About
Building dimensions (known also as building outline) is the process of loading dimension and members data into an Essbase database outline by using a data source and a dimension build rules file.
When you build, you always need a rules file to perform action as:
- Adding dimensions and members to the database
- Changing existing dimensions and members in the database
You can load data without updating the outline, update the outline without loading data, or load data and build dimensions simultaneously.
Articles Related
Process for Building Dimension
To load dimensions and members into an Essbase database, follow these steps:
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.
Automation tools to build dimension
After you create a dimension build rules file, you may want to automate the process of updating dimensions.
Tool | Topic | Location |
---|---|---|
Essbase - Administration Service (EAS) | Performing a Data Load or Dimension Build | Oracle Essbase Administration Services Online Help |
Essbase - MaxL | import dimensions | Oracle Essbase Technical Reference |
Essbase - EssCmd | BUILDDIM | Oracle Essbase Technical Reference |
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
Spreadsheet files
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.