Understanding the Attribute Calculations Dimension

When you create the first attribute dimension in the outline, Essbase also creates the Attribute Calculations dimension comprising five members with the default names Sum, Count, Min (minimum), Max (maximum), and Avg (average). You can use these members in spreadsheets or in reports to dynamically calculate and report on attribute data, such as the average yearly sales of 12-ounce bottles of cola in the West.

The Attribute Calculations dimension is not visible in the outline. You can see it wherever you select dimension members, such as in the Spreadsheet Add-in.

The attribute calculation dimension has the following properties:

There is no consolidation along attribute dimensions. You cannot tag members from attribute dimensions with consolidation symbols (for example, + or -) or with member formulas in order to calculate attribute data. As Dynamic Calc members, attribute calculations do not affect the batch calculation in terms of time or calculation order.

To calculate attribute data at retrieval time, Essbase performs the following tasks:

  1. Finds the base-dimension members associated with the attribute-dimension members present in the current query

  2. Dynamically calculates the sum, count, minimum, maximum, or average for the attribute-member combination for the current query

  3. Displays the results in the spreadsheet or report

  4. Discards the calculated values—that is, the values are not stored in the database

    Note:

    Essbase excludes #MISSING values when calculating attribute data.

For example, as shown in Figure 44, Retrieving an Attribute Calculations Member, a spreadsheet user specifies two members of attribute dimensions (Ounces_16 and Bottle) and an Attribute Calculations member (Avg) in a spreadsheet report. Upon retrieval, Essbase dynamically calculates the average sales values of all products associated with these attributes for the current member combination (Actual -> Sales -> East -> Qtr1):

Figure 44. Retrieving an Attribute Calculations Member

This image illustrates the attribute calculations dimension, as described in the text preceding the image.

See Accessing Attribute Calculations Members Using the Spreadsheet.