FAQs: Loading Data into Hyperion
How do I load metadata, image, and text files into Hyperion?
The Hyperion Bulkload facility permits users to load their own metadata, image, and text files into Hyperion. Unlike a utility, the Bulkload facility is run at the command line, and consists of two programs and one configuration file. The Bulkload facility requires that Perl (version 5.0 or later) be loaded on the server.
The /Unicorn/Bin directory contains the two programs that are used by the Bulkload facility.
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blfe.pl (Bulkload front end Perl) |
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blbackend (Bulkload back end) or blbackend.exe on Windows systems |
The blfe.pl program is a Perl program that converts the data into transactions which are fed to the blbackend program for processing.
How do I prepare for loading data?
Before loading metadata and image files through the Bulkload facility, it is advisable to take the following actions.
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Create a /Bulkload directory, which can be under the /Hyperion directory or elsewhere on the server. The /Bulkload directory will be used for storing the data and image files that are being loaded, the file which contains the metadata, and the configuration file used for loading the data. |
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Copy files to the /Bulkload directory. The following files should be present in the /Bulkload directory. |
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A configuration file, which contains information about the structure and location of the data file and specifies load options, should be present in the /Bulkload directory. A template for this file, bulkload.cfg, is delivered in the /Hyperion/Config directory. Typically, a site will have one configuration file for each type of data loaded. The configuration files should be given unique, descriptive names. |
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The metadata file for the images or text files to be loaded should also be present in a file in the /Bulkload directory. This file contains metadata that describes a given text or image file. |
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The actual image and text files to be loaded should also be present in the/Bulkload directory. |
What is the structure of the metadata file?
Although no specific fixed format is required for the file that includes metadata describing the text and image files to be loaded into Hyperion, the metadata file to be processed by the Bulkload facility must follow certain restrictions.
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The metadata file must be an ASCII text file. |
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There must be a return separating the information relevant to each record. |
What is the structure of the configuration file?
The configuration file is of great importance to the Bulkload facility, as it defines the file or files to be loaded, describes the structure of the associated metadata file, and sets record loading options. It must reside in the same directory as the metadata file. The bulkload.cfg file is a template for the configuration file. This file should be copied and modified so that you can tell the blfe.pl program the date and location of your resource types and images.
Each time that you load in your resources and images in batch, you will probably need to modify this file. It is advisable to rename it to reflect the type of data that you are loading.
For more information about these files, refer to your Hyperion DMA training documents.