Outline calculation is the simplest calculation method. Essbase bases the calculation of the database on the relationships between members in the database outline and on any formulas that are associated with members in the outline.
For example, Figure 106, Relationship Between Members of the Market Dimension shows the relationships between the members of the Market dimension in the Sample.Basic database. The values for New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Connecticut, and New Hampshire are added to calculate the value for East. The values for East, West, South, and Central are added to calculate the total value for Market.
Figure 107, Calculation of Variance and Variance % shows the Scenario dimension from the Sample.Basic database. The Variance and Variance % members are calculated by using the formulas attached to them.
It may be more efficient to calculate some member combinations when you retrieve the data instead of calculating the member combinations during the regular database calculation. You can use dynamic calculations to calculate data at retrieval time. See Dynamically Calculating Data Values.