The employee import workflow lets you add multiple employees into SelectHR in one go. This is useful when onboarding a large number of new starters.
This article explains how the import works, how validation errors are handled, and how to test your data in a safe environment.
How the import works
The import process runs through the following steps:
Upload a spreadsheet in the first stage of the workflow.
SelectHR runs a stored procedure (
[ZZSystemEmployee].[Import Prepare]) to validate the data and trim white spaces.If the data fails validation, you’ll see an error and the import ends.
If validation passes, the data is saved to a temporary holding table (
[ZZSystemEmployee].[Import]).During the next scheduled service poll (usually every 15 minutes), another procedure (
[ZZSystemEmployee].[Import Process]) uploads the data.Once uploaded, the temporary data is deleted automatically.
If validation fails, the workflow shows this message: Failure to import X rows. Check the event log for errors.
This means some rows failed validation. You’ll need to check the data to resolve the issue.
Check for errors in your test system
Use the Administrator Tool to identify what’s wrong with your spreadsheet. This process should only be done in your test environment.
📌 Note: Do not run these steps in your live system. In test mode, the import table data won’t clear automatically, which can lead to inconsistencies.
Follow these steps:
Log in to the SelectHR administrator tool.
Click Import/Export Data.
Double-click Employee Import.
Click Browse and locate your spreadsheet.
Tick First row contains column headers.
Click Next > Next > Next > Yes.
Review the converted data, then click Next > Next.
The import will begin.
If there’s an issue with a row, a red error message will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Scroll right to identify the row causing the problem.
Correct the error in your spreadsheet and repeat the steps above. Continue this process until all errors are resolved.
Once the import completes with no errors, run the employee import workflow in your test system to reattempt the upload.
If the upload works correctly, you can then use the updated spreadsheet to run the import in the live system.
Summary
The employee import uses a two-step process: validation and system upload.
Errors stop the workflow at the validation step.
Always test your spreadsheet in a test system first.
Use the admin tool to find and fix row-specific errors.
Only run successful imports in the live system
🤓 Tip: Keep your spreadsheet tidy by removing extra spaces and making sure all required columns are populated correctly.
If you need employees imported for you, please reach out to your account manager.