You can load data or members from one or more external data sources to an Essbase Server. You can load data without updating the outline, update the outline without loading data, or load data and build dimensions simultaneously. Before you load data or build dimensions, ensure that the following items are in place:
One or more valid data sources
See Data Sources.
A rules files, if you are using one
See Rules Files.
If you are not using a rules file, a data source correctly formatted for free-form data loading