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  • 1.  Relevance of creating data module while working on one uploaded file

    IBM Champion
    Posted Wed May 10, 2023 09:16 AM

    Data modules are created after uploading files. If I understand correctly, data modules help working on different fields on different files together as part of reports created. So creation of data modules when just working on one uploaded file is symbolic and done so as to maintain uniformity.



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    Rajeev Bagra
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  • 2.  RE: Relevance of creating data module while working on one uploaded file

    IBM Champion
    Posted Wed May 10, 2023 03:23 PM
    Edited by Mark Fry Wed May 10, 2023 03:24 PM

    Hi,

    There are several reasons you might want to create a data module based on a single uploaded file.
    - If you want to report on the data, you have no choice - you can't currently use an uploaded file directly in a report in the same way you can if you are creating a dashboard/exploration/story.
    - If you want to add relative time into your data, you would do this in a data module.
    - If you want to add pre-defined calculations in the data, the best way is in a data module - otherwise you will end up creating them over and over again in each dashboard/exploration/story you create. Similarly the reasons below:
    - If you want to change the names of the data items.
    - If you want to change the way items are treated (measure vs attribute vs identifier).
    - If you want to change the way measure values are aggregated by default.
    - If you want to group items into folders.
    - If you want to reorder the data items.

    There are many more reasons also, but I think you probably get the point here. I'd say it's probably less common to use an uploaded file directly unless you're just trying to see if there is any value in the data.

    Cheers!

    MF.



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    Mark Fry
    Technical Consultant
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  • 3.  RE: Relevance of creating data module while working on one uploaded file

    IBM Champion
    Posted Tue May 16, 2023 12:33 PM

    Hi, I totally agree with Mark. Another important reason to put a data module in between is easier replacement of the file. If you have a more reports/dashboards on this source then you just need to adjust one data module instead of them. 



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    Philipp Hornung
    Business Intelligence Manager
    Techniker Krankenkasse
    Hamburg Germany
    #IBMChampion
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