InfoSource with Flexible Update for Flat
Files 
Purpose
If you want to load data from a flat file into BW, you have to maintain the relevant transfer structure and transfer rules in BW manually. There is no function for automatically uploading Metadata.
You can use flexible updating for transaction data and master data in any kind of data target except hierarchies (InfoCubes, ODS Objects, InfoObjects).
Process Flow
In the transfer structure maintenance, specify an InfoObject for every field of your flat file, making sure that the sequence of the InfoObjects corresponds to the sequence of the columns in your flat file. If you do not use the same sequence, the corresponding transfer structure is not filled correctly.
For the flat file structure,
19980101;0001;23
the corresponding transfer structure could be:
0CALDAY |
PRONR |
PROPRICE |
0CALDAY describes the date (01.01.1998) as an SAP time-characteristic, PRONR describes the product number (0001) as the characteristic, and PROPRICE describes the product price as the key figure.
Specify the data types according to the fields that you want to upload from the flat file.
If the data for your flat file was staged from an SAP system, there are no problems when transferring data types into BI. Please note that you might not be able to load the data types DEC and QUAN for flat files with external data. Specify type CHAR for these data types in the transfer structure. When you load, these are then converted into the data type, which you specified in the maintenance of the relevant InfoObject in BW.
If you want to load an exchange rate from a flat file, the format must correspond to the table TCURR.
You have to select a suitable update mode in transfer structure maintenance so that the system uses the correct update type.
· Full upload (ODS Object, InfoCube, InfoObject)
The DataSource does not support delta updates. With this procedure, a file is always copied in its entirety. You can use this procedure for ODS objects, InfoCubes and also InfoObjects.
· Latest status of changed records (ODS objects only)
The DataSource supports both full updates and delta updates. Every record to be loaded defines the new status for all key figures and characteristics. This procedure should only be used when you load into ODS objects.
· Additive delta (ODS object and InfoCube)
The DataSource supports both full updates and additive delta updates. The record to be loaded only provides the change in the key figure for key figures that can be added. You can use this procedure for ODS objects and for InfoCubes.
Example
of loading flat files:
The customer orders 100001 and 100002 are transferred to BW with a delta initialization.
Delta initialization:
Document No. |
Document Item |
... |
Order Quantity |
Unit of Measure |
... |
100001 |
10 |
|
200 |
Pieces |
|
100001 |
20 |
|
150 |
Pieces |
|
100002 |
10 |
|
250 |
Kg |
|
After delta initialization, the order quantity of the first item in customer order 100001 is reduced by 10% and the order quantity of the second item increased by 10%. There are then two options for the file upload of the delta in an ODS Object.
1. Option: Delta process shows the latest status for modified records (applies to ODS Object only):
Document No. |
Document Item |
... |
Order Quantity |
Unit of Measure |
... |
100001 |
10 |
|
180 |
Pieces |
|
100001 |
20 |
|
165 |
Pieces |
|
CSV file:
100001;10;...;180;PCS;...
100001;20;...;165;PCS;...
2. Option: Delta process shows the additive delta (applies only to InfoCube/ODS object):
Document No. |
Document Item |
... |
Order Quantity |
Unit of Measure |
... |
100001 |
10 |
|
-20 |
Pieces |
|
100001 |
20 |
|
15 |
Pieces |
|
CSV file:
100001;10;...;-20;PCS;...
100001;20;...;+15;PCS;...
To make sure that the data is uploaded in the correct structure, you can look at it in the preview and simulate the upload. See Preview and Simulation of Loading Data from Flat Files.
Result
You have maintained the metadata for the InfoSource with flexible update and can now upload the data from the flat file.