Importing the Metadata Flat File

  To import metadata into the Planning application:

  1. Create a metadata flat file for each dimension you want to import and ensure that you understand the process.

    See Creating the Metadata Flat File and About Importing and Exporting.

  2. Select Administration, then Import and Export, and then Import Metadata from File.

  3. In Dimension to Import, select the dimension to load, whose member fields correspond to the header record in the metadata file. If needed, create a new dimension on import.

    • To load metadata for a user defined dimension, select User Defined Dimension from Dimension Type, and then select the dimension.

    • If the file contains metadata for a user defined dimension which does not yet exist, select New Dimension, then User Defined, and then enter then name of the dimension in Dimension Name. Planning will create the dimension and load it's metadata.

  4. In Metadata File to Import, select the import file that contains a header record and metadata records.

  5. Optional: Display and set import options by expanding Options:

    Table 5. Metadata Import Options

    Import OptionDescription
    Database RefreshRefresh the database after importing the metadata.
    Delete All Planning Units

    Select this option and Before Importing, Delete All Members from the Dimension to be able to delete started planning units and all members in the dimension identified in the import file.

    Before Importing, Delete All Members from the Dimension

    Select to remove attribute associations to members and approvals states, and delete all members of the import dimension before performing the import.

    Caution:

    Run Validate File Format before executing the import using this option. If there is a problem with the import file, all members in the import dimension are deleted.

    Assume Parent’s Plan Type if Unspecified in File

    • Select to apply unspecified plan type settings from the parent to newly added members

    • Clear to specify plan types for members

    Lock Load Dimension before Load

    • Select to prevent other users from making changes to the dimension until the load is completed

    • Clear if you do not want to lock the dimension (not recommended unless you are performing a dry run)

    Use the Member Order in the Import File

    Select to maintain the order of members (except UDAs) in the import file

    Sort Import File's Parent-Child Order

    • Select to arrange child members below their parents

    • Clear if parent-child ordering isn't required, and for better performance.

  6. Click Run or click Validate to ensure the file is correctly set up.

When importing metadata, you have the option of running the import in the background. Click Run In Background on the progress bar to enable background processing.

Tip:

For the status of multiple import operations, select Tools, and then Import and Export Status. From the resulting page, click the import operation for which you want to see details.

You can now set up the application and import data.