The Item import Interface(IOI) reads data from following tables for importing items and item details. The MTL_SYSTEMS_ITEM_INTERFACE table is used for new item numbers
and all item attributes. This is the main item interface table, and can be
the only table used to import items. MTL_ITEM_REVISIONS_INTERFACE is used if Item revisions history is also loaded with items. Item categories can be imported using MTL_ITEM_CATEGORIES_INTERFACE.
The import error can be tracked using MTL_INTERFACE_ERRORS table. The transaction_id and request_id populated by the import program can be used to link interface table and error table.

Required columns in MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_INTERFACE
PROCESS_FLAG = 1 (The column is used to identify status of record)
TRANSACTION_TYPE = ‘CREATE’ or ‘UPDATE’
SET_PROCESS_ID = any numeric value (This is not a required column but for performance it is advised to use this column and then run import program for the value entered here)
ORGANIZATION_ID/ORGANIZATION_CODE = Master/Child Org.
DESCRIPTION = ‘Description of the item’
ITEM_NUMBER and/or SEGMENT(n) = If using item_number then each segment value should be entered concatenated by segment seperator. If Item revisions history is also being loaded then Item_number should be populated.
LIST_PRICE_PER_UNIT = If material cost is to be populated for an item along with item import .

Required columns in MTL_ITEM_REVISIONS_INTERFACE table. The table is only used if Item revision is to be loaded in the same run with IOI. If this table is not used then items are created with the default revision setup for an organization.
PROCESS_FLAG = 1
TRANSACTION_TYPE = ‘CREATE’
SET_PROCESS_ID = any numeric value(Should be same for the item in MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_INTERFACE table)
ORGANIZATION_ID/ORGANIZATION_CODE = Master/Child Org.
REVISION
EFFECTIVITY_DATE
IMPLEMENTATION_DATE
ITEM_NUMBER = Same as item_number in mtl_system_items_interface table.
Each row in the mtl_item_revisions_interface table must have the REVISION and
EFFECTIVITY_DATE in alphabetical (ASCII sort) and chronological order.

Required columns for MTL_ITEM_CATEGORIES_INTERFACE table.
TRANSACTION_TYPE = ‘CREATE’
SET_PROCESS_ID = any numeric value(Should be same for the item in MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_INTERFACE table)
ORGANIZATION_ID/ORGANIZATION_CODE = Master/Child Org
ITEM_NUMBER/INVENTORY_ITEM_ID or both
CATEGORY_SET_NAME or CATEGORY_SET_NAME or both
CATEGORY_ID or CATEGORY_NAME or both

For performance purpose, it is advised to batch set of records using set_process_id column and then run import program for that set_process_id. The item import(IOI) program can be run in parallel if seperate set_process_ids are passed while submitting. The IOI automatically separates Master records from Child, and
processes Master records first. However, as one IOI process is not aware of
other IOI processes running in parallel, do not split a given item’s separate
Organization records into two different SET_PROCESS_IDs that are being run in
parallel.

Item import program can be run in 2 modes INSERT & UPDATE.
The method to update Item attribute columns to NULL is to use the following values:
· for Numeric fields: insert -999999
· for Character fields: insert ‘!’