If these disadvantages are too serious, consider using replicated or linked partitions instead.
Transparent partitions increase network activity, because Essbase transfers the data at the data source across the network to the data target. Increased network activity results in slower retrieval times for users.
Because more users are accessing the data source, retrieval time may be slower.
If the data source fails, users at both the data source and the data target are affected. Therefore, the network and data source must be available whenever users at the data source or data target need them.
You can perform some administrative operations only on local data. For example, if you archive the data target, Essbase archives only the data target and not the data source. The following administrative operations work only on local data in block storage databases:
When you perform a calculation on a transparent partition, Essbase performs the calculation using the current values of the local data and transparent dependents. Essbase does not recalculate the values of transparent dependents, because the outlines for the data source and the data target may be so different that such a calculation is inaccurate. To calculate all partitions, issue a CALC ALL command for each individual partition, and then perform a CALC ALL command at the top level using the new values for each partition.
Consider this example:
The data target outline contains a Market dimension with East, West, South, and Central members
The data source outline contains an East dimension with New York and New Jersey members
If you tried to calculate the data target outline, you would assume that East was a level 0 member. In the data source, however, East is derived by adding New York and New Jersey. Any calculations at the data target, however, would not know this information and could not reflect changes made to New York and New Jersey in the data source. To perform an accurate calculation, therefore, calculate East in the data source and then calculate the data target.
Formulas assigned to members in the data source may produce calculated results that are inconsistent with formulas or consolidations defined in the data target, and vice versa.