Connect and Push Data

Pushing data from spreadsheets allows you to store data in Aleph; this data can then be used for reporting or as an input for another spreadsheet. To push data follow these steps:

Build a Table in Your Spreadsheet

Create the table you need with the format that works for you in Excel/Sheets. For example, if you are working on your budget, you might have a table with the Account, Department, Vendor by month for different scenarios.

Create a Table in Aleph

You will have to create a table so you can push your data to it. Go to https://app.getaleph.com/tables and select "Add Table" in the top right. Select "From scratch". Then, follow these steps:

1. Name the table (e.g. "Budget")

2. Go to the Dimensions Tab and start adding dimensions. In the previous example, dimensions would be Account, Department, Vendor, Month and Scenario. When you add a dimension you can select from the following options:

   1. Dimension: This option is for a standard dimension.

   2. Dimension Hierarchy: This option is for when there's a hierarchical relation between two or more dimensions. A common use case is for the chart of accounts, and an example hierarchy would be something like: "Account Type" > "Account Subtype" > "Account".

   3. Time: Aleph stores time dimensions as a different type allowing for easier interaction with the data stored there. If you're pushing your budget by month, you may also choose "quarter" and "year" and Aleph will automatically populate the quarter and year based on the month. Then you'll be able to build your budget and any reports consolidated by quarter or year in addition to month.

3. Once you select the type of dimension, you can choose an option for "Allows Values" in the dropdown:

   1. Any: This will allows you to push anything to these dimension and Aleph will store it

   2. List: This will require you to create a list so you can only push values in the defined list. For example, if you build a list with your chart of accounts, and you try push to an account that is not listed, you will receive a warning message and it will fail.

   3. Scenario: This will enable you to create new scenarios by copying them from scenarios that you previosuly built and have them stored in the same table.

4. You can also check the "Required for Pull" box. If you do it, any time you push data to this table, you should use this dimension. For example, in your budget, you might choose "account" as "required for pull" as everything has to be labeled with an account. On the other hand, selecting this for "vendor" might not be necessary as you might use this dimension for some accounts and not others.

5. Finally, click on "Publish Table" to finish the set up so you can start pushing data. You can also unpublish the table if you want to add or change any dimensions.

Connect and Push Data

Open your spreadsheet with the table that you previously created and follow these steps:

1. Open the Aleph add-in

2. Go to "Add" and click "Connect"

3. Select the table where you want to push data to

4. Select the ranges for rows, columns and filters

5. Click "Apply" and your Connect will be saved

6. Click on the ellipsis on the right side of your Connect

7. Click "Push data"

8. You can then go to your table in https://app.getaleph.com/tables and check the version history, compare versions, and restore previous versions.

Overwrite Existing Data with a Connect Push

If you have an existing table with data and change values for the dimensions, a standard Connect Push will append new rows for each combination of values in the dimensions that is not in the existing data. In most cases, if you change the value in a dimension you would want to replace the existing row with the desired change instead of retaining it and adding a new row. A Connect can be updated to replace all rows that share common filters with the most recent data push, avoiding retaining rows that are no longer relevant. To set up this type of connect, follow these steps:

1. If you have not set up the connect in the sheet you are working in follow the process in "Connect and Push Data"

2. If you have an existing connect, click on it to begin editing

3. Click on the ellipsis next to the "Rows" section of the Connect and click "Settings"

4. Select "Connect all matches" from the drop down menu instead of Default

   • You can hover of the information icon to read more about each setting option

5. Click "Apply" to save this setting

6. Repeat Steps 3 - 5 with the "Columns" settings

7. Click "Apply" at the bottom of the add-in to update your Connect

8. To overwrite with your new data, click on the ellipsis on the right side and click "Push data"