Chapter 8[ 335 ] As you can see from the actual Essbase API Reference images, the guidance and instructions are very helpful.. For instance the Init function must be performed before any
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As you can see from the actual Essbase API Reference images, the guidance and
instructions are very helpful You get a complete explanation of the function and
tasks it can perform You get an example showing exactly how to code the function Many times we will just copy and paste the example into an actual subroutine and
modify as needed You also get information on any special requirements the function may have For instance the Init function must be performed before any other
Essbase API function Best of all you get a list of any related functions that are either required to accompany the subject function or are similar and may be a better fit for what you are trying to accomplish
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The sample API subroutine explained
What we will do now is take the VB subroutine from the previous example
and show you how it would look in a real program
Sub BrowseOutlineAlterReport()
ESB_Init 'Initialize the API
ESB_Login(Server, UserID, Password, hInst) 'Login to server
ESB_SetActive(hCtx, ApName, DbName) 'Connect to a database
ESB_OtlOpenOutline 'Open a database outline
ESB_OtlRestructure 'Restructure the outline
ESB_OtlCloseOutline 'Close the outline
ESB_ClearActive 'Disconnect from a database
ESB_Logout 'Logout from the server
ESB_Term 'Terminate the API
End Sub
You have just completed our instruction for the Essbase API section of this chapter
We know that you now feel confident that you can take advantage of the Essbase
API functionality and make your life a lot easier
Because the Essbase API functions execute on the analytic server, the same tasks or functions that could
be performed through EAS or the Microsoft Excel add-in will almost always execute substantially faster than on the client
Systems built with extensive use of automated Essbase API functionality are usually more reliable since there is no need for a human to be in there messing things up
This same reason also seems to make the automated systems more stable as well
All in all, it is better to plan for the long haul and do some of the hard work up front
in terms of writing code This method of system development does nothing but keep paying you back with long term dividends
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Summary
Well that should just about put you over the top You have a system built with the
best multidimensional OLAP software available and now it's nearing a lights out
operation with you automating the majority of your routine database maintenance
and administration tasks How can you contain yourself?
As with the other chapters in this book we can honestly tell you that even if this
book were one thousand pages long, we would be barely scratching the surface of
the knowledge and experience you can gain from plain old tinkering around with
Essbase Do yourself a real favor and play!
Next up in Chapter 9, is a comprehensive array of Essbase system tips and tricks
These items will help you when it comes to performance tuning your application,
database and server configuration, memory management for server and client and
much more
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Advanced Techniques
Well here we are at a place in this book where the information being presented to you
is not so much mandatory as it is optional, and it can be used as needed In actuality,
the default settings with your Essbase installation are perfectly adequate for most
applications It is only when your needs start to expand beyond the ordinary that you will find yourself looking for ways to tweak your Essbase system performance
In this chapter you will find a variety of database and system settings and adjustments that will help you keep your Essbase database running at top performance
While we highly recommend that you actually read this entire chapter the first time through, it can also be used as a handy reference if and when you feel you may need
to enhance your current system's performance or make improvements that will allow for trouble free growth in your system
Performance tuning your database
Unlike many of the more typical relational database applications, Essbase has many more database administrator options that can drastically affect the performance and reliability of your Essbase database system
Perhaps it's time to repeat what we've said before, "Essbase is an art, not a science."
There, we'll let that sink in a little bit
What we mean by the previous and often repeated statement is that most of
the time your experience and good judgment can be far more valuable when
giving consideration to tuning your Essbase database than any stale old list of
hard-coded formulas