Importing CSV with Name & Code on file

andrewtye

For one of our models we have an import routine that brings in the below

for a variety of reasons it needs to be in this format. As there is both name / code when we go to import it doesn't actually make it because the of there being the name column and they're being used as time.

Beyond deleting the name columns prior to import does anyone have an idea as to getting it into the model .. bear in mind that is a user driven import ie run via button so there can't be any other technology used.

@Misbah - you may have already been contacted by my colleagues on this, would be good to get your thoughts here too!

 

jasonblinn

@andrewtye 

I have a relatively bizarre solution that I used when I ran into a similar situation in the past. I will caveat this by saying, this is not the "correct" way to do it and that the correct method of fixing this is to get the data in the format you need it in, which I know you said is not an option. 

 

You can create a dummy list with 1 item in it, something like "Total". Add that dimension to your module, and now your import will ask for mapping for that column. You would then need to map the items to "total". Since it is only one item it will not add any size.

 

Time for more caveats:

- Depending on how many items are in that list, and the frequency that they change, mapping all of them to total, might or might not be an option since they would need to manually be mapped and manually maintained. 

- If this model is already built and this module gets referenced by a lot of places you might have to change the formulas to reference your new dimension as well. (Would make sense to put a top-level on the "total" list to eliminate this, but my point is there still could be additional work required to make it work)

 

 

It should work technically, but whether this makes sense in this particular case, is up to you!

 

Let me know if anything here is unclear and I can try to mock it up or add some more context.

 

Jason