When you export elements that include matrix attributes, you use a special format of the Microsoft Excel file. When you use Excel to import matrix attributes, you must use this format.When you import elements, if the size of the matrix attributes is locked, the number of rows and columns in the Excel sheet and the Focal Point^® matrix must be the same. If the attribute size is not locked, the smallest possible matrices that can contain the values are created. If the values of the matrix attributes are locked, the default values of the matrices are not overwritten in the import.

In this example, three exported elements contain two matrix attributes. The largest matrix attributes determine the number of rows and columns that are used for each element. Matrix 1 contains columns A-C and rows 1-3. Matrix 2 contains columns A-C and rows 1-6. Because matrix 2 has three more rows than matrix 1, 3 rows under Element 1 in matrix 1 are empty.

In matrix 1, Element 2 does not contain values for cells B1 to C3; those cells are empty. In matrix 2, Element 2 does not contain values for cells A4 to C6; therefore, Element 2 has three empty rows.

In matrix 2, Element 3 does not contain values for A5 to B6 or for any cells in column C; those cells are empty. If other attribute values, such as Description, Integer 1, and Integer 2, are exported or imported, they are placed on the same row as the ID and title attributes for each element.