Understanding Build Methods

The build method that you select depends on the type of data in the data source and determines the algorithm that Essbase uses to add, change, or remove dimensions, members, and aliases in the outline.

Use the guidelines in Table 43 to select the appropriate build method for the data source:

Table 43. Build Method Guidelines

Type of Data in Each Record

Examples

Desired Operation

Build Method[1]

Field Type Information

Top-down data

Each record specifies the parent’s name, the child’s name, the children of that child, and so on.

Year, Quarter, Month

Modify the properties of existing dimensions and members

Generation references

The generation number for each field.

Bottom-up data

Each record specifies the name of the member, the name of its parent, the name of its parent’s parent, and so forth.

Month, Quarter, Year

  • Create shared members that roll up into different generations

  • Modify the properties of existing dimensions and members

Level references

The level number for each field.

Parent followed by its child

Each record specifies the name of the parent and the name of the new child member, in that order, although they can specify other information as well.

Cola, Diet Cola

  • Create shared members that roll up into different generations

  • Share non-level 0 members

  • Modify properties of existing dimensions and members

Parent-child references

Whether a field is parent or child. The field number is 0.

A list of new members

Each data source lists new members; the data source does not specify where in the outline the members belong. Essbase provides algorithms that determine where to add these members.

Jan, Feb, Mar, April

Add all members as children of an existing parent (possibly a “dummy” parent)

Add as child of the specified parent

 

800-10, 800-20

Add all members at the end of the dimension

Add as sibling at the lowest level

 

800-10, 800-20

Add each new member to the dimension that contains similar members

Add as sibling to a member with a matching string

 

A list of base dimension members and their attributes

Cola 16oz Can, Root Beer 14oz Bottle

Add members to an attribute dimension and associate the added members with the appropriate members of the base dimension

Generation, level, or parent-child references, depending on the organization of the source data

The number for each field.

The number is either the generation or level number of the associated member of the base dimension or zero.

1 Using a level references build, you cannot create an alias that has the same name as its member. This restriction does not apply if you use other build methods, including the generation references build method.