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  1. Atlassian Guard
  2. ACCESS-1082

Authentication policies: Add bulk entry option CSV formatting instructions and more descriptive error messages

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      Problem Definition

      • The UI doesn't show any steps or tips on how to create a CSV that works with the "Bulk entry" feature in authentication policies
      • The error message shown is generic

      Suggested Solution

      • Add some text in the UI or link to documentation to instruct customers on how to best format CSVs for bulk entry
      • More descriptive error message showing what the error is and at which line the error occurs

      Why this is important

      • The feature is not very forgiving with various CSV formats, formatting and encoding, e.g. ACCESS-1063
      • Successful validation/passing can be quite frustrating as it requires some trial and error - especially when the error message is not descriptive
      • Many customers prefer Excel for CSV editing/creation - CSVs generated by Excel has many potential quirks which may cause issues with the bulk entry feature due to the many formatting options/features offered in Excel

      Workaround

      • Use a text editor to visually validate the CSV and ensure that there aren't any unexpected characters or spacing. Expected formatting: 
        email1@domain.com,email2@domain.com,email3@domain.com,email4@domain.com,email5@domain.com

        OR

        email1@domain.com,
email2@domain.com,
email3@domain.com,
email4@domain.com,
email5@domain.com
      • Applications or OSs may unexpectedly add random characters to the CSV
      • If exporting the CSV from another authentication policy, be sure to remove any headers or other non-email columns from the CSV.

            [ACCESS-1082] Authentication policies: Add bulk entry option CSV formatting instructions and more descriptive error messages

            James Talbot added a comment -

            Thanks for the solutions. Due to a billing issue Atlassian wiped our SSO and Provisioning configuration. Nice! So had to move 1700+ users from the local policy to IdP one.

            James Talbot added a comment - Thanks for the solutions. Due to a billing issue Atlassian wiped our SSO and Provisioning configuration. Nice! So had to move 1700+ users from the local policy to IdP one.

            Eric Smith added a comment -

            It can also be done in Excel by doing the following:

             

            1. Export list of managed users and open in Excel
            2.  Delete all columns except for EMail address
            3. Delete the EMail header at the top of the EMail addresses
            4. select all cells with EMail addresses and copy
            5. in A1 (Where the EMail header used to be) right click, goto paste options, and select "Transpose" to put all EMail addresses in "A" row across columns
            6. Save CSV file

            Eric Smith added a comment - It can also be done in Excel by doing the following:   Export list of managed users and open in Excel  Delete all columns except for EMail address Delete the EMail header at the top of the EMail addresses select all cells with EMail addresses and copy in A1 (Where the EMail header used to be) right click, goto paste options, and select "Transpose" to put all EMail addresses in "A" row across columns Save CSV file

            Cris Ky added a comment -

            @alex cisneros, thank you! 

            Cris Ky added a comment - @alex cisneros, thank you! 

            Alex Cisneros added a comment - - edited

            Ok I figured it out. 

            1. Export a user list (csv) from the "Users not synced from an identity provider"
            2. Add a comma at the end of each email address https://www.tutorialspoint.com/how-to-add-comma-at-the-end-of-cell-text-in-excel
            3. Copy and paste the user list (with commas) in a text editor. Email addresses only. 
            4. Save the file as a .csv in text editor
            5. Go back to Atlassian and import. 

            Alex Cisneros added a comment - - edited Ok I figured it out.  Export a user list (csv) from the "Users not synced from an identity provider" Add a comma at the end of each email address https://www.tutorialspoint.com/how-to-add-comma-at-the-end-of-cell-text-in-excel Copy and paste the user list (with commas) in a text editor. Email addresses only.  Save the file as a .csv in text editor Go back to Atlassian and import. 

            Alex Cisneros added a comment - - edited

            I am struggling with this . I need to move over 800+ users and I cannot figure this one out. 

            Alex Cisneros added a comment - - edited I am struggling with this . I need to move over 800+ users and I cannot figure this one out. 

            Jean Desulme added a comment -

            This was quite painful to figure out that this was the intended format. I half expected that the user export would've worked initially. I had to figure out the correct convention to get it working. Clear instructions would've allowed me to move quickly without needing to troubleshoot repeatedly. 

            In addition, the error message provided is not helpful when the format is incorrect. 

            Jean Desulme added a comment - This was quite painful to figure out that this was the intended format. I half expected that the user export would've worked initially. I had to figure out the correct convention to get it working. Clear instructions would've allowed me to move quickly without needing to troubleshoot repeatedly.  In addition, the error message provided is not helpful when the format is incorrect. 

            Jordi Garcia added a comment -

            Is as easy as providing a template people can download and fill. Not the first time I need to help someone doing it for the first time who is trying to use the "export" file and change it for an upload.

            I seems simple just to provide the emails but because there is no information people get really confused.

            Jordi Garcia added a comment - Is as easy as providing a template people can download and fill. Not the first time I need to help someone doing it for the first time who is trying to use the "export" file and change it for an upload. I seems simple just to provide the emails but because there is no information people get really confused.

            Derek Mart added a comment -

            A missing user in a long list will make this process fail and one has to manually cut up the list to find the bad user.  Very time consuming process.

            Derek Mart added a comment - A missing user in a long list will make this process fail and one has to manually cut up the list to find the bad user.  Very time consuming process.

            John Price added a comment -

            Yes, I had huge problems with this.  "CSV format" is unclear.  It took me a while to figure out that what it wants is a comma-delimited list of email addresses rather than a structure user file like the one you download form the directory page.  

            John Price added a comment - Yes, I had huge problems with this.  "CSV format" is unclear.  It took me a while to figure out that what it wants is a  comma-delimited list of email addresses  rather than a structure user file like the one you download form the directory page.  

              Unassigned Unassigned
              dnguyen4 Derrick Nguyen
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                Created:
                Updated: