Calculating data on the data target can greatly slow performance when the data target must retrieve each dependent data block across the network, and then perform the calculation.
Performance with transparent calculations also may slow if Essbase must perform a top-down calculation on any portion of the data target that contains top-down member formulas. When the data target does not contain top-down member formulas, Essbase can perform a bottom-up calculation on the data target, which is much faster.
When Essbase performs the calculation on the data source, it can always perform a bottom-up calculation. For a comparison of top-down and bottom-up calculations, see Using Bottom-Up Calculation.
Consider using these calculation alternatives:
If you are absolutely sure that a target partition calculation script does not involve access to remote data, you can use the SET REMOTECALC OFF calculation command in the calculation script to stop retrieval efforts from the source partition. See the Oracle Essbase Technical Reference.
Dynamic Calc or Dynamic Calc and Store members as parents of the transparent data so that the data is calculated on the fly when it is retrieved. This process reduces the batch processing time. Essbase performs the calculation only when users request it.
A replicated layer between the low-level transparent data and high-level local data.
Consider these performance strategies:
Keep the partition fully within the calculator cache area (see Sizing the Calculator Cache), which means that any sparse members in the partition definition must be contained within the calculator cache. For example, in the Sample.Basic database, if a partition definition includes @IDESC(East), all descendants of East must be within the calculator cache.
Enable the calculator cache, and assign a sufficient amount of memory to it.
Do not use complex formulas on any members that define the partition. For example, in Sample.Basic, assigning a complex formula to New York or New Jersey (both children of East) forces Essbase to use the top-down calculation method. See Bottom-Up and Top-Down Calculation.