How to Use the Data Reader Preview Function in Board

The Data Reader Preview is a powerful feature in Board that lets you inspect and validate your data files before executing a load. Whether you’re importing hierarchies, cube data, or metadata, previewing your file can help catch issues early saving you time and preventing downstream errors.

🧭 Where to Find the Preview Option

  1. Navigate to the Data Model section.
  2. Choose Data Readers from the left-hand menu.
  3. Open the relevant Data Reader configuration.
  4. Click the Preview button at the bottom before executing.

🔍 What to Look for in the Preview

  • Column Mapping
    Verify that each column in your source file is correctly mapped to the Board entity or cube.
  • Value Formatting
    Check for:

    • Extra spaces or trailing commas
    • Missing values in mandatory fields
    • Unexpected nulls
  • Hierarchy Logic
    In parent-child files, confirm that:

    • Each child has a parent
    • No invalid or unknown parent codes exist
    • Codes match existing entities if required

✅ Tips for Successful Previews

  • Use “Skip rows” to ignore headers or notes at the top of the file. This does not exist.
  • If using a CSV file, ensure it’s UTF-8 encoded to prevent character issues.
  • Watch for date formatting mismatches (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs YYYY-MM-DD).
  • Always preview when loading: SM: Always preview when initially configuring the data reader for loading any data.
    • Unbalanced hierarchies
    • Financial data
    • Large datasets

🛠 Example Use Case

You’re importing a P&L structure with parent-child relationships. Before executing the load:

  • Use the preview to spot an orphan node with no matching parent.
  • Correct it in the file, re-upload, and proceed confidently with your import.

🧩 Related Topics