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:
When you create the first attribute dimension in an application, Essbase creates the Attribute Calculations dimension and its members (Sum, Count, Min, Max, and Avg). Each member represents a type of calculation to be performed for attributes.
See Understanding the Default Attribute Calculations Members.
Like all label only dimensions, the Attribute Calculations dimension shares the value of its first child, Sum.
The data in the Attribute Calculations dimension is calculated when a user requests it and is then discarded. You cannot store calculated attribute data in a database.
Not displayed in Outline Editor
The Attribute Calculations dimension is not displayed in Outline Editor. Members from this dimension can be viewed in spreadsheets and in reports.
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:
Finds the base-dimension members associated with the attribute-dimension members present in the current query
Dynamically calculates the sum, count, minimum, maximum, or average for the attribute-member combination for the current query
Discards the calculated values—that is, the values are not stored in the database
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):
See Accessing Attribute Calculations Members Using the Spreadsheet.