Overview
OneCloud can easily extract data from Planful for use in reporting via BI tools such as Tableau. In this tutorial, you will extract a slice of data and dynamically generate a Tableau "Hyper" file that can subsequently be published to a Tableau Server.
Primary Learning Objective | This exercise is designed to highlight the loading of data from a data file into Planful. |
Secondary Learning Objectives | This exercise also highlights using the HTTP BizApp and passing variables from one chain to another. |
Prerequisites | |
Supporting Template |
Step 1: Create a OneCloud Chain
If necessary, navigate to the "Sample Workspace for Planful".
💡 Workspaces is on the left-side navigation panel.
Click on the "DEV" Environment, prompting the Chains pallet to appear.
Alternatively, click "Build" on the left-side navigation panel.
Hover over the blue (+) icon near the lower-right corner. Click "Create a Chain".
Name the Chain "Planful to Tableau".
Save the Chain.
Step 2: Add a Command to Extract a Planful POV
Add the first Command, selecting Planful ➡️ Query Data ➡️ Retrieve GL Data.
💡 Use the Find tool to search for "Place" and "Retrive GL Data".
Choose the Retrieve GL Data Command by double-clicking the icon, which will auto-load the Command into the Chain Start circle.
📓 Alternatively, click-and-drag the icon onto the pallet. Then move the icon in the Chain Start circle. The Chain Start will show a plus (+) icon indicating that the command may be placed at the start of the Chain.
Double-click (or click + pencil icon) to edit the Command.
If necessary, scroll down to the Filters Section.
Add the desired number of filters by clicking "Add" (on the right side)
For this example, click "Add" four (4) times.
Each filter needs to establish rules for the field, operator, and value.
Add the following rules from the table below:
Field | Operator | Value |
Segment1 | = | 62320 |
Scenario | = | Actual |
AmountType | = | MTD |
FiscalYear | = | 2020 |
💡 Type the value in the required field and press the <enter>/<return> key.
Step 3: Add a Command to Preview the Data
Add a second Command to the Chain.
Select the File Utilities ➡️ List File Content Command.
💡 Use the Find tool to search for "File Utilities" and "List File Content".Connect the "Get Data" Command to the "List File Content" Command.
Edit the "List File Content" Command.
Name the Command: "Preview Data".
Scroll down to set the File Name parameter to Response.
From the left-side panel, choose "Retrieve GL Data" 🔽.
Click "GLData (CSV)".
In the "Preview Lines" parameter below, set the value to "10".
Save the Command.
Step 4: Build the Tableau Hyper File
The exported Planful data now needs to be converted into a native Tableau "Hyper" file by mapping the output columns to various column data types.
Use the (+) to add a command below the prior command group
Choose Tableau ➡️ Extract ➡️ Build Hyper Extract
Set the "Source CSV File" to be the output of "Retrieve Planful Data".
Set the File Format to Comma delimited.
Set the Column Type to the following:
Tableau Column Type MappingCHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,DOUBLE,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRING,CHAR_STRINGSave the Command.
📓 What are these Column Type values used for?
Each column in the source data needs to be mapped to a Tableau column type. The supported options include: INTEGER, DOUBLE, BOOLEAN, DATE, DATETIME, DURATION, CHAR_STRING, UNICODE_STRING, SPATIAL
Step 5: Publish to Tableau Server
For the next step, publish the Tableau Hyper file to the Tableau Server. This step will only work if a Tableau Server is accessible. If not, please skip this step.
Use the (+) to add a command and choose Group with Above
Tableau ➡️ Extract ➡️ Publish Data Source.Edit the Command.
Give the command the name: "Publish Tableau Data".
Set the "Datasource" to the output of the preview "Build Hyper Extract" command.
Hyper File
Set the Datasource Name to any name that makes sense in your environment.
2020_GL_Data
Set the Datasource Type to the type that makes sense for your Environment.
Extract (hyper)
Set the Project ID to your Tableau Project.
be234e5a-f4fd-11ea-a8cf-2b752231e4a7
Select "Overwrite".
Save the Command.
📓 Two options for accessing the Tableau Project ID are: 1) Contacting your system administrator; 2) Adding the Get Projects Command. To add Get Projects:
Tableau ➡️ Projects ➡️ Get Projects.
Publish ➡️ Execute ➡️ Run Chain.
Click the Get Projects Command.
Select "Logs".
Scroll down to view available projects.
Select the appropriate ID.
Step 6: Publish & Run the Chain
Publishing is an important feature in OneCloud. Chains must be published, before they can be run. A Chain and its respective Commands will not be executed otherwise. Whether making one alteration or many, the Chain must be published every time a Chain or Command is edited.
Publish ➡️ Execute ➡️ Run Chain.
To publish a Chain, click "Publish" near the upper-right corner.
Optionally, add a Publish Chain Comment. For this example, leave it blank.
Once published, the "Execute" button becomes active. Click it.
Once executed, the "Run Chain" button is activated. Click it.
The Chain will animated when it is running.
Click on the Anaplan Upload File Command.
When the Chain has been run, the outputs will be available to view.
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