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Set up attributes in Viva Glint

Set up attributes in Microsoft Viva Glint to create a mapping of fields to expect in your employee data files transmitted to Viva Glint. To set up required, custom, hierarchy, and derived attributes, use the decisions made in the Employee attribute template as a guide.

Note

Before starting, confirm that the attribute selections in your Employee attribute template are final. Viva Glint Admins can't edit file or date attribute formats.

Attribute setup in Viva Glint

To set up attributes Viva Glint, your uploaded file must contain a finalized attribute header row and at least one row of employee data. Use the in-platform, attribute setup process to create a mapping to import employee data.

Caution

The Viva Glint Admin who sets up or changes attributes needs to save changes in the default language for your organization. Confirm that the default language (often English) is selected in the Language dropdown menu in Viva Glint. Setting up or editing attributes in a different language resets the expected language for Viva Glint data ingestion and causes upload errors.

Learn more about how to set up attributes in Viva Glint with this video and the following instructions:

1. Upload dataset

  1. From the admin dashboard, select Configuration.

  2. In Employees, select People.

  3. Choose Get Started and select New User Schema or Attribute Updates to begin the four-step setup process.

    Screenshot of the import option selection screen, including the New User Schema or Attribute Updates option.

  4. Upload finalized attributes in your selected format. This file format determines the format for all future uploads. Select Continue.

    Screenshot of step 1 to upload your attributes in a finalized file layout.

2. Preview employee data fields

Check that the attribute names and values appear as expected.

Screenshot of step 2 to preview uploaded attributes.

  1. Verify that:

    • All attributes are present in the preview.
    • Attribute values shown for preview data display in the correct column.
    • The total count of "data fields found" displayed above the preview matches the number of attributes in the file.
  2. If dates are included in your file, select the There are date fields checkbox and then choose your date format from the dropdown menu.

    Caution

    • All attributes that include dates must follow the same format.
    • Viva Glint transforms incoming dates to Viva Glint's preferred format, yyyy/mm/dd, upon upload.
    • Complete date selection in this step and Derived attribute setup in the next step to import dates in a format that's usable for Distribution lists and survey triggers.
  3. After previewing, select Continue.

3. Set up attributes

Map your uploaded and confirmed attributes to Viva Glint fields. This setup is divided into four sections:

Required attributes

Select your attribute from the dropdown for each required attribute:

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email
  • Employee ID
  • Status

Screenshot of step 3 to map required attributes.

Derived attributes

Viva Glint calculates attributes based on data sent in your employee attribute file. Decide whether to include tenure groups based on hire date or age groups based on birth year.

Derived Field Based On Derived Values
Tenure* Hire Date <1 Year, 1-2 Years, 2-4 Years, 4-6 Years, 6-10 Years, 10-15 Years, 15-20 Years, 20+ Years
Age Grouping Birth Year <25, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

* Tenure values for new Viva Glint customers after January 13, 2024. Before this date: 0-1 Year, 1-2 Years, 2-3 Years, 3-4 Years, 4-5 Years, 5-7 Years, 7+ Years.

Important

  • To avoid duplicated attribute errors, don’t include derived attributes like Tenure in your employee data file. Viva Glint creates these fields.
  • Age Grouping derivations can be based on Birth Year, but not full Birth Date. Include Birth Year in your employee data to create Age Grouping.
  1. Select the section with the desired attribute.
  2. Select the desired attribute from the dropdown menu.
  3. Select Continue.

Screenshot of step 3 to map derived attributes.

Optional System Attributes

Map attributes in your employee data to Viva Glint language, time zone, and personal email fields to indicate how and when to communicate with employees. Choose to enable any of the following fields by selecting the checkbox and choosing a field from your file in the Sync From dropdown menu:

Viva Glint Field Description
Survey Language The language for employee surveys and emails.
Dashboard Language The language for user dashboards.
User Timezone The time zone in which survey communications are sent.
Personal Email Users' personal email addresses that can be used to survey exiting employees. Select Company and Personal Email in the Communications section of your survey program.

Screenshot of step 3 to map optional system attributes.

Important

Send language and time zone values exactly as they appear in related tabs in the following articles:

Users with blank or invalid values receive and access surveys/emails/dashboards in your organization's default selection in General Settings.

See Recent language changes for changes to supported languages and codes effective April 10, 2025.

Hierarchy groups

Select your attributes from the dropdown menu for each hierarchy group. If needed, you can return to this section later to add new hierarchy groups, rename groups or levels, or add new lowest levels.

  • To have Viva Glint create a Manager Hierarchy, map your manager ID field from your employee data to Manager ID.

  • To add more levels to a hierarchy, select + Add Level.

  • To add a new hierarchy group, select + Add Hierarchy Group.

  • To rename the hierarchy label, select the pencil symbol.

  • To delete a group or level, select the trash can symbol.

    Screenshot of step 3 to map hierarchy group attributes.

4. Review

Review a summary of all selections made in attribute setup and use the Go Back option to make any corrections before moving forward. The review step includes:

  • Summary
  • User Attributes
  • Removed User Attributes
  • Required Attributes Mapping
  • Derived Attributes Mapping
  • Optional System Attributes Mapping
  • Hierarchy Groups Mapping

Screenshot of step 4 to review uploaded attribute mapping.

Note

Viva Glint allows for up to 100 User Attributes. Required, optional system, and hierarchy attributes don't count toward this limit.

5. Choose how you want to import data

  1. Choose between these two options:

    Screenshot of step 5 to confirm attribute and data import options.

    Option Description Use case
    1 Save attributes and import employee data. Viva Glint creates an attribute mapping and imports all employee data in the file uploaded for attribute setup. Any admin users set up in the platform but not included in the file are deactivated and lose access to Viva Glint. Select this option if the employee data in your file is complete and finalized and doesn't contain test or partial data.
    2 Save attributes and discard employee data. Viva Glint creates an attribute mapping only and doesn't import any employee records from the file uploaded for attribute setup. Select this option to set up attributes based on your header row only and import employee data later.

    Caution

    Employee data can't be deleted in bulk. Use the Save attributes and discard employee data option for initial setup if your file's column labels are finalized but employee data isn't.

  2. Select Save.

Update attributes after initial setup

To add new attributes or rename attributes after your initial setup, use Update attributes in Viva Glint guidance.

Next step

After setting up your attributes in Viva Glint, choose a data upload method and upload your employee data.