---
title: Running an offline import
description: To import LDIF data encoded with the UTF-8 character set, run the import-ldif tool offline.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_run_offline_import
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_run_offline_import.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
page_aliases: ["pd_ds_perform_offline_import.adoc", "pd_ds_perform_offline_ldif_import_compressed_file.adoc", "pd_ds_perform_offline_ldif_import_makeldif_template.adoc"]
section_ids:
  performing-an-offline-import: Performing an offline import
  steps: Steps
  example: Example:
  performing-an-offline-ldif-import-using-a-compressed-file: Performing an offline LDIF import using a compressed file
  steps-2: Steps
  example-2: Example:
  performing-an-offline-ldif-import-using-a-makeldif-template: Performing an offline LDIF import using a MakeLDIF template
  steps-3: Steps
  example-3: Example:
---

# Running an offline import

To import LDIF data encoded with the UTF-8 character set, run the `import-ldif` tool offline.

This data can come from LDIF files, compressed LDIF files (GZIP format), or from data generated with a MakeLDIF template.

|   |                                                                                           |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | You do not need to authenticate as an administrator when performing offline LDIF imports. |

## Performing an offline import

### Steps

1. Confirm the PingDirectory server is offline.

2. To import data from an LDIF file, use the `import-ldif` command.

   Do not specify any connection arguments when running the command.

   #### Example:

   ```shell
   $ bin/import-ldif --backendID userRoot --ldifFile /path/to/data.ldif \
     --rejectFile /path/to/reject.ldif --skipFile /path/to/skip.ldif
   ```

## Performing an offline LDIF import using a compressed file

### Steps

1. Confirm the PingDirectory server is offline.

2. To import data from a compressed gzip formatted file, use the `import-ldif` command.

   |   |                                                                                                                                                              |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
   |   | You must include the `--isCompressed` option to indicate that the input file is compressed.Do not specify any connection arguments when running the command. |

   #### Example:

   ```shell
   $ bin/import-ldif --backendID userRoot --isCompressed \
     --ldifFile /path/to/data.gz --rejectFile /path/to/reject.ldif \
     --skipFile /path/to/skip.ldif
   ```

## Performing an offline LDIF import using a MakeLDIF template

### Steps

1. Confirm the PingDirectory server is offline.

2. Use the `import-ldif` command to import data from a MakeLDIF template, which is located in the `<server-root>/config/MakeLDIF` directory.

   Do not specify any connection arguments when running the command.

   #### Example:

   The following example uses the standard data template and generates 10,000 sample entries, and then imports the file to the server.

   ```shell
   $ bin/import-ldif --backendID userRoot \
     --templateFile config/MakeLDIF/example.template
   ```