Import Meta Data

In order to import Meta Data you must have a database open. You may want to import Meta Data into a pre-existing database-for example, to re-create a Cube whose Meta Data you exported from another database; or to add Members to a Dimension in the database. Or, you may create a new database, as in this example-therefore, create a new database, giving it the name, e.g., TestImp.

1.   From the PowerOLAP ribbon, go to Data tab, then in the Import control group select Metadata icon or Import Metadata command.
The Import Metadata dialog box is displayed.

2.   Click Browse to select the file to import.

3.   Select <file name> to import and press Open.     
(For example, pick the AvonMargin.txt, created previously in the     
Export Meta Data topic.)    
You are returned to the Import Metadata dialog box.

4.   Select Tab, Comma, Period or Other as the file Delimiter.
Note that you must select the correct delimeter that was used in the import file, otherwise data will not successfully be imported.

5.   Click OK.

 Important

At this point in the import process-whether for Fact Data or Meta Data-PowerOLAP will immediately determine whether the selected file is a valid import script. If the file is invalid, a message box will appear, stating Incorrect Import File Type, and you will be returned to the main application window.

If the file type is correct, PowerOLAP^® imports the file, creating in the database all Meta Data found in the text file.

If you there are errors during the import process, the following message will appear:

As the message box shows, if there are errors during the Meta Data import process, PowerOLAP^® will indicate the number of errors and ask if you would like to save all correctly imported lines to PowerOLAP^®.

If you select OK, errors will be written to a log file stored in the database directory. The log file takes the default name ImportErr.log, which can be opened in Windows Notepad or Wordpad, possibly for identifying and fixing errors for re-importation into PowerOLAP^®.

6.   Select OK.  
The database is updated by the Meta Data import file.

If you open the ImportErr.log, you will see the following first few lines of the file:

Note that in the above error log, the Member names that are “invalid” all have an apostrophe! One of the possible causes of this particular error is that if at the beginning of the database creation, the check box ‘Allow Reserved Characters‘ (boxed below) was not enabled.

In the event that the reason for this error was due to the above, simply create a new database, and this time, check that box; then re-import the file.

7.   Having completed the Meta Data import, you can examine the Cubes/Dimensions/Formulas and confirm that all the Meta Data elements that existed in the text file now exist in the database into which you imported the file (in our example, TestImp.olp).

 Important

An important point about Formulas brought in via a Meta Data import: check to determine whether there are any cross-cube Formulas that refer to Cubes that did not exist in the import file. If this is the case, be aware of the implications and determine how you want this (formerly) formula-driven data to report.

8.   Once you are satisfied with the results of the Meta Data import,
Save changes to the database.

 Notes

Changes made to Meta Data, including those made by a Meta Data import, are not saved until you save the database.