Essbase Calculation

Best Practices

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An Essbase Block is comprised of a combination of all the dense dimensions (In
FCCS currently just the Accounts dimension). There is then a block created for
each populated sparse dimension member.

When data is initially loaded only level 0 sparse dimension members are
populated. Some simplistic graphics follow which attempt to show this.

Essbase calculations are made most efficient by trying to ensure that at every
step the least possible blocks are being “touched”!

As a rule data should be loaded at leaf node level, Operator calcs done within
the Dense Dimensions (in FCCS the “Accounts” dimension) as this will not
create any new blocks, only make the existing blocks more dense; and finally
the Sparse Dimensions get aggregated, which will create all the relevant sparse
dimension blocks.

• Step 1 - All Data Loaded at Level 0

• Step 2 - Attempt to ensure that only Dense Dimension members are
calculated first – when there are less blocks
• Step 3 - Aggregate the Sparse dimensions.
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 Accounts - Dense
Pre-Calculation Combinations of
Periods - Dense
Dense Dimensions
Scenario - Sparse
e.g.
Version – Sparse
Sales Jan Organisation - Sparse
Sales Feb
Sales Mar Product - Sparse

Combos of Dense
ENTITY
Empty

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense

UK USA Australia Europe
Empty Empty Empty Empty

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense
LONDON LEEDS MANCHESTER EDINBURGH BELFAST
Populated Populated Populated Populated Populated

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 Accounts - Dense
Dense-Calculation Combinations of
Dense Dimensions
Periods - Dense
Scenario - Sparse
Sales Jan Version – Sparse
Sales Feb
Sales Mar Organisation - Sparse
Sales Q1-Q4 Product - Sparse
Sales Total Year

Combos of Dense
ENTITY
Empty

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense

UK USA Australia Europe
Empty Empty Empty Empty

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense
LONDON LEEDS MANCHESTER EDINBURGH BELFAST
Populated Populated Populated Populated Populated

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 Sparse-Calculation Combinations of
Accounts - Dense
Dense Dimensions
Periods - Dense
Scenario - Sparse
Sales Jan Version – Sparse
Sales Feb
Sales Mar Organisation - Sparse
Sales Q1-Q4 Product - Sparse
Sales Total Year

Combos of Dense
ENTITY
Populated

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense

UK USA Australia Europe
Populated Populated Populated Populated

Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense Combos of Dense
LONDON LEEDS MANCHESTER EDINBURGH BELFAST
Populated Populated Populated Populated Populated

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 Questions?

Qubix is happy to address your follow up questions. Please contact the following :

Roger Cressey
Managing Partner and Co-Founder
703-862-9771
roger.cressey@qubix.com

Thank you!

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