Data Storage in Data Blocks

Essbase stores data values in data blocks. Essbase creates a data block for each unique combination of sparse dimension members (providing that at least one data value exists for the combination).

Each data block contains all the dense dimension member values for its unique combination of sparse dimension members.

In the Sample.Basic database, the Year, Measures, and Scenario dimensions are dense; the Product and Market dimensions are sparse. Figure 116, Dimensions from the Sample.Basic Database shows an outline of the dimensions in the Sample.Basic database:

Figure 116. Dimensions from the Sample.Basic Database

This image shows an outline of the dimensions in the Sample.Basic database.

Note:

Sample.Basic also contains five attribute dimensions. These dimensions are sparse, Dynamic Calc, meaning that attribute data is not stored in the database. See Working with Attributes.

Essbase creates a data block for each unique combination of members in the Product and Market dimensions (providing that at least one data value exists for the combination). For example, it creates one data block for the combination of 100-10, New York. This data block contains all the Year, Measures, and Scenario values for 100-10, New York. Figure 117, Product and Market Dimensions from the Sample.Basic Database shows an outline of the Product and Market dimensions in the Sample.Basic database:

Figure 117. Product and Market Dimensions from the Sample.Basic Database

This image shows an outline of the Product and Market dimensions.

In Essbase, member combinations are denoted by the cross-dimensional operator. The symbol for the cross-dimensional operator is -> (a hyphen followed by a greater-than symbol). So 100-10, New York is written as 100-10 -> New York.

You can categorize data blocks in the following ways:

See Generations and Levels and Data Blocks and the Index System.