Using a text editor to edit dimensions

You can define or edit a dimension using any text editor (Notepad, MS Word, etc.). This is useful when creating large dimensions.

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.

The source text file must have this structure:

  • The first column contains the element type (N, C, S or blank for a calculation component). The base elements are designated by N and consolidated elements by C.
  • The second column contains the element name.
  • If the weight of an element is not equal to 1, the third column shows the weight. Otherwise the column is blank.

Example

		N,USA 
	 N,Canada 
	 N,Mexico
		C,North America 
	 ;USA,1.000000 
	 ;Canada,1.000000 
	 ;Mexico,1.000000 
	 C,North America less US 
	 ;North America,1.000000 
	 ;USA,-1.000000

When you have edited the dimension, save the file. The text file must comprise the name of the dimension to be created and the extension *.TXT. Now you can import the dimension.

SeeImporting a dimension structure from a text file.