Oracle Essbase 9 Implementation Guide- P42 doc

The main use for substitution variables is to create a dynamic, easy to use variable which will change with time.. In Essbase, you can use substitution variables in the following places:

In the following screenshot you can see how the vehicle totals are correct because

the vehicle dimension has already been calculated:

Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Qtr 1 2009 Sporty

Reserved

Functional

Flashy

2 Door Sedan

4 Door Sedan

Worker

Player

4X2 Pickup

Muddog

Climber

4X4 Pickup

Total Vehicles

4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 12500 350 12850 300 7800 8100 32050

300 7800 8100 4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 4000 5000 9000 28200

4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 12500 350 12850 300 7800 8100 32050

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

Now that we have the sales rolled up in the vehicle dimension, we can now calculate the Calendar Periods dimension which will roll up the values of the months to the quarters, and then to the years Can you imagine how the numbers would look if we rolled up the Calendar Periods dimension first?

Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Qtr 1 2009 Sporty

Reserved

Functional

Flashy

2 Door Sedan

4 Door Sedan

Worker

Player

4X2 Pickup

Muddog

Climber

4X4 Pickup

4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 12500 350 12850 300 7800 8100

300 7800 8100 4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 4000 5000 9000

4000 5000 9000 750 1350 2100 12500 350 12850 300 7800 8100

8300 17800 26100 5500 7700 13200 25750 2050 27800 4600 20600 25200

Looking at these examples can also give you a good idea of why it is so important

to correctly set up your dimensions with regards to the Dense and Sparse settings

You can take solace in the fact that this only applies to BSO databases and there are

no Dense or Sparse considerations for ASO databases ASO databases only contain

Sparse dimensions

Using Substitution Variables

One of the coolest things in Essbase is the substitution variable Substitution variables are like global variables that can be defined once and then used anywhere in Essbase

you want to The main use for substitution variables is to create a dynamic, easy to use variable which will change with time Each variable name will have a value associated with it which can be changed (recreated), displayed or deleted

For example, let's say you have a batch job that runs every day In this daily job you are loading data, calculating it, and creating a unit report for the current month

Now, can you guess what should be the value of the substitution variable? You got

it, it is the Month value from the database time dimension You set the value of the

time variable once and you can use it in the SQL statement in your data load rule

file You can also use its value in the FIX statement in a calc script, and in an Essbase database report script When you code any one of these scripts, you use the name of the substitution variable in the statement in place of the actual value

In Essbase, you can use substitution variables in the following places:

• Dimension Build or Data load Rules File (used in the SQL interface)

• Calculation Scripts

• Report Scripts

• Outline Formulas

• MDX Queries

• Partition Definitions

Substitution variables can be defined on a server level, application level, or database level These variables can be created using EAS, MaxL scripts, or using API calls and Essbase EssCmd scripts

Some rules while creating the variables are:

• The value of a substitution variable should not exceed 256 bytes or characters

• The substitution variable value should not begin with the ampersand [&]

character, although all other characters are allowed

• The user should have READ access to the application or database which

has the variable and should have ADMINISTRATOR access to read a

variable at the server level

Substitution Variables using EAS

We have talked a lot about the substitution variable, let us now see how to create

a substitution variable using the EAS

1 In EAS, scroll down to your Essbase server and select it

2 Click on Actions | Variables | Variable for <YOUR SERVER NAME>.

3 You should see the New Variable screen as shown:

4 For a Server level variable you need to select All Appsfrom the Application drop box andall dbsfrom the database drop box

5 For an Application Level variable you need to select your application

from the Application drop box.

6 For a Database Level variable, you first need to select your application

from the Application drop box and then select your database from the

Database drop box.

7 To give a Name to the variable, enter sCurMonth and set the Value

to 200801 Click OK

8 The substitution variable is now created on the server In order to view the

substitution variable, select your Server, Click on Actions | Edit | Variables You will see the Substitution Variables screen as shown:

9 To edit a variable which is already created, on the Substitution Variables

screen, select the value on the variable you want to change, update the Value and then click on the Set button.

10 To copy a variable, click on the Copy button and the Copy Substitution

Variables screen will be displayed (shown below) Select your Application

then Database from their respective drop-down boxes Next, select the

Variable name checkbox, check on the Overwrite Exiting value and click OK.

To reference a substitution variable from your calc script, you must use the

substitution variable's name preceded by an ampersand (&)

Substitution Variables using MaxL

Now that you are familiar with how to create, drop, and copy a substitution variable using the EAS, let us learn how we can set up a substitution variable at Application, Database, and Server level using the MaxL statement