MicroStrategy ONE

Importing data from different data sources

You can use MicroStrategy Web to import data from different data sources into MicroStrategy metadata with minimum project design requirements. You link this imported data to define attributes and metrics. You then save and publish it as an Intelligent Cube. The data sources include a file in a folder on your computer or stored in Dropbox, a table in a database, the results of a SQL query, a Salesforce.com report, and Twitter. For a complete list of data sources, see the MicroStrategy Web Help.

You can:

  • Import data while creating a document. Your imported data is saved and can be used immediately in the document.

  • Import and save data in a folder location. If desired, you can create a document immediately from the imported data.

Some common uses for importing data include:

  • Combining and analyzing personalized data with your project data

  • Quickly integrating data into MicroStrategy as part of a proof-of-concept

  • Importing and reporting on personalized data from various data sources

  • Immediately building reports, documents, and dashboards without having to "model" the data source

  • Modifying the data in your data source, then republishing the Intelligent Cube to quickly update the data in your reports, documents, and dashboards

You can import data from the following data sources:

  • A file on your computer, network, or from a specified URL or UNC path

  • A table in a database

  • The results of a Freeform SQL query on a database

  • A Salesforce.com report

When you import data into a document, the imported data is automatically linked to attributes that already exist in the document. For example, a document contains a dataset that includes the Year attribute. You import data from a file that contains year and region information. The year is automatically linked to the Year attribute during the data import process. You can unlink the data, if the link is incorrect for your needs.

For high-level steps to import data as a dataset, see To import data to use as a dataset. For more detailed steps, including steps to link data to attributes, see the MicroStrategy Web Help. For more information on including supplemental data in a project using the Data Import feature, see the Creating and Configuring a Project chapter in the Project Design Guide.