1. Administrator's Guide
  2. Managing Forms
  3. Creating Simple Forms
  4. Importing Form Definitions
  5. Preparing Data Files

Preparing Data Files

ImportFormDefinition imports data from a text-based file in Oracle Essbase Column Export Format. You can generate the file directly, or, if you have a method for loading data into Essbase, you can load the data and generate the file.

To create an Essbase Column Export Format file using Essbase, use Administration Services Console, and select Database, then Export. Specify the Server File Name and select Export in Column Format. (Oracle recommends that you also select Level 0 Data.) You need not modify the file after exporting it from Essbase.

If you generate the file yourself:

  • The file's first line represents the column of the data file. It must be a list of members from one dimension.

  • Each line after the first line must include a member from every dimension other than the one representing the column, followed by data.

  • Member names must be enclosed in double quotation marks.

  • The delimiter must be a space.

  • Data must not be enclosed in double quotation marks.

  • Data cells that are blank must include "#MISSING."

The layout of the form, not the format of the data file, determines how the resulting form displays. You can use the same data file to load different forms.