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Former Member

Using CSV files as a datasource instead of BEx

Nov 03, 2016 at 04:55 PM | 106 Views

Hi All,

I've extracted the BEx queries into CSV format and used the same as a datasource instead;

I noticed that I am unable to select all the extracted files and that I am limited to selecting only one, this is messing with the hierarchy of the overall data displayed (especially profit center) and also on the X and Y axis's of my charts. I tried merging all files into a zip and using that but the Zip file is not displayed and only the extracted csv files are displayed and I can choose not more than 1 file;

Is there any way I can use the CSV files extracted from the BEx queries and make my dashboard look and feel exactly like it does when I was using BEx as a data source?

Thanks

SAP BusinessObjects Design Studio
SAP Business ByDesign studio | 1.6sp3
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4 Answers

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    Tammy Powlas
    Nov 03, 2016 at 06:46 PM

    My first question - why would you want all queries in one dashboard as CSV?

    The only work-around is to make one big CSV will all of your queries

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    Mohd Fahad
    Nov 04, 2016 at 05:12 AM

    Hello Venkat,

    Limitation on selecting no. of CSV datasource??

    Can you please provide screenshot. I have never came across such limitation on Csv DS.

    Make sure you have Metadata file along with .csv in same folder.

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    • Mohd Fahad Former Member
      Nov 17, 2016 at 12:04 AM

      I see you are facing challenges while expanding the Hierarchy when accessed through CSV as of Bex.

      Sorry I cant replicate the scenario on my end with hierarchy at the moment.

      But i'm pretty sure you will find Mustafa post very helpful.

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    Former Member
    Nov 10, 2016 at 03:04 PM

    I think my post was misleading,

    Tammy: I make copies of the data source within the design studio application and that's the file I was referring to; Same approach I use with BEx, make a master data query and build data sources on that;

    Fahad: I'm not sure if a screenshot will resolve anything as it would show only one selected item and since there are no errors when I try selecting more than one CSV file;

    To rephrase my initial question:

    I was able to use the csv file but the hierarchy part of it is in the metadata file and I get warning prompts saying hierarchy not found; Since the hierarchy is not set, the look/display of the dashboard is messed up since it shows all the profit centers in order instead of grouping them under the main profit center; In the edit initial view I have to press the expand '+' to show all these; This is the main reason for this post since the hierarchy part is the reason for display difference in using BEx and CSV;

    Please advice,

    Thanks for your time

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    Mustafa Bensan
    Nov 16, 2016 at 12:55 AM

    Hi Venkat,

    I understand your issue with the hierarchy but was unable to replicate it, although there does appear to be some problems with exporting CSV data sources that include hierarchies whereby measure totals data are missing.

    I created a working example as follows:

    1. Original BEx Data Source with hierarchy activated and fully expanded:

    2. Exporting the above data source results in 3 CSV files, one of which includes the hierarchy information (suffixed with "_hierarchy.csv"), as shown below:

    3. When creating the CSV data source you need to select the main CSV file and not the metadata files, which in this case is ZAIMP0001_Q0022_HIER.csv. The result looks like this, which includes the hierarchy:

    4. I was then able to display the hierarchy in a Crosstab and expand/collapse as normal. However, one issue you will notice is the missing totals values for the last measure, for some reason.

    You can download the working DS 1.6 SP03 example app from the following link:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/rz0vg3ky1trzsq7/CSV_HIERARCHY_TEST2-20161116113307.zip?dl=0

    Regards,

    Mustafa.

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