Rules Files

Rules define operations that Essbase performs on data values or on dimensions and members when it processes a data source. Use rules to map data values to an Essbase database or to map dimensions and members to an Essbase outline.

Figure 64. Loading Data Sources Through Rules Files

This image illustrates the process of loading data sources using a rules file. A raw data file is read by a rules file, the rules file performs operations on the raw data, and the processed data is stored in an Essbase database.

Rules are stored in rules files. A rules file defines which build method to use, whether data values or members are sorted or are in random order, and how to transform data values or members before loading them. It is best to create a separate rules file for each dimension.

Essbase reads the data values or members in the data source, changes them based on the rules in the rules file, and loads the changed data values into the database and the changed members into the outline. Essbase does not change the data source. You can reuse a rules file with any data source that requires the same set of rules.

After you create a dimension build rules file, you may want to automate the process of updating dimensions. See Using ESSCMD.