Transporting Your Content Through File System

Learn how to move content between systems in .tgz files.

Note
  • Export of *.tgz files is deprecated from 2023.Q3 QRC release. It is recommended to use the Content Network instead.

    See Download and Upload of Content Network if you want to a export to local file.

  • File system (*.tgz) is not available for SAP Analytics Cloud tenants hosted on Google Cloud Platform.
Who does this apply to?
  • Users who are assigned a custom role with Read, Maintain, and Share permissions for Lifecycle. The custom role can be based on the Admin and BI Admin standard application roles.

Video: How to Transport Content Between Systems

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About Transporting Using TGZ Files

You can export a package in a .tgz file and then import it to another system.

You can export the following:
  • Analytic Applications
  • Dimensions
  • Currency tables
  • Roles
  • External connections, including Import Data Connections, Live Data Connections, and Smart Data Integration (SDI) connections
  • Allocation steps and processes
  • Wrangles
  • Legacy value driver trees
  • Data locking
  • Validation rules
  • Data actions
  • Multi actions
  • Public files including folders, stories, models, and Digital Boardroom presentations
    Note
    For translated stories, the multilingual content is included in your export. For details, see Learn About the Translation Process.

When you import or export content through Transport, you name and save the details of the imports and exports as units or delivery units. The units are listed in the Import and Export windows, along with details such as their status, and start and finish times. This allows you to examine and manage your import and export history. For example, you can open a delivery unit to view what content was imported or exported, such as dimensions. You can also open a unit again and reuse a unit, or change its details and export it again if necessary.

Caution
It is not recommended to use exports to archive content. Content can only be imported in the same version of the application from which it was exported, or the subsequent version. After your system is upgraded again, you cannot import the content.

For the maximum file sizes, see System Sizing, Tuning, and Limits.

Note

If you're exporting large files, then the option Enable Job for Export and Import should be enabled. By default, it is set to OFF. You can find this option at Start of the navigation path Next navigation step System Next navigation step AdministrationEnd of the navigation path.

Exporting Content

You can export content in .tgz file and then move it across different systems.

Procedure

  1. From the side navigation, select Start of the navigation path Transport Next navigation step  ExportEnd of the navigation path.
  2. Select to File System.
  3. Choose the (New Export) icon.

    The New window opens. The left-hand pane contains nodes that list the content that can be exported. This includes dimensions, models, connections, currencies, roles, KPIs, value driver trees, and files.

    The Files node contains items saved within the system's Public folder including stories, boardroom agendas, templates, and uploaded files. You cannot export private files.

    Note

    If the content you want to export has content dependencies, its dependent content is automatically selected. You can deselect the dependent content.

    If the file you are exporting contains content dependencies, those dependencies must also exist in the Public folder.

    When you export a connection, its credentials are not included in the export for security reasons. You can manually enter the credentials in the Connections page after importing the connection.

    When you export a model based on data imported from one of the following sources, all of the schedule settings for importing data to the model are included in the export. This allows you to continue replacing or appending data for a model that is imported together with its connection:

    • SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)

    • SAP Business Warehouse (BW)

    • SAP BusinessObjects BI platform universe (UNX) query

    • SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC)

    • SQL Databases

    • Salesforce.com (SFDC)

    • OData

    • SuccessFactors

    • Concur

  4. In the left-hand pane, select the content you want to export.
    To select all the items, choose the Select All checkbox. To search for items, enter a search term in the Search box and choose the (Search) icon.
    The items selected for export appear in the pane on the right.
  5. If you want to export the data for the items you selected, select the Data checkbox for the items in the pane on the right.
    Dimensions have master data, models have transaction data, and currencies have currency data.
  6. Select (Export).
  7. Enter a name for the export unit and select whether to include the audit data for the items. Select Export.
    The name for the window changes from New to the name that you provided for the unit. A progress bar at the top of the window shows how the export is being processed.

Results

Once complete, the export unit history appears in the list of unit histories in the main Export window. You can open that unit to make changes to your previous selections and export the unit again.

Importing Content

You can import content that is available in .tgz format.

Procedure

  1. From the side navigation, select Start of the navigation path Transport Next navigation step  ImportEnd of the navigation path.
  2. Select to File System.
  3. In the Import window, select Upload.
  4. In the Upload dialog, choose Select Source File, and browse for the file you want to upload.
  5. Select OK.
  6. In the Preview dialog, check that the file is what you want to upload, and then choose Upload.
    A New window opens that lists the content of the upload.
  7. If required, amend the import by selecting or deselecting the checkboxes for the listed content.
  8. Choose the Import icon and select options for overwriting data during the import.
    • If an object selected for import does not exist on your system, the object will be created and its data will be imported. The sharing settings will be inherited from the folder that you import it to.

    • For objects that already exist in your system, your selections in the Options window determine whether to overwrite the object and update its data. By default, existing objects will not be updated or overwritten.

    Note
    Depending on your selection, if the import contains any files or objects with the same ID as a file or object in your system, the version on your system may be deleted and replaced by the imported content, or updated with new data. Its sharing settings may also change.
    In the Import dialog, you can select one of the import options:
    • Update existing object:

      If an object selected for import already exists on your system, the object on your system is overwritten and its data is updated. The sharing settings will not be updated.

      For models, however, the Model Data Privacy setting and the access permissions assigned to roles remain unchanged during the import.

    • Import data only:

      For objects that already exist in your system, data is imported into each object, but the objects themselves are not updated.

      The Model Data Privacy and Data Access Control settings for models, as well as the permission settings for users and roles, remain unchanged.

    • Drop Objects:

      If an object selected for import already exists on your system, the object on your system is overwritten and its data is updated. The object's sharing settings are inherited from the folder that you import it to. For imported models and dimensions, the Model Data Privacy settings and Data Access Control settings are updated by the imported content, and the corresponding permissions assigned to each role are reset.

  9. Select OK to set the options.
  10. Select Import to start the import.
    The name for the window changes from New to the name that you provided for the unit. A progress bar at the top of the window shows how the import is being processed. The import unit history will also appear in the list of units in the main Import window.
  11. For import data connections and live data connections, you may be prompted to specify credentials. Select Go to Page to open the Connections list. The names of connections that are missing credentials appear in red. Select a connection and choose (Edit Connection) to enter credentials for it.

    If you imported models based on a live data connection that was also imported, data for the models will be available after you enter the credentials for the connection.

    If you imported one of the following connections and a model based on it, any scheduled jobs for importing data to the model will continue to run. You can edit the settings in the Start of the navigation pathConnection Next navigation step Schedule StatusEnd of the navigation path page to reschedule a data import to the model:
    • SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)

    • SAP Business Warehouse (BW)

    • SAP BusinessObjects BI platform universe (UNX) query

    • SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC)

    • SQL Databases

    • Salesforce.com (SFDC)

    • OData

    • SuccessFactors

    • Concur

    If you imported a model based on one of these data sources, and its connection does not exist in the new system, you cannot schedule a data import for the model. To resolve this issue, import the model together with its connection.

  12. For Smart Data Integration (SDI) connections, you must perform the following steps.

    SDI connections are used to enable blending with live data connections. For more information, see Blend Data.

    1. Update your HANA XS Password.
      1. From the side navigation, go to Start of the navigation path System Next navigation step  Administration Next navigation step Data Source ConfigurationEnd of the navigation path.
      2. Select the imported agent, and click (Edit Agent Registration).
      3. Under HANA XS Password, select (Reset Password). Note the new password.
      4. Select Save.
    2. Open an Administrator prompt on the Window or Linux host where the SAP Data ProvisioningAgent is installed, and run the following commands:
      • Set the environment variable.

        On Linux:

        export DPA_INSTANCE=<DPAgent_root>

        On Windows:

        set DPA_INSTANCE=<DPAgent_root>
      • Start the Data Provisioning Agent.

        On Linux:

        <DPAgent_root>/bin/agentcli.sh --configAgent

        On Windows:

        <DPAgent_root>/bin/agentcli.bat --configAgent

        You must start the agent, if it has not been started already: Select option 2. Start or Stop Agent, and then option 1. Start Agent.

        Select q. Quit to exit the script.

        This pattern of stopping and then starting the agent is required whenever you make a configuration change to the agent.

      • Set the credentials for the HANA XS user.

        On Linux:

        <DPAgent_root>/bin/agentcli.sh --setSecureProperty

        On Windows:

        <DPAgent_root>/bin/agentcli.bat --setSecureProperty
    3. Restart the agent.
    4. Update the remote source.
      1. In SAP Analytics Cloud, return to the Data Source Configuration area.
      2. Edit and use the respective credentials to log into each remote source that uses the imported agent.

Results

Once complete, the import unit history appears in the list of unit histories in the main Import window. You can open that unit to make changes to your previous selections and re-import the unit.