---
sourceDocument: Xanadu Platform Analytics
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/now-intelligence

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    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu Platform Analytics

ft:clusterId :

    - par

bundleId :

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workflow :

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---

# Working with external datasets

# Working with external datasets {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated August 1, 2024
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Use the data available outside of ServiceNow® environment in Process Mining to optimize your processes and solve business problems. To use external datasets, you must first import them into ServiceNow® environment.  
Note:  
For Process Mining for External Data licensing and packaging information, please contact your account team.

Importing external datasets into ServiceNow® environment lets you use Process Mining on any data without thinking about its source, thus making your life easy.

To import external datasets into ServiceNow® and create a project with it and mine it, you must do the following steps:

* [Create an audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ixOOyF9RYpOrt8TEDgwBNQ "Create an audit table to store data. Audit table is a staging table that is created with the required columns to populate the external data.")
* [Import external data into the audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3L46NWNBIIW~15KJYMzT7Q "Import external dataset into the audit table to start working with the data in Process Mining.")
* [Validate the imported data](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/282mpXlzLGtxzyNCjSKUuQ "Verify the data that was imported and validate that the data is accurate. The success of your data mining depends on the accuracy of your imported data.")
* [Create a records table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ak~3yUi~uG~cs7dR1_zGwg "Create case records for the imported data as it is important for creating a project and mining it. Without a record table, a project can’t be created.")
* [Create a project and mine it](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6xUHDRFI6xarduIIzKWk9w "Create a project with the imported external data. You must mine the project to analyze your data and improve your processes.")

{#external-dataset__ul_irr_kkd_lxb} Figure 1. External dataset architecture
* **[Create an audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ixOOyF9RYpOrt8TEDgwBNQ)**   
  Create an audit table to store data. Audit table is a staging table that is created with the required columns to populate the external data.
* **[Add custom fields to the audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/kLULMfYMyqIX3urA7fCEBQ)**   
  The custom fields form as breakdown filters when viewing the process graph. Without custom fields, there won't be any breakdown filters.
* **[Import data into the audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3L46NWNBIIW~15KJYMzT7Q)**   
  Import external dataset into the audit table to start working with the data in Process Mining.
* **[Verify the imported data](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/282mpXlzLGtxzyNCjSKUuQ)**   
  Verify the data that was imported and validate that the data is accurate. The success of your data mining depends on the accuracy of your imported data.
* **[Create case records for the imported data](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ak~3yUi~uG~cs7dR1_zGwg)**   
  Create case records for the imported data as it is important for creating a project and mining it. Without a record table, a project can't be created.
* **[Create a project](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6xUHDRFI6xarduIIzKWk9w)**   
  Create a project with the imported external data. You must mine the project to analyze your data and improve your processes.
* **[Managing an audit table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/3HGn_jtHm7dm7EcB~8aUsg)**   
  After the audit and record tables are created with the imported data, you can use them to create a project. You can also share, edit, empty, or delete the tables.