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Use

You can use this tab page to specify from which file you load data.

Features

In addition to being able to make file-specific settings for the loading process, you also have the option to preview and simulate loading from a file. This lets you check the data 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. To simulate the upload, you also have to create and activate update rules.

Preview

Once you have selected the file parameter information, the transfer structure is displayed in the preview as it appears 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 view the filled communication structure or the updated InfoCube. With attributes and texts, the transfer rules are simulated, allowing you to view the filled communication structure. With hierarchies, the hierarchy tree is displayed along with any error messages.

Activities
  1. Specify whether the file from which you want to load data is stored on a workstation or on an application server.
    Note

    We recommend that you store the data on an application server, and load it from here into the BW. This is for performance reasons. This means that you can also load the data in the background.

  2. Specify whether you want to load data from a data file or from a control file.

    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.

  3. When loading data from a data file, make the following additional settings:

    Select the file to be loaded using the input help for the File Name field, or enter the file name directly, for example: C:/Daten/US/Kosten97.csv.

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.

If the file is not a control file, specify whether you want to load data from an ASCII file or a CSV file.

  1. If you load data from an ASCII file, data is requested with a fixed data record length.
    Note

    If you want to upload a large amount of transaction data from a flat file and want to be able to specify the file type of the flat file, we recommend you create the flat file as an ASCI 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.

  2. If you are loading data from an Excel CSV file, specify the data separator and the escape character.

Specify the separator that your file uses to divide the fields in the Data Separator field.

If the data separator character is a part of the value, the file indicates this by enclosing the value in particular start and end characters. Enter these start and end characters in the Escape Characters field.

Tip

You have chosen the ; character as the data separator. However, your file contains the value 12;45 for a field. If you set " as the escape character, the value in the file must be "12;45" so that 12;45 is loaded into BI. The complete value that you want to transfer has to be enclosed by the escape characters.

If the escape characters do not enclose the value but are used within the value, the system interprets the escape characters as a normal part of the value. If you have specified " as the escape character, the value 12"45 is transferred as 12"45 and 12"45" is transferred as 12"45".

Note

In a text editor (for example, Notepad) check the data separator and the escape character currently being used in the file. These depend on the country version of the file you are using.

Caution

Note that if you do not specify an escape character, the space character is interpreted as the escape character. We recommend using a different character as the escape character.

If you select the Hex indicator, you can specify the data separator and the escape character in hexadecimal format. When you enter a character for the data separator and the escape character, these are displayed as hexadecimal code after the entries have been checked. A two character entry for a data separator or an escape sign is always interpreted as a hexadecimal entry.

Specify additional parameters:

  • Thousand separator
  • Character for decimal point
  • Currency conversion for external systems
  • Number of headers to be ignored
  1. Make the settings for the character record to be used.
  2. To display the data before it is loaded or carry out a simulation of the loading process, choose with the quick info text Preview.