Tab Page: External Data 
Tab Page: External Data
Use
You can use this tab page to determine which file you load the data from.
Functions
In addition to being able to make file-specific settings for the load process, you also have the option to preview and simulate loading from a file. This lets you check that the data is OK before you load it. From the preview, you can run a simulation of the data loading process. This allows you to check the update process.
This function makes it easier for you to check that the structure of the CSV and ASCII files you want to load is correct. It provides you with a better overview of data, particularly with hierarchies.
You can carry out the function after you have activated the transfer structure. You have also created and activated update rules.
Preview
Once you have selected the file parameter information, the transfer structure is displayed in the preview as it would appear after loading.
Simulation
The data loading process is simulated. Note that only the PSA transfer method is supported. With transaction data, the transfer rules and the update rules are simulated, and you can look at the filled communication structure or the updated InfoCube. With attributes and texts, the transfer rules are simulated, allowing you to take a look at the filled communication structure. With hierarchies, the hierarchy tree is displayed along with any error messages.
Activities
We recommend that you store the data on an application server, and load it from here into the BW. This is for performance reasons. In this way, you can load the data in the background.
A control file is an ASCII file that already contains the control instruction required by the scheduler. When you want to load a control data, you do not need to make any further entries, and the entered file is automatically controlled.
You can also create a routine that determines the name of your file. If you do not create a routine for the name of the file, the system directly interprets the file name in the File Name field.
Specify the separator that your file uses to divide the fields in the Data Separator field.
A separator is part of a value when this value is enclosed within particular start and end characters in the file. Enter these start and end characters in the Escape Characters field.
You chose the ; character as the data separator. However, the value 12;45 exists for a field. If you selected " as the escape character, the value in the file must be "12;45", in order for 12;45 to be loaded into the BW system.
In a text editor (for example, note pad) check the escape character and the separator currently being used in the file. These depend on the country version of the file you used.
If you select the Hex characteristic, you can also specify the data separator and the escape character in hexadecimal format. When you have selected characters for the data separator or the escape character, these are displayed in hexadecimal code after the entries are checked. An entry of two characters as a separator or an escape sign is always interpreted as a hexadecimal entry.
We recommend that you create the flat file as an ASCI file if you want to upload a large amount of transaction data from a flat file; and you have the option of specifying the file type of the flat file.
For performance reasons, uploading the data from an ASCII file is the most suitable method. Loading from a CSV file takes longer, because in this case the data separators and escape characters need to be sent and interpreted. However, generating an ASCII file might mean a larger workload under some circumstances.
Preview to display the data before it is loaded, or carry out a simulation of the loading process. See also:
Maintaining InfoSources (Flat Files)Take particular notice of the prerequisites for loading from CSV and ASCII files in this section.