Set up the data source

Set up the data source. If you are not using a rules file, you must set up the data source outside Essbase. If you are using multiple data sources, see Essbase - Performing Deferred-Restructure/Incremental Dimension Builds

Set up the dimension build rules file

Set up the dimension build rules file if necessary : Essbase - Essbase-friendly/free-form Data Sources (Don't Need a Rules File during data load)

Perform the dimension build

Perform the dimension build

Support

After you correct the possible problems, you can reload the records that did not load by reloading the error log. See Loading Dimension Build and Data Load Error Logs.

• Essbase - Checking Error Log
• Essbase - Stopping Data Loads or Dimension Builds / Recovering from a server crash
• Essbase - Why Essbase rejects a record / aborts a data load

Example with MaxL

You can automate the loading of dimensions by creating a Essbase - MaxL Script. The import database consists of the following elements:

spool on to "$arborpath\\LoadDims_log.txt";
login $1 $2

/* ********************** */
/* Load Dimension Build Information */
/* ********************** */

import database 'Bigcorp'.'Sales' dimensions from server data_file 'Configpc.txt'
  using server rules_file 'Parchil' on error write to 'c:\dimbuilderr.txt';

import database 'Bigcorp'.'Sales' dimensions from server data_file 'Linepc.txt'
  using server rules_file 'Parchil' on error write to 'c:\dimbuilderr.txt';

import database 'Bigcorp'.'Sales' dimensions from server data_file 'Cuschan.txt'
  using server rules_file 'Parchil' on error write to 'c:\dimbuilderr.txt';

Syntax:

IMPORT DATABASE APPLICATION NAME.DATABASE NAME DIMENSIONS
FROM (input data file information)
LOCAL | SERVER /* Location of the data file
FILE TYPE /* Type of data source whether a Text files, Excel File, or Lotus File
DATA_FILE
FILE PATH 'Path of the file
USING (Information about the Rule File)
LOCAL | SERVER ' Location of the rule file
RULE_FILE
RULE FILE NAME ' Name of the rule file like Markt
ON ERROR APPEND TO (error File information)
WRITE | APPEND
ERROR File name ' Path for error file as c:/log/DimError.log

Restriction from UNIX computer

When using spreadsheet files to load data or build an outline in Essbase, the spreadsheet files must reside on a Windows computer, regardless of the tool you use. Spreadsheet files that reside on a UNIX computer or are transferred via FTP to a UNIX computer are not supported. If Essbase Administration Server is installed on a UNIX computer, data loads and dimension builds from client-side spreadsheet files are not supported.

Remove formatting

To avoid rules file, data load, and dimension build errors, remove formatting in Microsoft Excel data source files; for example, in Excel, set color to “Automatic” and “No Fill,” and remove font settings such as bold and italic.