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NS2025's avatar
NS2025
New Contributor II
3 days ago

Automatic update of Metadata in OneStream?

Does it make sense to get OneStream Metadata (eg Entity, Cost Center etc) be updated automatically from upstream source system such as SAP?

I would have thought it would be far too risky but just want to check if anyone out there had ever come across such requirement and what approach you deploy so that metadata between source ERP and OneStream are in sync?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

5 Replies

  • T_Kress's avatar
    T_Kress
    Icon for OneStream Employee rankOneStream Employee

    There is a OneStream Solution Exchange tool called Application Control Manager that handles metadata integration between source systems and OS.  

     

  • MikeG's avatar
    MikeG
    Contributor III

    Hi NS2025​ , the only dimension I would stay away from automating is the Entity dimension.  Entities drive Workflows and Security.  If your application has Intercompany and FX translation requirements, that adds to the complexity of auto-adding new Entity members.  T_Kress​ beat me to it, the ACM is your best bet.  I'd just recommend re-thinking how you want to manage the Entity dimension automation.

    Regards,

    Mike G

  • anna_ivinska's avatar
    anna_ivinska
    New Contributor

    Hi NS2025​ 

    In our company we have fully automated Entity update from an external MAster ORG tool/db. But all logic to identify change is built outside OneStream. (or, it is possible to bult it in new tables within Onestream as well).

    The principle is: 

    1. make 2 snapshots of ORG : one from Onestream previous period, another - from ORG master - latest period
    2. compare snapshots to find delta - NEW, Changes (various fields), MOVEMENTS (in hierarchy)
    3. populate changes into own tables
    4. create xml files based on tables
    5. put files on sftp
    6. trigger powershell script on Azure - log into Onestream and initiate Data Management job "get files from sftp". Business rule with connection to SFTP does already exist in Onestreram (extensibility rule)

    We are using several systems for full automation.

    • NS2025's avatar
      NS2025
      New Contributor II

      Hi anna_ivinska​ - that's very interesting indeed.

      Two questions:

      (1) What is ORG that you are referring to? Do you mean entity structure in your environment?

      (2) Are you using any text variables in your entity dimension that drives consol, workflow, calc or reporting behaviour?  If so, how do you ensure that correct text variables are deployed in OneStream entity structure?

      Thanks for sharing!

  • NS2025's avatar
    NS2025
    New Contributor II

    Hi T_Kress​ & MikeG​ - thanks for your responses - much appreciated. Very helpful.

    What the user wants is straight-through automated processing of metadata without any human invervention from the source system (SAP) into OneStream.  I just wanted to confirm that although it is doable (for e.g. using APIs) - it is something thta one shouldn't do given the complexity of the application. ACM makes lot of sense - I will explore that.