Accessing Data

When uploading a data file, you can view the recommended metadata classification values for each character-valued column. You can choose to keep the recommended values, or to change them.

Including classification values in your data improves the accuracy of mapping column tables correctly to each other. This is useful if you are integrating data from multiple sources, or if integrating data into a system with a predefined hierarchy. When creating unions from different data sources, the metadata classification algorithm will match columns with similar data.

After uploading or connecting to data by clicking Get Data from the Reporting Server browser interface, you can return to the Reporting Server browser interface to prepare or manage more data, or if you choose, visualize your data in WebFOCUS Designer.

From the WebFOCUS start page, click Applications Directories, or, from the Home Page, click the plus menu , and then click Prepare and Manage Data.

When using Get Data to upload a file, you can choose which columns will be loaded to the target database or data store, so you only load the columns you need.

Choose Columns to Load

When uploading an Excel or delimited file, you can choose the columns that you want to be loaded.

1. Upload an Excel or delimited file using Get Data.

   The Preview page displays, as shown in the following image.

   

When using Get Data to upload a file, with appropriate permission, you can override the default Application setting where the synonym is created by selecting an application folder from your current application path.

Procedure: How to Change a Target Application

When uploading an Excel or delimited file to create a synonym, you can select an application folder and specify where your synonym is created.

When using Get Data to upload a file, with appropriate permission, you can override the default Adapter and Connection settings by selecting an alternative configured adapter from your current profile.

Procedure: How to Change a Target Connection

When uploading an Excel or delimited file, you can select an adapter folder and specify the connection where your data is loaded.

For the most common data access requirements, the Simple Mode for Get Data should be all that you need. The Advanced Mode has additional capabilities for more complex data scenarios.

Depending on your version of WebFOCUS and your permissions, you may be able to access data using the Advanced Mode, making more options available to you when uploading or connecting to data.

When you have made all of the data preparation transformations for a flow, and have added your target, on the toolbar click the Run button ().

When the data is loaded, a report similar to the following displays. 

You can create a Business View for the target to categorize the columns into measures and dimensions. This view of the data is used by Designer for creating reports and charts.

Right-click the target and select Edit Business View. A default Business View is created, as shown in the following image.