Meridix Platform supports several ways to import measurement objects from external sources and also has the ability to automatically synchronize against an external catalog. (Not described here since it's a custom operation that varies depending on the external source).
Import measurement objects from files
You can also import measurement objects from a file at Administration->Import->Import from file. 
The supported file types are .CSV (comma) .TXT (tab) and .XLS.
First you need to state whether the file has a header row or not. If Only add or update measurement objects in existing groups are checked, the system will only add to or update existing groups that are present in both the file and in the system.
You then select what collection point the measurement objects should be associated with and what type they should be imported as. If your file contains data from several collection points and/or contains several types of measurement objects you need to manually split the file and import every combination of collection point /type as a standalone step.
Then you select the file you want to import and click on the button Load file and define mappings. The system will then load the file and present a list of all the columns in the file and an option for you to select what field of the measurement object it should be mapped against.
If the column that should be mapped against the measurement object id (number) contains an prefix, i.g. ext 1234, the "ext" part can be automatically removed by specifiyng "ext" in the prefix textbox. For more advanced patterns please use Excel or another application to clean up the file before import.
When you have mapped the columns click on the Preview button to load a preview of how the import is going to look. Any error is reported in the right column.
If you want to import measurement objects as groups, one field on each row must contain the group name and be mapped against the group option in the mapping settings.
When you are pleased with the preview, click on the Import button to import the file into the system. Now all the measurement objects are available just as if you would have added them manually.
Note that the system tries to synchronize groups. If you try to import a group called Group A and there already exist a group with that name they will be synchronized. And depending on the setting, Only add or update measurement objects in existing groups, the group will be fully synched with the file or only add non-existing measurement objects.