Chain template: Update Datasets in a Table chain template

In Chain Builder, you can use templates as a starting point for new chains. To build a chain to update a table's datasets with new files extracted from your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, start with the Update datasets in a table template.

When you create a chain from this template:

• Use a Run Chain event to add the chain to another chain that extracts the data to upload, such as from Oracle® Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) or a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) directory. 
• Select whether the chain should append or replace datasets, or replace only datasets from the same time period.

Prerequisites

To use the Update datasets in a table template, first set up:

• A core Workiva connector
• A core JSON connector
• A core Tabular Transformation connector

To enable customization, the template contains variables. For when you run a chain created from this template, determine these runtime input values:

Step 1. Create a chain from the template

1. In Chain Builder, create a chain from the Update datasets in a table template from either Build or Templates.

   Note: If this is your first chain in the workspace, create it from Templates.

   • From the Chains tab, click Create => Create chain from template, and then select the Update datasets in a table template and click Create from template.
     
   • From Templates, open the Update datasets in a table template under Workiva, and click New chain.
2. Enter a unique name to help identify the chain.
3. Select the workspace and environment to use the chain, and click Next.

   Note: To use this chain in another chain's Run Chain event, ensure both chains are in the same workspace and environment.

4. Set up the variable mappings, and click Next:
   • For the DCV File prefix replace frequency variable, enter DCV File prefix replace frequency.
   • For the DCV Matched dataset variable, enter DCV Matched dataset.
5. For each connection, select its connector and the same runner as the chain to run this chain in a Run Chain event. For example, to use this chain in a chain that uses a GroundRunner, select the same GroundRunner; otherwise, select CloudRunner.
   
6. Click Submit and View your new chain.
   

Step 2. Set up the new chain

1. From the new chain, click Chain Settings.
   
2. Select Allow concurrent runs, and click Save.
3. Click Publish.

Step 3. Use the chain in a Run Chain event

To use the chain, add a Run Chain event to another chain that extracts the data. For example, to upload data from an SFTP directory, create a chain from the Download file from SFTP server template, and add a Run Chain event for this chain.

Troubleshooting

To help troubleshoot errors during a dataset update, the template includes a Workiva connector List File Errors command. If a chain that runs a chain created from the template fails to upload data to a table:

1. From Monitor flight_takeoff in Chain Builder, open the failed run of the chain that contains the Run Chain event.
2. Select the Run Chain event.
3. On the Outputs tab, refer to the List File Errors command's error list to diagnose the issue.

Tip: In the chain with the Run Chain event, you can use the error list output with other commands' properties. To use this output with another command's property, select Run Chain > List File Errors > Error List from Run Chain.