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Simplifying the upload of a data file to a Wdata Table is a core skill in streamlining Table Management. In this Connected Learning Path, we will walk through how to upload data to a Wdata Table using Chains.

Step 1: Create a Table

1. Navigate to Wdata
2. Complete the steps to create a Table with the following properties:
   • Table Name: "CLP Employee Detail"

   • Columns:

     Display Name	Column ID	Type	Import Format
     emp_id	emp_id	Text
     user_name	user_name	Text
     first_name	first_name	Text
     last_name	last_name	Text
     job_title	job_title	Text
     department	department	Text
     city	city	Text
     country	country	Text
     currency	currency	Text
     hire_date	hire_date	Date	M/d/yyy
     fte	fte	Decimal	1,000.00
     termed	termed	Boolean

Notes:

• Notice that the import format of the hire_date values is being changed. This is so that it matches the format of the data that will be loaded into the table. You can find information about date/time formats on this page.
• Record the table's Table ID, as this will be used later in this procedure.

Step 2: Create a Chain

1. Navigate to Chain Builder.
2. Add a new Chain.
3. Name the Chain: CLP | Upload Data to a Table.
4. Save the Chain.

Step 3: Runtime Inputs

Use the Runtime Inputs Chain Event to kick off the Chain. This allows us to specify the file name and the ID of the Table that the file will be imported to when we run the Chain. Read more about Runtime Inputs.

1. Add a Runtime Inputs Chain Event from Chain Trigger Events to the Start Node.
2. Edit the Runtime Inputs Chain Event by double-clicking on the Command.
   • Add the values for your Runtime Inputs.
     These will be text fields, and should be marked as "Required".
     • Table ID - ID of the "CLP Employee Detail" table. 
       Check out this document for help finding the ID.
     • File Name - any name you would like to call the file.
       For this example, call the file "Employee Detail".
   • File Location - Where the CSV file is located.
     For this example, use: https://cs-sftp-training-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/cs-training/transformation-qs/employee_detail.csv
3. Click Save to save the Command.

Step 4: Download File

The HTTP Request Get Command will be used to download the file that will be uploaded to the table. We have hosted a file online for the Chain to download to demonstrate downloading files from the cloud.

1. Add a Get Command from the HTTP Request connector to the Chain canvas.
2. Connect the Runtime Inputs Chain Event to the Get Command.
3. Double-click the Command to configure it.
   1. Click the URL field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Trigger.
      2. Click the down arrow to expand Runtime Inputs.
      3. Select File Location.
   2. In the Content type field select: application/csv.
4. Save the Command.

Step 5: Create File

Uploading a file to a Wdata table is a two step process. The file will first need to be created in the Staged status before it can be imported for final use. We will use the "Create File" command to create the file within the Wdata Table in the Staged status, indicating it has been created but not yet imported as a dataset.

1. Add a Create File Command from the Workiva Connector to the Chain canvas.
2. Connect the Get Command to the Create File Command.
3. Double click the Command to configure it.
   1. Click on the Table ID field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Trigger.
      2. Click the down arrow to expand Runtime Inputs.
      3. Select Table ID.
   2. Click on the File field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand GET.
      2. Select Response.
   3. Click on the Name field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Trigger.
      2. Click the down arrow to expand Runtime Inputs.
      3. Select File Name.
      4. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Runtime.
      5. Select Chain.ExecutionDateTime.
      6. Type ".csv" after your two variables.
4. Save the Command

Step 6: Import File to Table

The second step in the process to uploading files to Wdata tables is to import the data, making it usable in Queries. This step takes the staged file and imports it into the designated Table as a dataset.

1. Add an Import File into Table Command from the Workiva Connector to the Chain canvas.
2. Connect the Create File Command to the Import File into Table Command.
3. Double click the Command to configure it.
   1. Click on the Table ID field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Trigger.
      2. Click the down arrow to expand Runtime Inputs.
      3. Select Table ID.
   2. Click on the File ID field.
      1. Within the left Select a Variable panel, click the down arrow to expand Create File.
      2. Select Result.
      3. Click on Create File - Result to transform it.
         1. In the Select Transformation dropdown, select Get Value from JSON.
         2. Click the + button.
         3. In the Value field, type "id" and click Enter on your keyboard.
         4. Click ACCEPT.
4. Save the Command.

Step 7: Test the Exercise

Now that the Chain is complete, let's test the result.

1. Publish the Chain.
2. Click Execute, and then select Run With Inputs.
3. Enter the values for your Runtime Inputs.
   • Table ID - ID of the "CLP Employee Detail" table. 
     Check out this document for help finding the ID.
   • File Name - any name you would like to call the file.
     For this example, call the file "Employee Detail".
   • File Location - Where the CSV file is located.
     For this example, use: https://cs-sftp-training-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/cs-training/transformation-qs/employee_detail.csv
4. Click Start.

5. Once the Chain has completed, click the Import File into Table node to verify success.

   The chain should have successfully taken the file, created a Workiva file, and imported it into your Table. You can verify the data was uploaded into your table by navigating to the Table in Wdata and reviewing the dataset in the right-hand panel.

To learn more about managing datasets in Wdata Tables using Chains, check out the next path: Deleting Data from a Table!