Migrate plugin tables (#11648)

* Prevent creation of PluginConfig during migrations

* Refactor data import process

- Split into multiple separate steps

* Load plugins during data load / dump

- Required, otherwise we cannot dump the data

* Refactor export_records

- Use temporary file
- Cleanup docstring

* Force apps check on second validation step

* Improve import sequencing

* Update CI script

* Update migration docs

* CI pipeline for running import/export test

* Fix workflow naming

* Fix env vars

* Add placeholder script

* Fix matrix env vars

* Fix missing env var

* Install required packages

* Fix typo

* Tweak tasks.py

* Install dummy plugin as part of the

* Updated CI workflow

* Validate exported data

* Additional CI process

* Log mandatory plugins to INFO

* Force global setting

* Refactor CI pipeline

* Tweak file test

* Workflow updates

* Enable auto-update

* Test if import/export test should run

* Trigger if tasks.py changes

.github/actions/migration/action.yaml

@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@ runs:
           invoke export-records -f data.json
           python3 ./src/backend/InvenTree/manage.py flush --noinput
           invoke migrate
-          invoke import-records -c -f data.json --force --strict
+          invoke import-records -c -f data.json --strict
-          invoke import-records -c -f data.json --force --strict
+          invoke import-records -c -f data.json --strict

.github/scripts/check_exported_data.py

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+"""Script to check a data file exported using the 'export-records' command.
+
+This script is intended to be used as part of the CI workflow,
+in conjunction with the "workflows/import_export.yaml" workflow.
+
+In reads the exported data file, to ensure that:
+
+- The file can be read and parsed as JSON
+- The file contains the expected metadata
+- The file contains the expected plugin configuration
+- The file contains the expected plugin database records
+
+"""
+
+PLUGIN_KEY = 'dummy_app_plugin'
+PLUGIN_SLUG = 'dummy-app-plugin'
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import os
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Check exported data file')
+    parser.add_argument('datafile', help='Path to the exported data file (JSON)')
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(args.datafile):
+        print(f'Error: File not found: {args.datafile}')
+        exit(1)
+
+    with open(args.datafile, encoding='utf-8') as f:
+        try:
+            data = json.load(f)
+            print(f'Successfully loaded data from {args.datafile}')
+            print(f'Number of records: {len(data)}')
+        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+            print(f'Error: Failed to parse JSON file: {e}')
+            exit(1)
+
+    found_metadata = False
+    found_installed_apps = False
+    found_plugin_config = False
+    plugin_data_records = {}
+
+    # Inspect the data and check that it has the expected structure and content.
+    for entry in data:
+        # Check metadata entry for expected values
+        if entry.get('metadata', False):
+            print('Found metadata entry')
+            found_metadata = True
+
+            expected_apps = ['InvenTree', 'allauth', 'dbbackup', PLUGIN_KEY]
+
+            apps = entry.get('installed_apps', [])
+
+            for app in expected_apps:
+                if app not in apps:
+                    print(f'- Expected app "{app}" not found in installed apps list')
+                    exit(1)
+
+            found_installed_apps = True
+
+        elif entry.get('model', None) == 'plugin.pluginconfig':
+            key = entry['fields']['key']
+
+            if key == PLUGIN_SLUG:
+                print(f'Found plugin configuration for plugin "{PLUGIN_KEY}"')
+                found_plugin_config = True
+
+        elif entry.get('model', None) == f'{PLUGIN_KEY}.examplemodel':
+            key = entry['fields']['key']
+            value = entry['fields']['value']
+
+            plugin_data_records[key] = value
+
+    if not found_metadata:
+        print('Error: No metadata entry found in exported data')
+        exit(1)
+
+    if not found_installed_apps:
+        print(
+            f'Error: Plugin "{PLUGIN_KEY}" not found in installed apps list in metadata'
+        )
+        exit(1)
+
+    if not found_plugin_config:
+        print(f'Error: No plugin configuration found for plugin "{PLUGIN_KEY}"')
+        exit(1)
+
+    # Check the extracted plugin records
+    expected_keys = ['alpha', 'beta', 'gamma', 'delta']
+
+    for key in expected_keys:
+        if key not in plugin_data_records:
+            print(
+                f'Error: Expected plugin record with key "{key}" not found in exported data'
+            )
+            exit(1)
+
+    print('All checks passed successfully!')

.github/workflows/import_export.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# Ensure that data import / export functionality works as expected.
+# - Create a dataset in a Postgres database (including plugin data)
+# - Export the dataset to an agnostic format (JSON)
+# - Import the dataset into a Sqlite database
+
+name: Import / Export
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches-ignore: ["l10*"]
+  pull_request:
+    branches-ignore: ["l10*"]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+env:
+  python_version: 3.11
+
+  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+  INVENTREE_DEBUG: false
+  INVENTREE_LOG_LEVEL: WARNING
+  INVENTREE_MEDIA_ROOT: /home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_media
+  INVENTREE_STATIC_ROOT: /home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_static
+  INVENTREE_BACKUP_DIR: /home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_backup
+  INVENTREE_SITE_URL: http://localhost:8000
+
+  INVENTREE_PLUGINS_ENABLED: true
+  INVENTREE_AUTO_UPDATE: true
+  INVENTREE_PLUGINS_MANDATORY: "dummy-app-plugin"
+  INVENTREE_GLOBAL_SETTINGS: '{"ENABLE_PLUGINS_APP": true}'
+
+  DATA_FILE: /home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_data.json
+
+  INVENTREE_DB_ENGINE: postgresql
+  INVENTREE_DB_NAME: inventree
+  INVENTREE_DB_USER: inventree
+  INVENTREE_DB_PASSWORD: password
+  INVENTREE_DB_HOST: "127.0.0.1"
+  INVENTREE_DB_PORT: 5432
+
+jobs:
+
+  paths-filter:
+    name: filter
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      server: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.server }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # pin@v6.0.2
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - uses: dorny/paths-filter@fbd0ab8f3e69293af611ebaee6363fc25e6d187d # pin@v4.0.1
+        id: filter
+        with:
+          filters: |
+            server:
+              - 'src/backend/**'
+              - 'tasks.py'
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: paths-filter
+    if: needs.paths-filter.outputs.server == 'true'
+
+    services:
+      postgres:
+        image: postgres:17
+        env:
+          POSTGRES_USER: inventree
+          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: password
+        ports:
+          - 5432:5432
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # pin@v6.0.2
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - name: Environment Setup
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup
+        with:
+          apt-dependency: gettext poppler-utils libpq-dev
+          pip-dependency: psycopg
+          update: true
+          static: false
+      - name: Setup Postgres Database
+        run: |
+          invoke migrate
+          invoke dev.setup-test -i
+      - name: Create Plugin Data
+        run: |
+          pip install -U inventree-dummy-app-plugin
+          invoke migrate
+          cd src/backend/InvenTree && python manage.py create_dummy_data
+      - name: Export Postgres Dataset
+        run: |
+          invoke export-records -o -f ${{ env.DATA_FILE }}
+          python .github/scripts/check_exported_data.py ${{ env.DATA_FILE }}
+          invoke dev.delete-data --force
+      - name: Update Environment Variables for Sqlite
+        run: |
+          echo "Updating environment variables for Sqlite"
+          echo "INVENTREE_DB_ENGINE=sqlite" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "INVENTREE_DB_NAME=/home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_db.sqlite3" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Setup Sqlite Database
+        run: |
+          invoke migrate
+          test -f /home/runner/work/InvenTree/test_inventree_db.sqlite3 || (echo "Sqlite database not created" && exit 1)
+      - name: Import Sqlite Dataset
+        run: |
+          invoke import-records -c -f ${{ env.DATA_FILE }}
+          cd src/backend/InvenTree && python manage.py check_dummy_data
+      - name: Export Sqlite Dataset
+        run: |
+          invoke export-records -o -f ${{ env.DATA_FILE }}
+          python .github/scripts/check_exported_data.py ${{ env.DATA_FILE }}

docs/docs/start/config.md

@@ -554,4 +554,4 @@ To override global settings, provide a "dictionary" of settings overrides in the
 
 | Environment Variable | Configuration File | Description | Default |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
-| GLOBAL_SETTINGS_OVERRIDES | global_settings_overrides | JSON object containing global settings overrides | *Not specified* |
+| INVENTREE_GLOBAL_SETTINGS | global_settings | JSON object containing global settings overrides | *Not specified* |

docs/docs/start/migrate.md

@@ -201,3 +201,32 @@ This will load the database records from the backup file into the new database.
 ### Caveats
 
 The process described here is a *suggested* procedure for migrating between incompatible database versions. However, due to the complexity of database software, there may be unforeseen complications that arise during the process.
+
+## Migrating Plugin Data
+
+Custom plugins may define their own database models, and thus have their own data records stored in the database. If a plugin is being migrated from one InvenTree installation to another, then the plugin data must also be migrated.
+
+To account for this, the `export-records` and `import-records` commands have been designed to also export and import plugin data, in addition to the core InvenTree data.
+
+### Exporting Plugin Data
+
+When running the `export-records` command, any data records associated with plugins will also be exported, and included in the output JSON file.
+
+### Importing Plugin Data
+
+When running the `import-records` command, the import process will also attempt to import any plugin data records contained in the input JSON file. However, for the plugin data to be imported correctly, the following conditions must be met:
+
+1. The plugin *code* must be present in the new InvenTree installation. Any plugins *not* installed will not have their tables created, and thus the import process will fail for those records.
+2. The plugin *version* must be the same in both installations. If the plugin version is different, then the database schema may be different, and thus the import process may fail.
+3. The InvenTree software version must be the same in both installations. If the InvenTree version is different, then the database schema may be different, and thus the import process may fail.
+
+If all of the above conditions are met, then the plugin data *should* be imported correctly into the new database. To achieve this reliably, the following process steps are implemented in the `import-records` command:
+
+1. The database is cleaned of all existing records (if the `-c` option is used).
+2. The core InvenTree database migrations are run to ensure that the core database schema is correct.
+3. User auth records are imported into the database
+4. Common configuration records (such as global settings) are imported into the database
+5. Plugin configuration records (defining which plugins are active) are imported into the database
+6. Database migrations are run once more, to ensure that any plugin database schema are correctly initialized
+7. The database is checked to ensure that all required apps are present (i.e. all plugins are installed and correctly activated)
+8. All remaining records (including plugin data) are imported into the database

src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/ready.py

@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ def isGeneratingSchema():
         'qcluster',
         'check',
         'shell',
+        'help',
     ]
 
     if any(cmd in sys.argv for cmd in excluded_commands):
@@ -132,12 +133,14 @@ def isGeneratingSchema():
 
     included_commands = [
         'schema',
+        'spectactular',
         # schema adjacent calls
         'export_settings_definitions',
         'export_tags',
         'export_filters',
         'export_report_context',
     ]
+
     if any(cmd in sys.argv for cmd in included_commands):
         return True
 
@@ -185,11 +188,38 @@ def isInMainThread():
     return not isInWorkerThread()
 
 
+def readOnlyCommands():
+    """Return a list of read-only management commands which should not trigger database writes."""
+    return [
+        'help',
+        'check',
+        'shell',
+        'sqlflush',
+        'list_apps',
+        'wait_for_db',
+        'spectactular',
+        'makemessages',
+        'collectstatic',
+        'showmigrations',
+        'compilemessages',
+    ]
+
+
+def isReadOnlyCommand():
+    """Return True if the current command is a read-only command, which should not trigger any database writes."""
+    return any(cmd in sys.argv for cmd in readOnlyCommands())
+
+
 def canAppAccessDatabase(
     allow_test: bool = False, allow_plugins: bool = False, allow_shell: bool = False
 ):
     """Returns True if the apps.py file can access database records.
 
+    Arguments:
+        allow_test: If True, override checks and allow database access during testing mode
+        allow_plugins: If True, override checks and allow database access during plugin loading
+        allow_shell: If True, override checks and allow database access during shell sessions
+
     There are some circumstances where we don't want the ready function in apps.py
     to touch the database
     """
@@ -198,7 +228,7 @@ def canAppAccessDatabase(
         return False
 
     # Prevent database access if we are importing data
-    if isImportingData():
+    if not allow_plugins and isImportingData():
         return False
 
     # Prevent database access if we are rebuilding data
@@ -212,13 +242,13 @@ def canAppAccessDatabase(
     # If any of the following management commands are being executed,
     # prevent custom "on load" code from running!
     excluded_commands = [
-        'check',
-        'createsuperuser',
-        'wait_for_db',
-        'makemessages',
         'compilemessages',
-        'spectactular',
+        'createsuperuser',
         'collectstatic',
+        'makemessages',
+        'spectactular',
+        'wait_for_db',
+        'check',
     ]
 
     if not allow_shell:

src/backend/InvenTree/InvenTree/settings.py

@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ PLUGINS_MANDATORY = get_setting(
     'INVENTREE_PLUGINS_MANDATORY', 'plugins_mandatory', typecast=list, default_value=[]
 )
 
+if PLUGINS_MANDATORY:
+    logger.info('Mandatory plugins: %s', PLUGINS_MANDATORY)
+
 PLUGINS_INSTALL_DISABLED = get_boolean_setting(
     'INVENTREE_PLUGIN_NOINSTALL', 'plugin_noinstall', False
 )

src/backend/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py

@@ -222,13 +222,18 @@ class PluginsRegistry:
         import InvenTree.ready
         from plugin.models import PluginConfig
 
-        if InvenTree.ready.isImportingData():
+        # Under certain circumstances, we want to avoid creating new PluginConfig instances in the database
-            return None
+        can_create = (
+            InvenTree.ready.canAppAccessDatabase(
+                allow_plugins=False, allow_shell=True, allow_test=True
+            )
+            and not InvenTree.ready.isReadOnlyCommand()
+        )
 
         try:
             cfg = PluginConfig.objects.filter(key=slug).first()
 
-            if not cfg:
+            if not cfg and can_create:
                 logger.debug(
                     "get_plugin_config: Creating new PluginConfig for '%s'", slug
                 )

src/backend/InvenTree/report/apps.py

@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class ReportConfig(AppConfig):
         if not InvenTree.ready.canAppAccessDatabase(allow_test=False):
             return  # pragma: no cover
 
+        if InvenTree.ready.isReadOnlyCommand():
+            return  # pragma: no cover
+
         with maintenance_mode_on():
             try:
                 self.create_default_labels()

src/backend/InvenTree/users/models.py

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from rest_framework.authtoken.models import Token as AuthToken
 import InvenTree.helpers
 import InvenTree.models
 from common.settings import get_global_setting
-from InvenTree.ready import isImportingData
+from InvenTree.ready import isImportingData, isReadOnlyCommand
 
 from .ruleset import RULESET_CHOICES, get_ruleset_models
 
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ class Owner(models.Model):
 def create_owner(sender, instance, **kwargs):
     """Callback function to create a new owner instance after either a new group or user instance is saved."""
     # Ignore during data import process to avoid data duplication
-    if not isImportingData():
+    if not isReadOnlyCommand() and not isImportingData():
         Owner.create(obj=instance)
 
 
@@ -600,8 +600,8 @@ class UserProfile(InvenTree.models.MetadataMixin):
 @receiver(post_save, sender=User)
 def create_or_update_user_profile(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
     """Create or update user profile when user is saved."""
-    # Disable profile creation if importing data from file
+    # Disable profile creation if importing data from file or running a read-only command
-    if isImportingData():
+    if isReadOnlyCommand() or isImportingData():
         return
 
     if created:

tasks.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
+import tempfile
 from functools import wraps
 from pathlib import Path
 from platform import python_version
@@ -1065,39 +1066,21 @@ def update(
         'exclude_plugins': 'Exclude plugin data from the output file (default = False)',
         'include_sso': 'Include SSO token data in the output file (default = False)',
         'include_session': 'Include user session data in the output file (default = False)',
-        'retain_temp': 'Retain temporary files (containing permissions) at end of process (default = False)',
     },
     pre=[wait],
 )
 def export_records(
     c,
     filename='data.json',
-    overwrite=False,
+    overwrite: bool = False,
-    include_email=False,
+    include_email: bool = False,
-    include_permissions=False,
+    include_permissions: bool = False,
-    include_tokens=False,
+    include_tokens: bool = False,
-    exclude_plugins=False,
+    exclude_plugins: bool = False,
-    include_sso=False,
+    include_sso: bool = False,
-    include_session=False,
+    include_session: bool = False,
-    retain_temp=False,
 ):
-    """Export all database records to a file.
+    """Export all database records to a file."""
-
-    Write data to the file defined by filename.
-    If --overwrite is not set, the user will be prompted about overwriting an existing files.
-    If --include-permissions is not set, the file defined by filename will have permissions specified for a user or group removed.
-    If --delete-temp is not set, the temporary file (which includes permissions) will not be deleted. This file is named filename.tmp
-
-    For historical reasons, calling this function without any arguments will thus result in two files:
-    - data.json: does not include permissions
-    - data.json.tmp: includes permissions
-
-    If you want the script to overwrite any existing files without asking, add argument -o / --overwrite.
-
-    If you only want one file, add argument - d / --delete-temp.
-
-    If you want only one file, with permissions, then additionally add argument -i / --include-permissions
-    """
     # Get an absolute path to the file
     target = Path(filename)
     if not target.is_absolute():
@@ -1107,8 +1090,6 @@ def export_records(
 
     check_file_existence(target, overwrite)
 
-    tmpfile = f'{target}.tmp'
-
     excludes = content_excludes(
         allow_email=include_email,
         allow_tokens=include_tokens,
@@ -1117,16 +1098,19 @@ def export_records(
         allow_sso=include_sso,
     )
 
-    cmd = f"dumpdata --natural-foreign --indent 2 --output '{tmpfile}' {excludes}"
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(
+        suffix='.json', encoding='utf-8', mode='w+t', delete=True
+    ) as tmpfile:
+        cmd = f"dumpdata --natural-foreign --indent 2 --output '{tmpfile.name}' {excludes}"
 
-    # Dump data to temporary file
+        # Dump data to temporary file
-    manage(c, cmd, pty=True)
+        manage(c, cmd, pty=True)
 
-    info('Running data post-processing step...')
+        info('Running data post-processing step...')
 
-    # Post-process the file, to remove any "permissions" specified for a user or group
+        # Post-process the file, to remove any "permissions" specified for a user or group
-    with open(tmpfile, encoding='utf-8') as f_in:
+        tmpfile.seek(0)
-        data = json.loads(f_in.read())
+        data = json.loads(tmpfile.read())
 
     data_out = [
         {
@@ -1164,22 +1148,23 @@ def export_records(
     with open(target, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f_out:
         f_out.write(json.dumps(data_out, indent=2))
 
-    if not retain_temp:
-        info('Removing temporary files')
-        os.remove(tmpfile)
-
     success('Data export completed')
 
 
-def validate_import_metadata(c, metadata: dict, strict: bool = False) -> bool:
+def validate_import_metadata(
+    c, metadata: dict, strict: bool = False, apps: bool = True, verbose: bool = False
+) -> bool:
     """Validate the metadata associated with an import file.
 
     Arguments:
         c: The context or connection object
         metadata (dict): The metadata to validate
+        apps (bool): If True, validate that all apps listed in the metadata are installed in the current environment.
         strict (bool): If True, the import process will fail if any issues are detected.
+        verbose (bool): If True, print detailed information during validation.
     """
-    info('Validating import metadata...')
+    if verbose:
+        info('Validating import metadata...')
 
     valid = True
 
@@ -1207,16 +1192,17 @@ def validate_import_metadata(c, metadata: dict, strict: bool = False) -> bool:
             f"Source version '{source_version}' does not match the current InvenTree version '{get_inventree_version()}' - this may lead to issues with the import process"
         )
 
-    local_apps = set(installed_apps(c))
+    if apps:
-    source_apps = set(metadata.get('installed_apps', []))
+        local_apps = set(installed_apps(c))
+        source_apps = set(metadata.get('installed_apps', []))
 
-    for app in source_apps:
+        for app in source_apps:
-        if app not in local_apps:
+            if app not in local_apps:
-            metadata_issue(
+                metadata_issue(
-                f"Source app '{app}' is not installed in the current environment - this may break the import process"
+                    f"Source app '{app}' is not installed in the current environment - this may break the import process"
-            )
+                )
 
-    if valid:
+    if verbose and valid:
         success('Metadata validation succeeded - no issues detected')
 
     return valid
@@ -1226,10 +1212,11 @@ def validate_import_metadata(c, metadata: dict, strict: bool = False) -> bool:
     help={
         'filename': 'Input filename',
         'clear': 'Clear existing data before import',
-        'force': 'Force deletion of existing data without confirmation (only applies if --clear is set)',
         'strict': 'Strict mode - fail if any issues are detected with the metadata (default = False)',
         'retain_temp': 'Retain temporary files at end of process (default = False)',
         'ignore_nonexistent': 'Ignore non-existent database models (default = False)',
+        'exclude_plugins': 'Exclude plugin data from the import process (default = False)',
+        'skip_migrations': 'Skip the migration step after clearing data (default = False)',
     },
     pre=[wait],
     post=[rebuild_models, rebuild_thumbnails],
@@ -1240,12 +1227,14 @@ def import_records(
     clear: bool = False,
     retain_temp: bool = False,
     strict: bool = False,
-    force: bool = False,
+    exclude_plugins: bool = False,
     ignore_nonexistent: bool = False,
+    skip_migrations: bool = False,
 ):
     """Import database records from a file."""
     # Get an absolute path to the supplied filename
     target = Path(filename)
+
     if not target.is_absolute():
         target = local_dir().joinpath(filename)
 
@@ -1254,17 +1243,13 @@ def import_records(
         sys.exit(1)
 
     if clear:
-        delete_data(c, force=force, migrate=True)
+        delete_data(c, force=True, migrate=True)
+
+    if not skip_migrations:
+        migrate(c)
 
     info(f"Importing database records from '{target}'")
 
-    # We need to load 'auth' data (users / groups) *first*
-    # This is due to the users.owner model, which has a ContentType foreign key
-    authfile = f'{target}.auth.json'
-
-    # Pre-process the data, to remove any "permissions" specified for a user or group
-    datafile = f'{target}.data.json'
-
     with open(target, encoding='utf-8') as f_in:
         try:
             data = json.loads(f_in.read())
@@ -1272,71 +1257,100 @@ def import_records(
             error(f'ERROR: Failed to decode JSON file: {exc}')
             sys.exit(1)
 
+    # Separate out the data into different categories, to ensure they are loaded in the correct order
     auth_data = []
-    load_data = []
+    common_data = []
+    plugin_data = []
+    all_data = []
 
     # A dict containing metadata associated with the data file
     metadata = {}
 
+    def load_data(
+        title: str,
+        data: list[dict],
+        app: Optional[str] = None,
+        excludes: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+    ) -> tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile:
+        """Helper function to save data to a temporary file, and then load into the database."""
+        nonlocal ignore_nonexistent
+        nonlocal c
+
+        info(f'Loading {len(data)} {title} records...')
+
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(
+            suffix='.json', mode='w', encoding='utf-8', delete=False
+        ) as f_out:
+            f_out.write(json.dumps(data, indent=2))
+
+        cmd = f'loaddata {f_out.name} -v 0 --force-color'
+
+        if app:
+            cmd += f' --app {app}'
+
+        if ignore_nonexistent:
+            cmd += ' --ignorenonexistent'
+
+        # A set of content types to exclude from the import process
+        if excludes:
+            cmd += f' -i {excludes}'
+
+        manage(c, cmd, pty=True)
+
+    # Iterate through each entry in the provided data file, and separate out into different categories based on the model type
     for entry in data:
+        # Metadata needs to be extracted first
         if entry.get('metadata', False):
             metadata = entry
             continue
 
-        if 'model' in entry:
+        if model := entry.get('model', None):
             # Clear out any permissions specified for a group
-            if entry['model'] == 'auth.group':
+            if model == 'auth.group':
                 entry['fields']['permissions'] = []
 
             # Clear out any permissions specified for a user
-            if entry['model'] == 'auth.user':
+            if model == 'auth.user':
                 entry['fields']['user_permissions'] = []
 
-            # Save auth data for later
+            # Handle certain model types separately, to ensure they are loaded in the correct order
-            if entry['model'].startswith('auth.'):
+            if model.startswith('auth.'):
                 auth_data.append(entry)
+            if model.startswith('users.'):
+                auth_data.append(entry)
+            elif model.startswith('common.'):
+                common_data.append(entry)
+            elif model.startswith('plugin.'):
+                plugin_data.append(entry)
             else:
-                load_data.append(entry)
+                all_data.append(entry)
         else:
-            warning('WARNING: Invalid entry in data file')
+            error(
+                f'{"ERROR" if strict else "WARNING"}: Invalid entry in data file - missing "model" key'
+            )
             print(entry)
+            if strict:
+                sys.exit(1)
 
     # Check the metadata associated with the imported data
-    validate_import_metadata(c, metadata, strict=strict)
+    # Do not validate the 'apps' list yet - as the plugins have not yet been loaded
+    validate_import_metadata(c, metadata, strict=strict, apps=False)
 
-    # Write the auth file data
+    # Load the temporary files in order
-    with open(authfile, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f_out:
+    load_data('auth', auth_data)
-        f_out.write(json.dumps(auth_data, indent=2))
+    load_data('common', common_data, app='common')
 
-    # Write the processed data to the tmp file
+    if not exclude_plugins:
-    with open(datafile, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f_out:
+        load_data('plugins', plugin_data, app='plugin')
-        f_out.write(json.dumps(load_data, indent=2))
 
-    # A set of content types to exclude from the import process
+        # Now that the plugins have been loaded, run database migrations again to ensure any new plugins have their database schema up to date
-    excludes = content_excludes(allow_auth=False)
+        if not skip_migrations:
+            migrate(c)
 
-    # Import auth models first
+    # Run validation again - ensure that the plugin apps have been loaded correctly
-    info('Importing user auth data...')
+    validate_import_metadata(c, metadata, strict=strict, apps=True)
-    cmd = f"loaddata '{authfile}'"
 
-    if ignore_nonexistent:
+    load_data('remaining', all_data, excludes=content_excludes(allow_auth=False))
-        cmd += ' --ignorenonexistent'
-
-    manage(c, cmd, pty=True)
-
-    # Import everything else next
-    info('Importing database records...')
-    cmd = f"loaddata '{datafile}' -i {excludes}"
-
-    if ignore_nonexistent:
-        cmd += ' --ignorenonexistent'
-
-    manage(c, cmd, pty=True)
-
-    if not retain_temp:
-        info('Removing temporary files')
-        os.remove(datafile)
-        os.remove(authfile)
 
     success('Data import completed')
 
@@ -1664,9 +1678,7 @@ def setup_test(
 
     # Load data
     info('Loading database records ...')
-    import_records(
+    import_records(c, filename=template_dir.joinpath('inventree_data.json'), clear=True)
-        c, filename=template_dir.joinpath('inventree_data.json'), clear=True, force=True
-    )
 
     # Copy media files
     src = template_dir.joinpath('media')