DIMDATA format

The data extracted by the relevant PPM process extractor is to be written to the XML output file in the special import format for one, two or multi-level dimensions. XML output files in this format can be imported into PPM using the rundimdata.bat command line program (see PPM Data import technical reference).

To extract data correctly, the relevant process extractor requires a mapping file that assigns the keys (and any descriptions) for the individual dimension levels to the correct extracted field values. This XML configuration file has the following structure:

...

<dimdatamapping>

<dimension name="...">

<dimcolmapping>

<datacol name="..."/>

<keyspec key="..."/>

</dimcolmapping>

...

</dimension>

</dimdatamapping>
...

XML element

XML attribute

Description

dimdatamapping

 

Root element of mapping definition. Contains a list of PPM dimensions to be configured.

dimension

name

Identifier of the PPM dimension (corresponds to the value of the name XML
attribute from the dimension configuration in the PPM system)

dimcolmapping

 

Groups configuration elements for a data column.

datacol

name

Name of the data column, in which the dimension values are saved.

 

format
(optional)

Format string for transformation of the data value for use in the PPM system

keyspec

key

Name of the key for the extracted key-value assignments

 

desckey

Name of the key for the extracted key-description assignments

value

 

Specification of a constant dimension value

Example

The following key-value pairs are the expected result of the extraction in the XML output file in PPM system event format:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!DOCTYPE eventlist SYSTEM "event.dtd">

<eventlist>

<event>

<attribute type="MAT1_ID-MATNR">1000</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT1_DESC-HTEXT">Motor44</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_ID-MTART">32</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_DESC-MTBEZ">Components</attribute>

</event>

<event>

<attribute type="MAT1_ID-MATNR">1001</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT1_DESC-HTEXT">Wrench77</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_ID-MTART">45</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_DESC-MTBEZ">Tools</attribute>

</event>

<event>

<attribute type="MAT1_ID-MATNR">1002</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT1_DESC-HTEXT">Pump43</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_ID-MTART">33</attribute>

<attribute type="MAT2_DESC-MTBEZ">Trade goods</attribute>

</event>

</eventlist>

The mapping file below transfers the key-value pairs into the PPM-compatible XML format for importing dimension values:

...

<dimdatamapping>

<dimension name="MATERIAL">

<dimcolmapping>

<datacol name="LEVEL1_ID"/>

<keyspec key="MAT1_ID-MATNR"/>

</dimcolmapping>

<dimcolmapping>

<datacol name="LEVEL1_DESC"/>

<keyspec key="MAT1_DESC-HTEXT"/>

</dimcolmapping>

<dimcolmapping>

<datacol name="LEVEL2_ID"/>

<keyspec key="MAT2_ID-MTART"/>

</dimcolmapping>

<dimcolmapping>

<datacol name="LEVEL2_DESC"

<keyspec key="MAT2_DESC-MTBEZ"/>

</dimcolmapping>

</dimension>

</dimdatamapping>

The names of the data columns for a PPM dimension level are fixed (LEVEL1_ID, LEVEL1_DESC, LEVEL2_ID, LEVEL2_DESC, etc.) and must not be changed.

The table below illustrates the assignment of the data columns to the keys and descriptions of the individual dimension levels:

dimdata configuration

Dimension configuration

LEVEL1_ID

Identifier of first dimension level

LEVEL1_DESC

Description of first dimension level

LEVEL2_ID

Identifier of second dimension level

LEVEL2_DESC

Description of second dimension level

LEVELn_ID

ID of the n-th dimension level

LEVELn_DESC

Description of the n-th dimension level

The XML output file generated in DIMDATA format has the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE dimdata SYSTEM "dimdata.dtd">

<dimdata>

<dim name="MATERIAL">

<datacols>

<datacol name="LEVEL1_ID"/>

<datacol name="LEVEL1_DESC"/>

<datacol name="LEVEL2_ID"/>

<datacol name="LEVEL2_DESC"/>

</datacols>

<datarow>

<value>1001</value>

<value>Motor44</value>

<value>32</value>

<value>Components</value>

</datarow>

<datarow>

<value>1002</value>

<value>Wrench77</value>

<value>45</value>

<value>Tools</value>

</datarow>

<datarow>

<value>1003</value>

<value>Pump43</value>

<value>33</value>

<value>Trade goods</value>

</datarow>

</dim>