Sitecore Content Migration Basics

Challenge:

For one of our project, we did some research on all the available options for migrating content from other sources like SQL, CSV, XLS, XML, HTML, docx, zip file in to Sitecore.

We Invested good amount of time to do so. And we thought it will be a good idea to share it with you as well!

We at HI, Invest good amount of time before implementing anything for our clients. Because it's always good to use widely accepted, proven solution, rather than creating new one from scratch (Yes, agree at times you've to be the first one). It will not only save bit of your development efforts. But you will be able to provide robust solution to your client, and that's what we (And we are sure you as well, Correct?) strive for!

So, If you are looking for :

1. A solution to migrate content in to your Sitecore project
2. Would like to know what all options are available
3. Confused between all available options
4. And don't have much time to try all available options and need to take a quick call

Then this post is for you!

Solution:

Option

Description

Link

Data ImporterThe Data Importer is designed to make it easy to import data into Sitecore Items. There are three built in data provider types: Sitecore Importer, SQL importer and MySQL Importer.http://marketplace.sitecore.net/en/Modules/Data_Importer.aspxNice videos:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXCDxK-eqrUSitecore Data ImporterMarketplace module. Support import from CSV, docx and zip files of docx files supported in this version.http://marketplace.sitecore.net/en/Modules/Sitecore_Data_Importer.aspxKapowLooks like it’s paid. So. Haven’t had a chance to get hands on it.http://kapowsoftware.com/solutions/content-integration/sitecore.phpCustom DevelopmentDevelop everything from scratch, as these guys explained in given blog postshttp://intothecore.cassidy.dk/2009/04/migrating-data-into-sitecore.htmlhttp://ishraqfataftah.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/import-data-from-excel-sheet-into-sitecore/

Based on above options we derived following comparison matrix, which will help us to decide the best approach (? indicates not sure)

Feature Name

Data Importer

Sitecore Data Importer

Kapow

Custom Development

Extensible

Y

N

?

Y

Stability

Y

Y

Y

?

Popularity

Y

N

?

N

Active Development

Y

N

N

?

Open source

Y

N

N

Y

Import from CSV, DOCX, ZIP

N

Y

N

Y

Import from SQL/ MySQL/Sitecore

Y

N

?

Y

Custom Data Provider support

Y

N

N

?

Documentation

Y

N

Y

Y

Commercial/Paid

N

N

Y

N

Complex

N

?

Y

Y

Development time consuming

N

N

N

Y

So, from above table Data Importer looks promising. And thanks to Mark Stiles for such an awesome architecture. To fit it in to our requirement, we enhanced following things within Data Importer. So, If you are looking for these changes, feel free to let us know. Will try to incorporate it in main version:

1. If Item already exists it updates an item
2. ToImage field --- Downloads image from URL and maps it to an image field
3. XPATH If your source data is in XML
4. RegEx to Split HTML Tags -- In case if you would like to clean up everything or specific tags before content gets migrated in to Sitecore
5. ListToGuid - Supports searching in Buckets
6. Download Documents (word, PDF, any) - Download them from External URL, Upload it in Sitecore and map it to a field.

Just a note : All this data represented here is based on our research, and If you disagree with something, feel free to let us know. We will correct it.

Have we missed anything? What's your learning? It helped you to take a quick call and provide best solution to your clients? Feel free to share your learning with us --- Because Sharing is Caring! :-)

Good reads:

1. An introduction to Sitecore data providers : http://hiblog.wpengine.com/2013/03/17/an-introduction-to-sitecore-data-providers/
2. Importing Content into the Sitecore ASP.NET Web CMS  : http://www.sitecore.net/Community/Technical-Blogs/John-West-Sitecore-Blog/Posts/2010/11/Importing-Content-into-the-Sitecore-ASPNET-Web-CMS.aspx
3. Sitecore Data Importer Updated : http://markstiles.net/Blog/2013/03/02/sitecore-data-importer-updated.aspx
4. Automating Web Content Migration Into Sitecore : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Com0FxOZjo4

Happy Migration! :-)