This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by Paul Corcorran on 5th July 2009 8601 ave. p #1, , lubbock, , 79423 Download at Boykma.Com Preface Thank you for selecting this book. We assure you we will do our very best to make it entirely worth your while. The goal is to demystify the multidimensional database world and have you comfortable with designing, building, and coding Essbase systems. Always remember, Essbase is an art not a science! A brief history on Essbase Essbase is a multidimensional database management system. The name Essbase stands for Extended Spread Sheet dataBASE. Using the custom add-in provides the end-user with near seamless compatibility in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program. Essbase as we know it today evolved from software components developed by Arbor Software Corporation and through the acquisition of additional components or tools from other OLAP and Business Intelligence product development companies. In some cases Arbor Software Corporation purchased the entire company to acquire the needed components as was the case with App Source in late 1997. It is generally agreed that the release of Essbase version 3.2 in 1995 set Essbase as the standard for OLAP and Business Intelligence and Analytics enterprise software. Rapid growth and popularity of the Essbase product led to the merger of Arbor Software Corporation and Hyperion Software becoming Hyperion Solutions Corporation in 1998. This new company achieved near global leadership in the OLAP and Business Intelligence (BI) software arena and ultimately attracted the attention of Oracle Corporation. Oracle completed the purchase of Hyperion Solutions in 2007 for $3.3 Billion. Hyperion Solutions is now a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation and offers a complete line of integrated Business Intelligence and Business Performance Management products. This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by Paul Corcorran on 5th July 2009 8601 ave. p #1, , lubbock, , 79423 Download at Boykma.Com Preface [ 2 ] Why Essbase In addition to being the leading global provider of OLAP and Business Intelligence software, Essbase also offers incomparable value as a RAD (Rapid Application Development) tool. As will be demonstrated in the following pages the complete cycle from concept to design to build to implement can be only a fraction of what a traditional system may require. Further, enhancements to reporting or other functionality are fast, accurate and easy to code. What this book covers Chapter 1 guides you through a typical Essbase installation which includes the Essbase Agent on an analytic server, the Essbase API on the server, the Essbase Administration Services, and the Essbase Add-in for Microsoft Excel. Chapter 2 covers Essbase database design considerations and how to apply them to a multidimensional database as opposed to the traditional row and column relational database. Chapter 3 we begin to build in Essbase (hooray!). Using the information learned in the previous chapter we build the Essbase outline which is the foundation of the Essbase database. Instead of rows and columns an Essbase database contains dimensions and members in a hierarchical parent-child structure. Chapter 4 dives right into loading data into your Essbase database. From user inputted data to at le data manipulation and loading to direct database access all forms of data loading are explained and demonstrated. Chapter 5 explains the varied and simple ways to calculate your data. Once data is loaded it is time to demonstrate one of the largest benets of Essbase. Unlike relational databases, Essbase data can be calculated in many different ways. Instead of writing complex programs to calculate and derive data elements from existing elements or loading excessive amounts of data to derive the needed elements Essbase can calculate and derive data from a minimal amount of loaded data. Essbase has powerful yet simple to use tools that calculate the data Chapter 6 goes over the use of the data for reporting, presentation, or data extracts to feed other systems. Simple steps explain how to create dynamic reporting abilities or user interfaces with a minimum of effort. This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by Paul Corcorran on 5th July 2009 8601 ave. p #1, , lubbock, , 79423 Download at Boykma.Com Preface [ 3 ] Chapter 7 jumps feet rst into the Essbase Add-in for Microsoft Excel. As Microsoft Excel seems to have become the dominant spreadsheet program used by business today the Essbase Add-in for Microsoft Excel has evolved into a very powerful tool indeed. This is one of the main reasons Essbase is so popular today. Even the most novice end user can quickly create professional and dynamic reports with relative ease. We explain these features as well as how the addition of very little code can make the spreadsheet very powerful. Chapter 8 we cover automating your Essbase cube. Depending on the requirements of your user community it is possible to design, build, and automate an Essbase application to where there is virtually no need for IT intervention. Chapter 9 explains advanced techniques that can be used to keep your Essbase application running at peak performance. You know, those little things not usually covered in the user guide but learned with experience. Cache settings, server conguration, memory management are just a few topics covered. Chapter 10 explains the Block Storage Option (BSO) and the Aggregate Storage Option (ASO) for storing data in its database cubes. For the most part this book deals with the BSO. Since the release of version 7.x Essbase has also offered the ASO. As this method of storing the data has substantial differences we felt it needed its own chapter to explain it. Chapter 11 gives a high level view of the optional Essbase System 9 components that are available in the System 9 Suite with the Essbase database the common foundation for all the other components to launch from. With components like Essbase Planning or Hyperion Smart Ofce there's enough to make even the stodgiest accountant's head spin. Appendix explains the signicance of Oracle's new product Smart View. Who this book is for This book is aimed at the IT professional who has an understanding of typical client-server applications but is new to Essbase and the concept of multidimensional database management systems. Occasionally explaining the concept of a multidimensional database to someone who only has experience with traditional row/column relational databases can make their head explode! This book will show you the common sense approach to designing, building, and most importantly understanding Essbase and the cube concept. This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by Paul Corcorran on 5th July 2009 8601 ave. p #1, , lubbock, , 79423 Download at Boykma.Com Preface [ 4 ] Versions covered in this book As of this writing, Essbase System 9.x is the latest offering from Oracle Corporation. Essbase System 9.x itself is an integrated suite of Business Intelligence software. The Essbase module in System 9.x is substantially similar to Hyperion Essbase 7.x. Hyperion Essbase 7.x is still widely used and supported. Since this book primarily covers the Essbase component where screen captures are used, they will be version 9.x however most all examples in this book will work in versions 7.x and 9.x unless otherwise noted. Before we drill down into Essbase let us quickly take a minute to refresh some accepted data warehousing concepts. Data warehousing concepts Data warehousing is not a new concept. In fact, it has been around for many years now. Traditionally a data warehouse has been constructed with some sort of relational database structure. What is relatively new is the addition of the multidimensional database architecture to data warehousing family. The following information is designed to give you a high level understanding of data warehousing and how it can be used in your business. Once you understand the basic principles and concepts of data warehousing it will be easier to understand where Essbase ts into the picture. The fathers of the data warehouse We guess we shouldn't tell you about the data warehousing concept without rst telling you who is widely recognized as the creator or father of the modern data warehouse. Bill Inmon is a world-renowned expert on data warehousing and is also widely recognized as the Father of Data Warehousing. With 35+ years of experience in the Information Technology eld and more specically database technology management and data warehouse design, Bill has been a highly sought after speaker for many major computing associations and industry conferences, seminars, and tradeshows. This material is copyright and is licensed for the sole use by Paul Corcorran on 5th July 2009 8601 ave. p #1, , lubbock, , 79423 Download at Boykma.Com . writing, Essbase System 9. x is the latest offering from Oracle Corporation. Essbase System 9. x itself is an integrated suite of Business Intelligence software. The Essbase module in System 9. x is. needed components as was the case with App Source in late 199 7. It is generally agreed that the release of Essbase version 3.2 in 199 5 set Essbase as the standard for OLAP and Business Intelligence. through a typical Essbase installation which includes the Essbase Agent on an analytic server, the Essbase API on the server, the Essbase Administration Services, and the Essbase Add-in for