File Format
When exporting data from an external system
you have to save the files in ASCII OEM or ASCII ANSI format, that
is, as normal text files.
The files can be of a fixed length or can contain a number of values on the same row, but separated by a sign, for example, a comma (,) or a semicolon (;).
Value Format
The following formats are permitted for numerical values:
| Positive Values | Negative Values |
|---|---|
| 10 |
-10 |
| +10 |
(10) |
| 10+ |
10- |
| 10DB |
10CR |
Terminology
When you want to import data from external files, you state which data you want to import and how it should be imported. The terms that IBM® Cognos Controller uses, are described in the following list:
- Import Specification Wizard
- A Wizard that simplifies the task of creating an import specification on the basis of the structure of an existing external data file. The Wizard is used for simple import specifications.
- Define Import Specifications
- A function in which you can create import specifications, but where you create the specification from the beginning and add advanced interpretations, filters and functions of data. This function is used for more advanced import specifications.
- Import Specification
- An import specification determines how an external data file is read and stored in Cognos Controller, depending on how the data is structured in the data file. An import specification can contain filters, operations, variables and fields.
- Filter
- A filter defines which rows should be included and which should be ignored when importing a data file.
- Operation
- Operations process the loaded value from the data file before it is stored in Cognos Controller.
- Operation Template
- Operation templates consist of one or several operations that are performed one after the other.
- Variable
- Variables contain information that is loaded separately from the file, that is, the value is not changed for each row.
- Fields
- Data to be imported is stored in fields.
- Lookup Table
- A translation table defining how data is converted when being imported into the system. For example, translating one or more general ledger account codes into a Cognos Controller Account code.