A system and a methodology creates a mapping of a set of import parameters
specifying a device in a first set of import data to a set of output
parameters specifying the device in a first database. Such a mapping
includes receiving the set of import parameters from an import file
containing the first set of import data in a plurality of import records,
each import record containing a plurality of import values, each import
value corresponding to an import parameter from the set of import
parameters; receiving the set of output parameters from the first
database; and creating the mapping of the set of import parameters to the
set of output parameters. The system and methodology described in here
allows users to import data about various types of devices into a device
database on a systematic and efficient method. Such a system and
methodology also allows a user to maintain a complete database including
all devices used within a process plant.