Question:
Hi, I am working at a client where we do our PCA and COPA data loads several times a day. The PCA load takes about 20 minutes because we are doing a YTD load and the load has an additional dependancy load that occurs.
I'm really used to just doing the loads during the night and not during the daytime while users are active in the system. I understand there is more and more need for immediate reporting, but it just seems wrong as they could get different results depending on when they are reporting.
My questions to you all:
1. What user problems are created by doing data loads multiple times daily?
2. What time(s) do you perform all of your Transaction loads?
3. What kind of available time window do you have to accomplish it all?
4. How is your user community notified that valid data is ready for them
Thanks!
Answer:
Everything is based on your volume of data
Answer:
You didn't really mention how mnay times per day you must load data. You did mention 20 minutes for the PCA. The only way is to schedule the loads at a particular time and communicate this schedule to the users. For example, if you had 3 loads that needed to be done per day, you would want to schedule it at 8AM, 12 Noon, and then 5 PM. If the loads take about 20 minutes, the user can run their reports at 8:30 AM, 12:30 AM, and then 5:30 PM.
There should not be problems at all to load multiple times per day, just as long after the load, the ready for report icon shows up from the Request tab. If there should be a problem, then BW is not robust enough to handle such requirement.