Create Datasets from Files

You can create datasets from a range of files, including comma-separated value (*.CSV), text (*.TXT), and spreadsheets.

Topics:

• About Files for Datasets

• Create a Dataset from a File Uploaded from Your Computer

• Create a Dataset from a File Uploaded from Dropbox or Google Drive

• Add Multiple Files to a Dataset

About Files for Datasets

You can create datasets from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (XLSX and XLS), Google Sheets, CSV files, and TXT files. The maximum file size you can upload is 250 MB and the data column limit for a single file is 250 columns.

You can upload and use files from your computer, or from Dropbox or Google Drive data source connections.

When you upload a file, you can use it only in the dataset that you uploaded it to. Because Oracle Analytics doesn't store an uploaded file, you must upload the file again to include it in another dataset.

Formatting Rules for Excel Spreadsheet and Google Sheets Files

• Tables start in Row 1 and Column 1.
• Tables have a regular layout with no gaps, repeated column names, or inline headings. An example of an inline heading is one that's repeated on every page of a printed report.
• Row 1 contains the unique names of the columns in the table.
• Row 2 and greater contain the data for the table.
• Data in a column is of the same type. For example, don't use a phone number column to hold email addresses.
• Data is at the same granularity.

Character Set Encoding Rules for CSV and TXT Files

• Encode source files using UTF-8.
• Before you edit your files, configure your text editor to use the appropriate font and script (or subset).

Create a Dataset from a File Uploaded from Your Computer

You can upload spreadsheets from Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, CSV files, and TXT files from your computer to create a dataset.

Confirm that the file that you want to upload meets these requirements:

• The file is either a Microsoft Excel (.XLSX or .XLS format) or Google Sheets spreadsheet, a CSV file, or a TXT file.
• Spreadsheets shouldn't contains pivoted data.
• Spreadsheets are structured properly for import and use as a dataset. See About Files for Datasets.

1. On the Home page, click Create and then click Dataset.
2. In the Create Dataset dialog, either drag and drop a file to the dialog, or click Drop data file here or click to browse to browse your computer for a file to upload.
3. In the Create Dataset page's Name field, change the default dataset name if required.
4. Optional: If you’re uploading a CSV or TXT file, use the Separated By, Thousand Separator, and Decimal Separator fields to configure the default delimiters.
   To specify a custom delimiter, choose Custom in the Separated By field and enter the character you want to use as the delimiter. In the CSV or TXT file, a custom delimiter must be one character. The following example uses a pipe (|) as a delimiter: Year|Product|Revenue|Quantity|Target Revenue| Target Quantity.
5. Click OK to upload the file and create the dataset.

Create a Dataset from a File Uploaded from Dropbox or Google Drive

You can upload spreadsheets from Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, CSV files, and TXT files from Dropbox or Google Drive and use them to create a dataset.

Note:

Files uploaded from Google Analytics aren't available to create or include in a dataset with multiple tables.

Confirm that the file that you want to upload meets these requirements:

• The file is either a Microsoft Excel (.XLSX or .XLS format) or Google Sheets spreadsheet, a CSV file, or a TXT file.
• Spreadsheets shouldn't contains pivoted data.
• Spreadsheets are structured properly for import and use as a dataset. See About Files for Datasets.

1. On the Home page, click Create and then click Dataset.
2. In the Create Dataset dialog, select a connection.
3. Browse for and select the file that you want to upload.
4. In the Create Dataset page's Name field, change the default dataset name if required.
5. Optional: If you’re uploading a CSV or TXT file, use the Separated By, Thousand Separator, and Decimal Separator fields to configure the default delimiters.
   To specify a custom delimiter, choose Custom in the Separated By field and enter the character you want to use as the delimiter. In the CSV or TXT file, a custom delimiter must be one character. The following example uses a pipe (|) as a delimiter: Year|Product|Revenue|Quantity|Target Revenue| Target Quantity.
6. Click OK to upload the file and create the dataset.

Add Multiple Files to a Dataset

A dataset can include more than one file uploaded from your computer or from Dropbox or Google Drive.

Note:

Files uploaded from Google Analytics aren't available to create or include in a dataset with multiple tables.

Before you add a file from a connection, confirm that the connection you need exists. See View Available Connections.

A dataset can contain tables created from files and connections. See Add a File to a Dataset Created From a Connection.

Confirm that the file that you want to upload meets these requirements:

• The file is either a Microsoft Excel (.XLSX or .XLS format) or Google Sheets spreadsheet, a CSV file, or a TXT file.
• The spreadsheet contains no pivoted data.
• The spreadsheet is structured properly for import and use as a dataset. See About Files for Datasets.

Tutorial

1. On the Home page, click Navigator and then click Data.
2. Click the Datasets tab.
3. Locate the dataset that you want to open, click Actions, and then click Open.
4. Locate the file:
   • If the file you want to add is located on your computer, then in the Dataset editor's Connections pane, click Add, and click Add File.
   • If the file you want to add is located on Dropbox or Google Drive, then in the Dataset editor's Connections pane, click Add, and then click Add Connection.
5. Browse for and select the file that you want to upload.
6. In the Create Dataset page's Name field, provide a name for the dataset table created from the file.
7. If you’re uploading a CSV or TXT file, then in the Separated By, Thousand Separator, and Decimal Separator fields, confirm or change the default delimiters.
   To specify a custom delimiter, choose Custom in the Separated By field and enter the character you want to use as the delimiter. In the CSV or TXT file, a custom delimiter must be one character. The following example uses a pipe (|) as a delimiter: Year|Product|Revenue|Quantity|Target Revenue| Target Quantity.
8. Click OK to add the file to the dataset.
9. In the Connections pane, confirm that the file was added.
10. Click Save.

Index a Dataset on Demand

You don't have to wait for a dataset to be indexed after refresh, or wait for a dataset's indexing schedule to run. You can index a dataset anytime you need to make its data available in the Home Page's search results.

You can index any dataset that you have Full Control or Read-Write access to.

For information about enabling and setting up a dataset for indexing, see Index a Dataset.

1. On the Home page, click Navigator, and then click Data.
2. Click the Datasets tab.
3. Locate the dataset that you want to index on demand, click Actions, and then click Inspect.
4. Click the Search tab.
   
   
   Description of the illustration dataset_search_index_run_now.png
   
   
5. Click Run Now to index the dataset.

Certify a Dataset

When you certify a dataset, you're confirming that the dataset contains accurate, reliable data. When users search for data from the Home page, certified data is ranked high in the search results.

Note:

A file-based dataset must be indexed and certified before the users you shared the dataset with can use it to build visualizations from the Home Page. See Index a Dataset and Use the Search Bar to Visualize Data from the Home Page.

You can certify datasets if you're a member of an Administrator role and have Full Control or Read-Write access to the dataset.

For best search results only certify the datasets with data that users need to find. Certifying all datasets yields too many search results. Oracle recommends that you first certify the minimum number of datasets and then certify additional datasets only as needed.

1. On the Home page, click Navigator and then click Data.
2. Click the Datasets tab.
3. Locate the dataset that you want to certify, click Actions, and then click Inspect.
4. Click the General tab.
5. Go to the Certified By field and click the Certify button.
6. Click Save.