Using Formulas and Formula Calculations

Formulas calculate relationships between members in a database outline. With formulas, you can:

Figure 113, Calculation of Margin %, Profit %, and Profit per Ounce shows the Measures dimension from the Sample.Basic database. The Margin %, Profit %, and Profit per Ounce members are calculated using the formulas applied to them.

Figure 113. Calculation of Margin %, Profit %, and Profit per Ounce

This image shows an outline in which formulas are applied to the Margin %, Profit %, and Profit per Ounce members, as described in the text preceding the image.

For formulas applied to members in a database outline, Essbase calculates formulas when you perform the following actions:

For a formula in a calculation script, Essbase calculates the formula when it occurs in the calculation script.

If a formula is associated with a dynamically calculated member, Essbase calculates the formula when the user requests the data values. In a calculation script, you cannot calculate a dynamically calculated member or make a dynamically calculated member the target of a formula calculation. See Dynamically Calculating Data Values.

Using dynamically calculated members in a formula on a database outline or in a calculation script can significantly affect calculation performance. Performance is affected because Essbase interrupts the regular calculation to perform the dynamic calculation.

You cannot use substitution variables in formulas that you apply to the database outline. See Using Substitution Variables in Formulas.