Export Metadata
Export Metadata |
The Export Metadata feature allows users to copy the structure or metadata, such as Dimensions, Cubes, Slices, Fomrulas and so on, of a particular database and export it into a text file. |
To export metadata:
1. From the PowerOLAP ribbon, go
to Data tab, then in the Export control group select Metadata
icon or Export
Metadata command.
The Export Metadata dialog box is displayed:
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2. Enter an <export file name
and path> in the File name text box;
or press Browse button and select a place to save your file
in the correct directory.
As an example, you can name the file AvonMargin.
3. Click on a Cube in the Cubes list box on the left to export Meta Data from that Cube only (e.g., Margin).
If the Mark Dimension check box is selected,
then all the Dimensions for the selected Cubes will be selected by
default.
Otherwise, select specific Dimensions to export from the Dimensions
list box by clicking in the check boxes next to Dimension name(s).
Tip
You can export Meta Data from several Cubes or from all Cubes in a
database, using Ctrl-click or Shift-click.
Important
Notice the 3 checkboxes in the Cubes section of the Export Meta Data
dialog: Mark Dimensions, Formulas and Mark Slices.
These options are enabled by default. If these checkboxes are
checked, PowerOLAP will automatically select all the dimensions, slices
and formulas that belong to the cube selected and include them in
the Meta data export.
4. Select whether to export Aliases
and Formulas.
These boxes are checked by default. If you do not wish to include either
in the Meta Data export, uncheck the appropriate box.
5. Select Tab, Comma, Period or Other as the file delimiter. This provides a choice of how to parse out the pieces of information in the export text file e.g., if the Tab radio button is checked, the text file will separate each piece of information by a tab.
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6. Click OK to begin the export process.
A message box is displayed indicating that the process was successful.
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7. Click OK.
The export script is written to the chosen file and location.
Meta Data Export Script
The following figure shows the first few lines of the TXT file that represents the Meta Data from the Margin cube. Indeed, they are just the initial lines describing the Product dimension (indicated by "D+"). Something else we can tell about the Product dimension there are neither Alias Groups nor Property Groups in the Dimension (if there were, this would be indicated below the Alias Group and Property Group headers). Beginning with the "M+" indicator, the Members for the Dimension are listed.
You can scroll down to see further how the script appears, all the way to where the Cube's formulas are shown.
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A full explanation of the Meta Data export script appears in the section on Advanced Reference Materials.