Understanding Shared Members

The data values associated with a shared member come from another member with the same name. The shared member stores a pointer to data contained in the other member, and the data is stored only once. To define a member as shared, an actual nonshared member of the same name must exist. For example, in the Sample.Basic database, the 100-20 member under 100 stores the data for that member. The 100-20 member under Diet points to that value.

Shared members typically are used to calculate the same member across multiple parents; for example, to calculate a Diet Cola member in both the 100 and Diet parents.

Using shared members lets you use members repeatedly throughout a dimension. Essbase stores the data value only once, but it displays in multiple locations. Storing the data value only once saves space and improves processing efficiency.

  To tag a member as shared, see “Setting Member Storage Properties” in the Oracle Essbase Administration Services Online Help.

Read the following sections to learn more about shared members.

Note:

Members with the same name may be duplicate members instead of shared members. See Creating and Working With Duplicate Member Outlines.