Import data sources

You can import data from a number of different sources into IBM Cognos TM1 Performance Modeler to create or populate cubes and dimensions.

For all data sources except relational data sources, if your source data contains decimal values but there are no decimal values within the first 100 records, the data is detected as integers. However, the decimal places are preserved, and you can apply formatting to add the decimals.

You can import the following data types into Performance Modeler:

Delimited text files

You can import files of the following file formats: CSV, TAB, CMA, ASC, and TXT.

Cognos TM1 Performance Modeler does not support importing TXT and CSV files with legacy encoding if the Microsoft Windows regional settings and system locale do not match the file encoding. To resolve this issue, save the file with UTF-8 encoding, or change the Microsoft Windows regional settings and system locale to match the file's encoding.

Microsoft Excel files

Some formulas and functions that are used in Microsoft Excel workbooks are not imported. The solution is to create a copy of the affected column in the Microsoft Excel workbook and to use the Paste Special command to paste the values of the column. You can also save the workbook as a .csv file and then import the .csv file.

You cannot attach a process with a Microsoft Excel file as a data source to a chore. You can execute the process only by running it directly.

You must not include a process with a Microsoft Excel file as a data source within another process under an Execute Process command.

Relational data sources (ODBC)

To import relational data into Cognos TM1 Performance Modeler, it is important that you understand your relational data source and be able to define queries. Ensure also that ODBC connections are set up for the data sources that you want to import from.

IBM SPSS Statistics

Before you can import from an IBM® SPSS® data source, you must ensure that you have downloaded the ODBC driver, which is included in the IBM SPSS Access Pack Package. The SPSS Access Pack Package is available when you purchase IBM SPSS Statistics or IBM SPSS Modeler. After you have downloaded the ODBC driver, you must also define an ODBC connection to the data source. For more information about defining ODBC connections, see the user documentation for your operating system.

IBM Cognos reports

Only list reports that were created in IBM Cognos® Report Studio and IBM Cognos Workspace Advanced can be imported. If the report contains prompts, you must answer the prompts before you can import the report. Prompts with default values can simply be accepted . Single-value and multi-value prompts offer a list of possible answers to select from. For other prompt types, such as text or date prompts, you must answer the prompts by typing the prompt value in the format that the prompt expects.

If you import a Cognos report that includes layout calculations, the layout calculations will not be imported. This is because reports are converted to CSV format during import, and CSV does not support layout calculations. To resolve this issue, change any layout calculations to query calculations prior to import.

When you import a report, the data extraction performance is similar to exporting a Cognos Report Studio report to a CSV file.

IBM Cognos packages

When you import a package, the data extraction performance is similar to exporting a Cognos Report Studio report to a CSV file.

Note: IBM Cognos packages are not available as a data source if you are using Performance Modeler in a Cloud environment.

IBM Cognos TM1 cube views

Two import sources are available: IBM Cognos TM1 Cube View and IBM Cognos TM1 Dimension Subset. Cognos TM1® cube views and dimension subsets are defined by the Cognos TM1 administrator.

To import a cube that contains a dimension in a deployed application, you must first have ownership of the approval hierarchy or deactivate the application.