• Cancel: No changes are made
  
  

Step 4: Verify After Import

• Check that converted constant nodes have correct values
• Update values manually if needed

Impact on Your VDT

• Calculations: Will use the captured constant values
• Updates: Changes to the original Value Hound VDT won't affect your Idea/Initiative VDT
• Editing: You can manually update the constant values as needed
  
  

The link to the referenced VDT will still be maintained on the Value Hound VDT if a linked Value Hound VDT is imported to another Value Hound VDT. The conversion to a constant node only occurs when a linked Value Hound VDT is imported to an Idea/Initiative VDT.

Special Considerations

Emissions Nodes

When importing a VDT that contains Emissions nodes (non-financial benefit nodes tagged to the Emissions category):

• An info message will appear during import that states that the initiative will be sourced to the Emissions module
• This means the Idea's emissions data will feed into organization-wide emissions tracking
• Note: This message only appears when the Emissions feature is enabled on your site

Summary

VDT Node Types After Import

Import Methods Comparison