Number of Existing Data Blocks

As compared with the potential number of blocks, existing blocks refers to those data blocks that Essbase actually creates. For Essbase to create a block, at least one value must exist for a combination of stored members from sparse dimensions. Because many combinations can be missing, the number of existing data blocks is usually much less than the potential number of data blocks.

  To see the number of existing blocks for a database that is already loaded, look for the number of existing blocks on the Statistics tab of the Database Properties dialog box of Administration Services. Write the value in the cell labeled DB in Table 244, Worksheet: List of Factors That Affect Disk Space Requirements of a Database.

If the database is not already loaded, you must estimate a value.

  To estimate the number of existing data blocks:

  1. Estimate a database density factor that represents the percentage of sparse dimension stored-member combinations that have values.

  2. Multiply this percentage against the potential number of data blocks:

    number of existing blocks 
    = estimated density 
    * potential number of blocks

    Write the number of actual blocks to the cell labeled DB in Table 244, Worksheet: List of Factors That Affect Disk Space Requirements of a Database.

Example

The following three examples show different levels of sparsity and assume 100,000,000 potential data blocks: