Importing Data into Dimensions using Actions

Comprehensive Guide: Importing Data into Dimensions using Actions

This guide will walk you through setting up Actions to import data into a Dimension within Blox. By setting up these actions, you can streamline your workflow and update your data with a simple click of a 'Run' button.

Getting Started

Navigate to the Data tab in your Blox Home page.
From the 'Sources' list on the left, select the data source you want to push into dimension.

Click the Plus(+) icon in the middle Action section or Create button the top right corner to create a new action.

Creating Your Import Action: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to configure your import action.

Step 1: Name Your Action

Provide a clear and descriptive name for your action.

Name: Enter a name that clearly identifies the action's purpose.
Description (Optional): Add extra details if needed.
Best Practice Tip: Include "Data" or "Dim" (for Dimension) in the name so you can easily distinguish whether this action pushes data to a Block or a Dimension at a glance.

Click Continue.

Step 2: Set Up Your Import

This step defines the destination and the primary identifier for your data.

Select Import Type: Choose Load dimension items to update dimension items and properties.
Select Destination Dimension: Select the target dimension from the dropdown (e.g., "Client Contracts").

Note: Ensure the target Dimension and its required Properties (columns) are already created Dimensions tab.
Select Item Name Column: Select the column from your source table containing the unique identifiers using the dropdown menu (e.g., "Contract ID").
No Column Headers (Optional): Check this box if your source CSV file does not include a header row.

Click Continue.

Step 3: Select Properties (Mapping)

Map the columns from your source data file to the properties within your Blox dimension.

For each Property in Blox you want to populate, select the corresponding column name from your source file using the dropdown menu.

Note: You do not have to map every single property. Unmapped properties can be left blank.

Click Continue.

Step 4: Sync Options

Define how your dimension behaves when the source data changes, specifically regarding items that are in the dimension but no longer in the source data.

Choose whether to toggle the Remove missing items switch.

Option A: Toggle OFF (Disabled)

Only new items from your source file will be added. Existing items in the dimension will not be removed.

Option B: Toggle ON (Enabled)

If enabled, you must define the Removal scope:

All items in this dimension:

Overwrites the dimension completely. All existing dimension items not in the new source file will be deleted.

Only remove items matching filters:

Selectively delete items based on specific logic. You can use multiple filters with AND logic.
Example: If you only want to update/remove contracts related to the Referral and Others pipelines, your filters would be:
- "Pipeline" "equal" "Others"
- "Pipeline" "equal" "Referral"

Click Continue.

Step 5: Data Preview and Run

Before finalizing the import, review the expected changes.

Preview: Review the data that will be added, updated, or deleted.
Scenario Selection (Top Right): Ensure you have selected the correct scenario (e.g., "Baseline" or “Actual”).
Warnings and Errors: Pay attention to any warnings (e.g., duplicate items) or a red warning box listing items scheduled for deletion.

Click RUN to push the data into the Dimension immediately, or click SAVE to save the action configuration for later.

Step 6: Import Completion

Once the action is executed successfully, an "Import completed" pop-up will appear.

You will see a summary of the items created or updated.
Click Close to return to the Data tab, or click Go To Plan to view your updated data in the workspace.