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Introduction to Essbase

 Unit Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

 Launch Hyperion Essbase Application Manager
 Review Reserve Cube database outline
 Install Hyperion Essbase Toolbar
 Set Mouse Actions
 Use Keyboard Shortcuts
 Access Online Help
 Connect to Essbase database 
 Retrieve data into a blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
 Disconnect from the Essbase database
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Hyperion Essbase Application Manager
Hyperion Essbase Application Manager provides a Windows based 
environment to design, develop and maintain Hyperion Essbase applications. 
This includes building outlines and dimensions, performing data loads and 
calculations and defining security access.

The Application Manager is where the majority of Hyperion Essbase system­
related tasks are performed, such as:

 Defining the database outline
 Defining automatic rules for developing complex outlines
 Creating calculation scripts to calculate a database
 Creating report scripts to define large or multiple production reports
 Creating load rules for loading data into the database
 Partitioning databases to off­load calculations and distribute data across 
your enterprise (Partitioning is an optional feature.)
 Defining user and security rules for database access
 Providing log reports and other database/server information for 
troubleshooting

Relating Applications and Databases

Applications consist of logical groups of Hyperion Essbase databases and the 
objects related to those databases. A single server can contain multiple 
applications. An application can in turn have multiple databases associated 
with it. The following objects can be stored within a Hyperion Essbase 
database:

 Database outlines, which define the structure of the multidimensional 
database. The file extension is .OTL.  Upon creation of a database, 
Hyperion Essbase creates a blank outline with the name of the database.
 Calculation scripts (calc scripts), which perform custom calculations other 
than the standard consolidations and the standard mathematical 
operations defined in the database outline. The file extension is .CSC.
 Report scripts, which define reports based on data in one or more 
databases. The file extension is .REP.
 Load rules, further defined as:
• Data load rules, which define editing operations on data files that 
populate the database. The file extension is .RUL.
• Dimension build rules, which define operations for the editing of 
dimensions and/or members within an outline. The file extension is 
.RUL.
In addition to these objects, the Hyperion Essbase server maintains user 
information, security information and application activity logs.

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Directory Structure

All databases begin with an outline. The outline defines the relationships 
among the members in the database. Most relationships are hierarchical in 
nature. The following illustration represents the Hewlett Packard Reserves
database. The tree structure is used to represent member consolidations and 
relationships.

Outline Members

A member that has The following diagram represents hierarchical member relationships:

at least one child
member immediately
below it.

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Any member in a
branch above a
member.
A member that has a
parent immediately
above it.

A child member at the

same branch level as
another child member Any member below
with the same parent. a parent.

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Workshop - Logging on to the Hyperion Essbase Application Manager
In this workshop, you will log on to the Hyperion Essbase Application 
Manager and review the Reserves database outline.

Launching Hyperion Essbase Application Manager and

Connecting to the Server

1) Select Start / Programs / Essbase / Essbase Application Manager.

The Hyperion Essbase Application Manager desktop displays.

2) From the Essbase Application Manager desktop, select Server / Connect.

3) In the Essbase System Login dialog box, provide the following information:
Server Vmbmsp1
User ID Student
Password Learn1ng

4) Select OK.
The Vmbmsp1 server dialog box displays:

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Reviewing the Reserves Database

1) In the Vmbmsp1 server dialog box, select the Reserves application from the
Applications drop down list.

2) From the Databases list, select Training.

3) Deselect the Lock file box in the lower right hand corner. Select Open.
The following message displays:

4) Select Yes to continue.

5) The Training database outline displays:

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6) In the Outline Editor window select the Product dimension. Select
Outline/Expand to Descendants.

7) Briefly review the Product members and their hierarchy.

This will assist you when creating reports using the Hyperion Essbase
Spreadsheet Add-in in a subsequent unit.

8) Verify that Product is highlighted. Select Outline / Collapse to Ancestor.

The highest level member for each dimension displays.

9) In sequence, double-click on the arrow to the left of Region/Iberia

10) Briefly review the Iberia members.

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11) Double click on the arrow to the left of Region.
The outline collapses.

12) In the Outline Editor window, select File / Close to return to the Application
Manager desktop.

13) Select Server / Disconnect.

The Logout dialog box displays:

14) Select OK.

15) Select File / Exit.

The Hyperion Essbase Application Manager desktop closes.

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Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in
Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in allows you to use Microsoft Excel to 
communicate with the Essbase server. With Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in 
installed (and with the proper security access), you can retrieve, navigate, 
format, and update information in Essbase databases and create custom 
settings and reports to view data in specific formats.

Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in Components

Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in for Microsoft Excel consists of four components:

 An Essbase menu that allows you to communicate with the Essbase server 
and to manipulate Essbase data in the spreadsheet, like Excel.
 An Essbase toolbar that provides shortcuts for certain Essbase menu 
options
 Enhanced Mouse Actions that enable advanced options
 Essbase keyboard shortcuts for Essbase menu options
 A comprehensive online help system, including context­sensitive help

The Hyperion Essbase Menu

The Essbase menu contains twenty­one commands that allow you to 
communicate with the Essbase server and to manipulate Essbase data in 
spreadsheets. Once the spreadsheet program is loaded, the Essbase option 
displays on the spreadsheet menu bar. 

The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in Menu for the Microsoft Excel 
spreadsheet contains the following options:

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The Hyperion Essbase Toolbar

The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in for Microsoft Excel features a 
convenient toolbar that displays buttons for accessing most of the common 
Hyperion Essbase commands without having to open the Essbase menu. 
Before viewing the toolbar, it must be installed.

The Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in toolbar contains the following icons:

Opens a connection dialog box.

Retrieves data.

Keeps the values of the selected row or column.

Removes the values of the selected row or column.

Performs a zoom-in on the data.

Performs a zoom-out on the data.

Enables you to navigate with or without data.

Undoes the last retrieval, zoom, or pivot action.

Opens the Essbase Options dialog box.

Opens the Essbase Member Selection dialog box.

Opens Essbase Query Designer.

Opens the Essbase Linked Objects browser.

Allows Hyperion Essbase access to structured query

language (SQL) through Hyperion Essbase SQL Drill-
through.

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To turn on the Hyperion Essbase toolbar:

1) In Microsoft Excel, select View / Toolbars / Hyperion Essbase.

If Essbase is not an option from the View / Toolbars menu, then you have deleted the
Essbase toolbar from the Toolbars dialog box in Microsoft Excel. If this happens,
simply repeat the Essbase toolbar installation procedure.

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Enhanced Mouse Actions

The default settings of Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in disables normal 
Microsoft Excel mouse functionality. Hyperion Essbase offers enhanced 
mouse actions in Microsoft Excel. You can use the mouse to:

 Retrieve data
 Zoom in and out on database members
 Pivot (move or transpose) data rows and columns
 Access linked reporting objects

Microsoft Excel uses a primary mouse double­click to perform in­cell editing. 
This feature must be disabled for Hyperion Essbase primary mouse double­
clicking to work.

To enable double-click to retrieve, zoom in and zoom out:

1) Select Essbase / Options.

2) Select the Global tab.

3) Make sure that Enable Double-clicking is selected.

4) Click OK.

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The Hyperion Essbase Keyboard Shortcuts
Each of the keystroke combinations in the following table corresponds to a 
Hyperion Essbase menu command. For example, to retrieve data using the 
keyboard shortcut for the Retrieve command, press and hold down the Alt
key and the s key, then select the r key. 

Menu Command Keyboard Shortcut

Retrieve Alt + s+ r
Keep Only Alt + s + k
Remove Only Alt + s + o
Zoom In Alt + s + i
Zoom Out Alt + s + z
Navigate Without Data Alt + s + g
Linked Objects Alt + s + j
Pivot Alt + s + v
Query Designer Alt + s + q
FlashBack Alt + s + b
Options Alt + s + p
Member Selection Alt + s + m
Currency Report Alt + s + y
Cascade Alt + s + d
Retrieve & Lock Alt + s + e
Lock Alt + s + l
Unlock Alt + s + u
Send Alt + s + s
Calculate Alt + s + c
Connect Alt + s + n
Disconnect Alt + s + t

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Online Essbase Help

The Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in provides a comprehensive online 
help system to assist you. 

In addition, the Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add­in offers context­sensitive 
help. To access context­sensitive help, select the Help button located on any 
Essbase dialog box.

To access Hyperion Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in Help:

1) With the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet open, select Help / Essbase Help.

To access Essbase Context-Sensitive Help:

1) From the Essbase System Login dialog box, select Help.

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Workshop – Connecting to and Disconnecting from the HP Database
In this workshop, you will connect to the Essbase server, retrieve data into a 
blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and disconnect from the Essbase server.

Connecting to the Essbase database

1) Launch Microsoft Excel. Open a blank workbook.

2) Select Essbase / Connect and supply the information provided in the table
below. Select OK.
Server Vmbmsp1
User ID Student
Password Learn1ng

3) From the Application/Database list in the Essbase System Login dialog box,
select the Reserves application and the Training database. Select OK.

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 Essbase 4) Select Essbase /Options. Select the Display panel. Verify
that your display panel matches the panel below.
Options will be covered
in further detail in Unit 3.

5) Select the Global panel. Verify that your display panel matches the panel
below. Select OK.

6) Select Essbase / Retrieve or double-click any cell.

Essbase retrieves the data and displays it in the spreadsheet. Notice that the
dimensions displayed match the dimensions in the outline:

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1) Select Essbase / Disconnect.
The Essbase Disconnect dialog box displays:

2) Select the Disconnect button. Select Close.

3) Select File / Close. If prompted, do not save changes.

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