Data Loading

Notes:

Data Loading is currently in feature preview and as such documentation for this feature is still work in progress

Contact us to get on the waitlist

Data Loaders are used to bring data into an xpna workspace from direct external sources in various formats. Data Loaders provide a flexible way to import data that may not be available through standard connections, such as data from SQL Server databases, FTP servers, or CSV files.

What is a Data Loader?

A Data Loader is a configuration that defines:

• One or more sources where data originates from (e.g., SQL Server, FTP, local files)
• One or more source items that specify what data to retrieve from each source (e.g., specific tables, queries, or files)
• Targets that define how the retrieved data maps to xpna entities and dimensions (each target maps 1:1 to a source item)

Key Features

Data Loaders offer several capabilities:

• Multiple Sources: A single Data Loader can handle different data sources and types under one execution
• Flexible Data Formats: Support for direct SQL queries, CSV files, and other formats
• On-Demand Execution: Run Data Loaders manually via the connections panel when needed
• Scheduled Execution: Configure Data Loaders to run daily, ensuring data is always up-to-date
• Sample Data Testing: Test configurations with sample data before running a full load

Accessing Data Loaders

Data Loaders can be accessed and managed from two locations:

• Excel Add-in: Launch and manage Data Loaders directly from the Connections page
• xpna Web: Access Data Loaders through the main xpna Web interface

Data Loader Components

To successfully configure a Data Loader, the following components need to be set up:

• Sources: Configure where data comes from (SQL Server, FTP, etc.)
• Source Items: Define what data to retrieve from each source
• Targets: Map the retrieved data to xpna dimensions and entities
• Scheduling: Set up when and how often Data Loaders should run

Common Use Cases

Data Loaders are particularly useful for:

• Loading transactional data from legacy systems not supported by standard connectors
• Importing data from custom databases or data warehouses
• Loading data from CSV files exported from other systems
• Combining data from multiple sources into a single xpna workspace
• Loading data that requires custom SQL queries or transformations

Note:

Data Loaders require workspace administrator permissions to create and manage.