Nonconstant Values Assigned to Members in a Sparse Dimension

If you assign nonconstant values to members of a sparse dimension, blocks are created based on the Create Blocks on Equations setting. The Create Blocks on Equations setting is defined at the database level, as a database property. (See Nonconstant Values.)

Within calculation scripts, you can temporarily override the Create Blocks on Equations setting. Consider the effects of the following calculation when West does not have a value and Create Blocks on Equations is enabled:

West = California + 120;

Unneeded blocks may be created for all sparse-member intersections with West, even if the corresponding block value is #MISSING for all of the children of West. Especially in a large database, creation and processing of unneeded blocks requires additional processing time.

To control creation of blocks when you assign nonconstant values to members of a sparse dimension, use the SET CREATEBLOCKONEQ ON | OFF calculation command, as shown in the following script:

FIX (Colas);
   SET CREATEBLOCKONEQ OFF
   West = California + 120;
   SET CREATEBLOCKONEQ ON
   East = “New York” + 100;
ENDFIX

Because the Create Block on Equation setting is disabled at the beginning of the script, West blocks are created only when values exist for the children of West. Later, because the Create Block on Equation setting is enabled, all blocks for East are created.

Note:

Using SET CREATEBLOCKONEQ affects only creation of blocks during the execution of the calculation script that contains this command. This command does not change the overall database setting for Create Blocks on Equations.