Import a term set

While you can build out term sets and terms manually in the Term Store Management Tool, you also have the option to bulk import all of the terms in a term set by using a specially formatted comma-separated values (*.csv) file that you can download directly from the Term Store Management Tool. Importing term sets may be more convenient than building them manually, especially if you plan to develop and refine your term sets before implementing them.

For more information about the managed metadata features in SharePoint Server 2010, including an overview of some of the terminology used in this article, see Introduction to managed metadata in SharePoint Server 2010.

There are three steps involved in importing a term set:

1. Download a copy of the import file

2. Fill out the import file with your term set values

3. Import a term set

Download a copy of the import file

In the Term Store Management Tool, you can download a copy of a comma-separated values file that you can use to compile the terms in your term set.

1. On the Site Actions menu, click Site Settings.

2. Under Site Administration, click Term store management.

3. In the Properties pane, select the Managed Metadata Service application that you want, if it is not already selected.

4. Select the Managed Metadata Service application in the tree view pane on the left.

5. In the Properties pane, in the Sample Import section, click View a sample import file.

6. In the File Download dialog box, click Save, and select the location where you want to save the file.

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Fill out the import file with your term set values

Each import file can contain a single term set. These terms can be arranged in a hierarchy that is up to seven levels deep. If you want to import multiple term sets, you will need to create a file for each term set. Before you fill out the import file, you will want to give some thought as to how you want to group your organization's metadata into term sets and terms. For more information about planning the content of your term sets, see Plan terms and term sets.

For more information about planning to import term sets, see Plan to import managed metadata.

1. Open the sample import file you have downloaded.

2. Study the file to become familiar with the hierarchy of a term set.

3. When you are ready to begin adding your terms to the file, delete all rows except the first, and then enter the information for the terms you want to use.

For more detailed information about the input file format for term sets as well as how to fill out the file, see Managed metadata input file format.

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Import a term set

You must have at least Group Manager rights in the Term Store Management Tool to import term sets. For more information about managed metadata roles, see Manage permissions and roles for term sets.

1. On the Site Actions menu, click Site Settings.

2. Under Site Administration, click Term store management.

3. In the Properties pane, select the Managed Metadata Service application you want to work with.

4. In the tree view pane on the left, expand the groups to find the group where you want to import the term set.

5. Point to the group, click the arrow that appears, and then click Import Term Set.

6. In the Term set import dialog box, click Browse, locate the import file you have updated with the term set values, and then click Open.

7. In the Term set import dialog box, click OK.

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