01_Introduction

1 Introduction to Essbase

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Unit Objectives Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to: 

Launch Hyperion Essbase Application Manager

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Review Reserve Cube database outline

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Install Hyperion Essbase Toolbar

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Set Mouse Actions

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Use Keyboard Shortcuts

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Access Online Help

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Connect to Essbase database 

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Retrieve data into a blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

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Disconnect from the Essbase database

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Introduction to Essbase

Hyperion Essbase Application Manager Hyperion Essbase Application Manager provides a Windows based  environment to design, develop and maintain Hyperion Essbase applications.  This includes building outlines and dimensions, performing data loads and  calculations and defining security access. The Application Manager is where the majority of Hyperion Essbase system­ related tasks are performed, such as:        

Defining the database outline Defining automatic rules for developing complex outlines Creating calculation scripts to calculate a database Creating report scripts to define large or multiple production reports Creating load rules for loading data into the database Partitioning databases to off­load calculations and distribute data across  your enterprise (Partitioning is an optional feature.) Defining user and security rules for database access Providing log reports and other database/server information for  troubleshooting

Relating Applications and Databases Applications consist of logical groups of Hyperion Essbase databases and the  objects related to those databases. A single server can contain multiple  applications. An application can in turn have multiple databases associated  with it. The following objects can be stored within a Hyperion Essbase  database: Database outlines, which define the structure of the multidimensional  database. The file extension is .OTL.  Upon creation of a database,  Hyperion Essbase creates a blank outline with the name of the database.  Calculation scripts (calc scripts), which perform custom calculations other  than the standard consolidations and the standard mathematical  operations defined in the database outline. The file extension is .CSC.  Report scripts, which define reports based on data in one or more  databases. The file extension is .REP.  Load rules, further defined as: • Data load rules, which define editing operations on data files that  populate the database. The file extension is .RUL. • Dimension build rules, which define operations for the editing of  dimensions and/or members within an outline. The file extension is  .RUL. 

In addition to these objects, the Hyperion Essbase server maintains user  information, security information and application activity logs. 2

Introduction to Essbase

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Directory Structure All databases begin with an outline. The outline defines the relationships  among the members in the database. Most relationships are hierarchical in  nature. The following illustration represents the Hewlett Packard Reserves database. The tree structure is used to represent member consolidations and  relationships.

Outline Members A member that has at least one child member immediately below it.

The following diagram represents hierarchical member relationships:

Hyperion Essbase – EMEA Reserve cube Training

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Any member in a branch above a member. A member that has a parent immediately above it. A child member at the same branch level as another child member with the same parent.

4

Any member below a parent.

Introduction to Essbase

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Workshop - Logging on to the Hyperion Essbase Application Manager In this workshop, you will log on to the Hyperion Essbase Application  Manager and review the Reserves database outline.

Launching Hyperion Essbase Application Manager and Connecting to the Server 1)

Select Start / Programs / Essbase / Essbase Application Manager. The Hyperion Essbase Application Manager desktop displays.

2)

From the Essbase Application Manager desktop, select Server / Connect.

3)

In the Essbase System Login dialog box, provide the following information:

4)

Server

Vmbmsp1

User ID

Student

Password

Learn1ng

Select OK. The Vmbmsp1 server dialog box displays:

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Reviewing the Reserves Database

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1)

In the Vmbmsp1 server dialog box, select the Reserves application from the Applications drop down list.

2)

From the Databases list, select Training.

3)

Deselect the Lock file box in the lower right hand corner. Select Open. The following message displays:

4)

Select Yes to continue.

5)

The Training database outline displays:

Introduction to Essbase

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In the Outline Editor window select the Product dimension. Select Outline/Expand to Descendants.

7)

Briefly review the Product members and their hierarchy. This will assist you when creating reports using the Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in in a subsequent unit.

8)

Verify that Product is highlighted. Select Outline / Collapse to Ancestor. The highest level member for each dimension displays.

9)

In sequence, double-click on the arrow

10)

Briefly review the Iberia members.

Hyperion Essbase – EMEA Reserve cube Training

to the left of Region/Iberia

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Introduction to Essbase 11)

Double click on the arrow The outline collapses.

to the left of Region.

12)

In the Outline Editor window, select File / Close to return to the Application Manager desktop.

13)

Select Server / Disconnect. The Logout dialog box displays:

14)

Select OK.

15)

Select File / Exit. The Hyperion Essbase Application Manager desktop closes.

Introduction to Essbase

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Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in allows you to use Microsoft Excel to  communicate with the Essbase server. With Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in  installed (and with the proper security access), you can retrieve, navigate,  format, and update information in Essbase databases and create custom  settings and reports to view data in specific formats.

Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in Components Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in for Microsoft Excel consists of four components:     

An Essbase menu that allows you to communicate with the Essbase server  and to manipulate Essbase data in the spreadsheet, like Excel. An Essbase toolbar that provides shortcuts for certain Essbase menu  options Enhanced Mouse Actions that enable advanced options Essbase keyboard shortcuts for Essbase menu options A comprehensive online help system, including context­sensitive help

The Hyperion Essbase Menu The Essbase menu contains twenty­one commands that allow you to  communicate with the Essbase server and to manipulate Essbase data in  spreadsheets. Once the spreadsheet program is loaded, the Essbase option  displays on the spreadsheet menu bar.  The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in Menu for the Microsoft Excel  spreadsheet contains the following options:

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Introduction to Essbase

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The Hyperion Essbase Toolbar The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in for Microsoft Excel features a  convenient toolbar that displays buttons for accessing most of the common  Hyperion Essbase commands without having to open the Essbase menu.  Before viewing the toolbar, it must be installed. The Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in toolbar contains the following icons: Opens a connection dialog box. Retrieves data. Keeps the values of the selected row or column. Removes the values of the selected row or column. Performs a zoom-in on the data. Performs a zoom-out on the data. Enables you to navigate with or without data. Undoes the last retrieval, zoom, or pivot action. Opens the Essbase Options dialog box. Opens the Essbase Member Selection dialog box. Opens Essbase Query Designer. Opens the Essbase Linked Objects browser. Allows Hyperion Essbase access to structured query language (SQL) through Hyperion Essbase SQL Drillthrough.

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To turn on the Hyperion Essbase toolbar: 1)

In Microsoft Excel, select View / Toolbars / Hyperion Essbase.

If Essbase is not an option from the View / Toolbars menu, then you have deleted the Essbase toolbar from the Toolbars dialog box in Microsoft Excel. If this happens, simply repeat the Essbase toolbar installation procedure.

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Enhanced Mouse Actions The default settings of Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in disables normal  Microsoft Excel mouse functionality. Hyperion Essbase offers enhanced  mouse actions in Microsoft Excel. You can use the mouse to: Retrieve data Zoom in and out on database members  Pivot (move or transpose) data rows and columns  Access linked reporting objects  

Microsoft Excel uses a primary mouse double­click to perform in­cell editing.  This feature must be disabled for Hyperion Essbase primary mouse double­ clicking to work.

To enable double-click to retrieve, zoom in and zoom out: 1)

Select Essbase / Options.

2)

Select the Global tab.

3)

Make sure that Enable Double-clicking is selected.

4)

Click OK.

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The Hyperion Essbase Keyboard Shortcuts Each of the keystroke combinations in the following table corresponds to a  Hyperion Essbase menu command. For example, to retrieve data using the  keyboard shortcut for the Retrieve command, press and hold down the Alt key and the s key, then select the r key. 

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Menu Command

Keyboard Shortcut

Retrieve

Alt + s+ r

Keep Only

Alt + s + k

Remove Only

Alt + s + o

Zoom In

Alt + s + i

Zoom Out

Alt + s + z

Navigate Without Data

Alt + s + g

Linked Objects

Alt + s + j

Pivot

Alt + s + v

Query Designer

Alt + s + q

FlashBack

Alt + s + b

Options

Alt + s + p

Member Selection

Alt + s + m

Currency Report

Alt + s + y

Cascade

Alt + s + d

Retrieve & Lock

Alt + s + e

Lock

Alt + s + l

Unlock

Alt + s + u

Send

Alt + s + s

Calculate

Alt + s + c

Connect

Alt + s + n

Disconnect

Alt + s + t

Introduction to Essbase

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Online Essbase Help The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in provides a comprehensive online  help system to assist you.  In addition, the Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in offers context­sensitive  help. To access context­sensitive help, select the Help button located on any  Essbase dialog box.

To access Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in Help: 1)

With the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet open, select Help / Essbase Help.

To access Essbase Context-Sensitive Help: 1)

From the Essbase System Login dialog box, select Help.

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Workshop – Connecting to and Disconnecting from the HP Database In this workshop, you will connect to the Essbase server, retrieve data into a  blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and disconnect from the Essbase server.

Connecting to the Essbase database 1)

Launch Microsoft Excel. Open a blank workbook.

2)

Select Essbase / Connect and supply the information provided in the table below. Select OK.

3)

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Server

Vmbmsp1

User ID

Student

Password

Learn1ng

From the Application/Database list in the Essbase System Login dialog box, select the Reserves application and the Training database. Select OK.

Introduction to Essbase

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4) Select Essbase /Options. Select the Display panel. Verify that your display panel matches the panel below.

Essbase Options will be covered in further detail in Unit 3.

5)

Select the Global panel. Verify that your display panel matches the panel below. Select OK.

6)

Select Essbase / Retrieve or double-click any cell. Essbase retrieves the data and displays it in the spreadsheet. Notice that the dimensions displayed match the dimensions in the outline:

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Introduction to Essbase 1)

Select Essbase / Disconnect. The Essbase Disconnect dialog box displays:

2)

Select the Disconnect button. Select Close.

3)

Select File / Close. If prompted, do not save changes.