Using Microsoft Excel to edit dimensions

You can use Excel spreadsheets to edit dimensions. This can be useful if there are many elements to be added, because you can copy data from another source into an Excel worksheet but not directly into Office Plus. Editing dimensions in Excel is only possible on a local server. Edit dimensions on a network server with the Edit Dimensions dialog.

Excel can also be used to import new elements.

See Importing new elements with Microsoft Excel.

Note: Edit element names only in the Dimension Editor. Editing element names in an external file may remove from the cube the values associated with them.

To edit a dimension with Excel:

  1. Click Dimensions in the Database group on the ribbon.
  2. Right-click the dimension to edit and select Edit > With Excel.
    A message states that all cubes which refer to the selected dimension will be removed from memory. Click Yes to save the cubes before proceeding.

    An Excel spreadsheet named [dimension name].ALD is displayed. It lists each element with its type, name and weight.

  3. Select the value to amend and press <F2>.
    The value becomes editable.
  4. Make your changes and press <Enter>.
  5. Click Save in the Office Plus group on the ribbon, or click Save on Excel's File tab. You are asked whether to update the database. Select one of these options:
    Option Description
    Yes Changes are uploaded to the database and are saved into the .ALD file
    No Changes are not uploaded to the database but are saved into the .ALD file
    Note: Changes made to dimensions or new dimensions are only permanently saved to disk when you save the entire dimension or when you save the dimensions in the Dimensions and Subsets dialog. You can experiment with changing dimensions, without making the changes permanent.
    See Saving and discarding dimension changes