Optimizing Oracle Essbase Formulas & Calc Scripts

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2 Optimizing Oracle Essbase Formulas & Calc Scripts NOTE: Slides will not be distributed. Edward Roske BLOG: LookSmarter.blogspot.com WEBSITE: TWITTER: Eroske

3 3 About interrel Reigning Oracle Award winner EPM & BI Solution of the year Three Oracle ACE Directors for Hyperion Oracle Platinum Partner One of the 100 fastest growing tech companies in the USA (CRN Magazine, ) Authors of the 8 Best Selling books on Hyperion & Essbase Essbase Studio book to be released April 11, 2011 All available on LuLu.com Press Infra structure Consulting Support Focused exclusively on Oracle EPM & BI Training

4 8 Hyperion Books Available: Essbase (7): Complete Guide Essbase System 9: Complete Guide Essbase System 9: End User Guide Essbase 11: Admin Guide Essbase Studio 11 (April 11, 2011) Smart View 11: End User Guide Planning: End Users Guide Planning: Administrators To order, check out 4 Copyright 2007, Hyperion. All rights reserved.

5 5 Disclaimer These slides represent the work and opinions of the presenter and do not constitute official positions of Oracle or any other organization. These material has not been peer reviewed and is presented here with the permission of the presenter. These should not be copied, recorded or reproduced without the expressed written permission of interrel Consulting.

6 There isn t one right answer Keep in Mind: Tuning Some of the tuning guidelines can contradict other tuning guidelines Have your priorities in order BSO is traditionally tuned for calc time then retrieval time ASO is traditionally tuned for load time then retrieval time The tuning information provided in this chapter is meant to help you in the development of your applications In some databases, these tuning tips will have significant impact In other databases, the tuning tips won t And remember there s a difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Test, test, test!!

7 Design & Optimize Calculations Understanding Essbase Consolidations

8 Calculation Overview Outline consolidation Calculations that aggregate and roll-up data based on the hierarchical relationships of the outline Relationships that include computed members defined by formulas The use of unary operators in the outline + - % / * ~ ^ FASTEST METHOD OF CALCULATION Custom calculation Requires a calculation script Overrides outline consolidation

9 Default Calculation Simplest method Default consolidations Formulas as they appear in outline Default calculation consists of three steps: Data view before the calculation Run of default calculation Data view after calculation A default calc can be changed and it will run faster than a calc script not set as the default

10 Dynamic Calculations Dynamic calc members are evaluated during retrievals You can reference dynamic calc members in a script or formula Watch out for dynamic calc members on different dimensions Sparse will calculate before dense Within Dense, it s outline order Two-Pass is last (sparse before dense) Watch out for dynamic calcs that are dependent on other dynamic calcs

11 Dynamic Calculations Tags within Outline Editor Calculation upon retrieval Reduction of batch calculation time and disk storage

12 Dynamic Calculations Considerations Batch load Calculation windows Disk space Retrieval speed

13 Dynamic Calculations Advantages - Dynamic Calc and Store % of the time, don t use Dynamic Calc and Store They fragment your database dramatically

14 Use: Dynamic Calculations Advantages - Dynamic Calc (Non-Store) No impact on pre-calculation window Used to retrieve infrequently accessed information or to save space Used when data changes often and changes need to be reflected instantly Reduce block size (for dynamic calcs on dense dimensions) Best Choice for: Relatively simple calculations Small queries that do not span large numbers of data cells Infrequently accessed data

15 Setting Dynamic Calc Members Both dense and sparse members tagged as Dynamic Calc Consolidated members or members with a formula Parents of Dynamic Calc members real or Dynamic Calc Members which cannot be tagged as Dynamic Calc: No level zero (0) members without formulas No label-only Shared members In a single parent-to-child case

16 Workshop You have an outline with the following dimensions: Accounts dense Periods dense Scenario sparse Organization sparse You want to add a variance to the Scenario dimension to calculate Actual vs. Budget What storage option should Variance be?

17 Workshop Given the dense and sparse settings from the previous slide And you dynamically calculate upper level members of the Accounts dimension Will the variance calculate correctly for upper level members of accounts? Why or why not?

18 Workshop You have an outline with the following dimensions: Accounts dense Periods dense Scenario sparse Organization sparse You want to add a variance to the Scenario dimension to calculate Actual vs. Budget What storage option should Variance be? Dynamic Calc

19 Workshop Given the dense and sparse settings from the previous slide And you dynamically calculate upper level members of the Accounts dimension Will the variance calculate correctly for upper level members of accounts? Why or why not? No Dynamic calcs are performed in the following order: Sparse will calculate before dense Within Dense, it s outline order Two-Pass is last (sparse before dense) Variance will need to be tagged two pass so that it is calculated after the dynamic rollup of accounts

20 Check Your Understanding What is the default consolidation order for an Essbase outline? If Accounts is dense and Time is dense, how many passes will be made through the database? Why would making upper level members of the Accounts dimension help calculation performance? How many passes through the database are performed on this calc script: (Q1; Q2;) Q3; Where these are stored members of a dense dimension

21 Check Your Understanding What is the default consolidation order for an Essbase outline? First, Accounts Second, Time Third, remaining dense dimensions Fourth, remaining sparse dimensions Two Pass Calculation If Accounts is dense and Time is dense, how many passes will be made through the database? One

22 Check Your Understanding Why would making upper level members of the Accounts dimension help calculation performance? Wouldn t have to calculate the accounts dimension Smaller block size How many passes through the database are performed on this calc script: (Q1; Q2;) Q3; Where these are stored members of a dense dimension 2 passes

23 Design & Optimize Calculations Review - Calc Script Basics

24 What is a Calc Script? Series of commands, equations, and formulas that control calculation of the database Text files with a.csc extension /* Creates Initial Budget */ SET UPDATECALC OFF; CLEARDATA Budget; Budget = Actual * 1.1; CALC ALL;

25 Why Use a Calc Script? Define calc order Calculate a subset of data Clear or copy data Calculate formulas not in outline Perform multiple-pass calculations Create and use temporary variables

26 Try to Limit Cross-Dims Using cross-dimensional operator: FIX (Budget) Sales = Sales->Actual * 1.1; ENDFIX Faster, FIX easier (Sales) to maintain: Budget = Actual * 1.1; ENDFIX

27 Clearing Data Clear a subset of the database based on a sparse dimension: FIX ( Fruit Soda, Texas ) CLEARBLOCK ALL; ENDFIX Clear a subset of the database based on a dense dimension: CLEARDATA Actual->Sales;

28 Copy Data Copy all values for one member to another: DATACOPY Actual TO Budget; Copy a subset of values: FIX (Sales, COGS) DATACOPY Actual TO Budget; ENDFIX

29 Copy Data cont. Another way to copy a subset of values: FIX (Sales, COGS) Actual = Budget; ENDFIX Still another way to copy a subset of values: FIX (Actual) Sales = Sales->Budget; COGS = COGS->Budget; ENDFIX

30 Multi-pass Calculations Use to perform goal-seeking or simultaneous equations (circular references) Example of a simultaneous equation: LOOP(30) Bonus = Profit *.1; Profit; ENDLOOP;

31 Create and Use Temporary Variables Create initial budget based on a value stored in a variable: VAR BudgetInc = 0.1; SET UPDATECALC OFF; FIX (Sales, COGS) Budget = Actual * (1 + BudgetInc); ENDFIX CALC ALL;

32 Agg Syntax AGG(Dimname, Dimname, ); Summary Aggregates dimension(s) according to the outline operators Member formulas are ignored Very fast Fewer than 6 levels

33 Calc Dim Syntax Calc Dim(DimName, DimName, ) Summary Calculates the dimensions that are listed All dense dimensions are calculated first in the order they appear Sparse dimensions are calculated last - also in the order they appear If you need a different order, use multiple Calc Dim commands Includes member formulas

34 ClearBlock vs. ClearData ClearBlock is designed to clear an entire block At least a large portion of the block No Member name, just block type ClearData is designed to clear a member Usually before it is recalculated In many cases either one will work

35 DataCopy Syntax DataCopy MemberName TO MemberName; Summary Copies data from one member to another All intersections are included Great for copying versions Will create blocks if they do not exist

36 If/Else/ElseIf/EndIf Syntax IF (condition) ElseIf/Else EndIf; Summary Condition must be if parenthesis In a calc script, associate with a member name Does really matter which member name Each If must end with EndIf Most effective on dense members

37 Fix/EndFix Synatx Fix(MemberNames, Functions Etc.) ENDFIX Summary Used to focus or limit a calculation Most effective on sparse members Used extensively

38 Focusing Calculations Two most common methods Fix If Other methods: CrossDim operator MemberSet functions Relationship functions Variables

39 FIX FIX limits the members that are processed Most effective when used on members of sparse dimensions Only blocks that meet the Fix criteria are processed Remaining blocks are simply skipped Typical uses Only calculate one scenario Limit calc to current year

40 More on FIX FIX works properly on dense members May result in all blocks being processed All statements between the FIX and ENDFIX are executed as a block FIX statements can be nested Multiple members from the same dimension are treated as or In other words, all members will be processed

41 What You Cannot Do With FIX You cannot assign values to a member that is included in the FIX statement Actually, values cannot be assigned to any member from a dimension in the FIX statement Example Fix(Sales) Sales = 100; ENDFIX Would result in an error

42 FIX On Members from one or more dimensions Can list specific member names Can include member set functions Can include AND and OR Use AND to get the intersection of two or more functions Caution on empty sets

43 IF Statements Conditional processing is often needed to process business rules Can include complex conditions And, Or, Not, etc.

44 To If or FIX Generally, IF works best on dense dimension members Particularly when ElseIF or Else are included Block is only brought into memory once and all related conditions are processed FIX works best on sparse dimension members Old saying Fix on Sparse, If on dense There are always exceptions BUT avoid unnecessary IFs when, say, a FIX would do

45 FIX Workshop What does this calc script do? SET UpdateCalc Off; FIX )) Actual = #Missing; ENDFIX Essbase 9.0 can skip an empty FIX SET EmptyMemberSets On; SET UpdateCalc Off; FIX (@CHILDREN( )) ENDFIX Sales = 100;

46 IF vs. FIX examples This is a waste of an IF Sales ( IF (@ISMBR(Jan, Feb)) Sales=100; ENDIF) This works better FIX (Jan, Feb) Sales = 100; ENDFIX

47 IF vs. FIX examples This is a good use of an IF Even better Sales ( IF (@ISMBR(Jan)) Sales=100; ELSEIF (@ISMBR(Feb)) Sales=200; ENDIF) FIX (Sales) Jan=100; Feb=200; ENDFIX

48 IF vs. FIX examples This is a bad use of an IF Sales ( IF (@ISMBR(Texas)) Sales=100; ELSEIF (@ISMBR(Florida)) Sales=200; ENDIF) FIX (Texas) FIX in this case Sales=100; ENDFIX FIX (Florida) Sales=200; ENDFIX

49 IF Optimization While we re on the subject Sales ( IF (@ISMBR(Jan)) Sales=100; ENDIF) A calc member block is just a member formula, so no need to repeat Sales Sales ( IF (@ISMBR(Jan)) 100; ENDIF)

50 Checking for #Missing or Zero This is the old-school way of checking for a non-value Sales ( IF (Jan==#Missing or Jan==0)) 100; ENDIF) Combine the two checks into one Sales ( IF (Jan + 0 == 0) 100; ENDIF)

51 Replacing zeros with #Missing Old-school way Actual ( IF (Actual==0) #Missing; ENDIF) Don t need an IF SET UpdateCalc Off; Actual = Actual * Actual / Actual ;

52 @IS Functions outside of IF This works Sales ( IF (@ISUDA(Market,"Major Market")) 100 ; ELSE #Missing; ENDIF) This is faster (and more confusing to read) Sales = 100 Market");

53 Other Method to Focus Calculations Cross Dim operator Allows reference to specific cells Frequently in another block Technique for complex allocations Relationship functions Can be used to get a value from another part of the database Example ) MemberSet functions Return member names Can be used to calculate those members or in a Fix/If

54 Why Create Blocks Often need blocks that do not exist Typically when performing allocations Actually, one of the most challenging aspects of writing calc scripts If a block does not exist, not processed by a calc script Except outline calculations Frequent cause of calculation problems Example IF (Budget > 100) Actual = 50; ENDIF Assumes Scenario is sparse

55 Ways to Create Blocks There are basically four methods to create blocks: Load data Calculate the database Use the DataCopy command Place a sparse member on the left side of an assignment statement Must not set equal to a constant SET CREATEBLOCKONEQ ON OFF; SET CREATENONMISSINGBLK ON OFF;

56 Load Data During a data load, a block is created if it doesn t already exist Can use this to create blocks Create data records based on source information Load the file One trick is to use the Replace function of the load rule

57 Calculate the Database An outline rollup will create upper level blocks Both Calc All/Dim and AGG will cause blocks to be created Only blocks containing data are created Empty blocks are not written

58 DataCopy Command Easiest way to create blocks If an intersection for the To member does not exist, it is created Frequently, the only practical method to create the needed blocks Danger in that it can create excessive numbers of blocks

59 Assignment Statements If The member on the left of the assignment statement is sparse And The database setting Create bocks on equations is selected Blocks are created Not always possible to have a sparse member on the left side of the assignment statement Try fixing on a dense member and assigning to a sparse member E.g. Fix on the account member and assign to another May need to change dense/sparse settings

60 Workshop Which is the more efficient calc script? FIX (Sales) Budget = Actual * 1.2; ENDFIX FIX (Budget) Sales = Sales->Actual * 1.2; ENDFIX

61 Workshop Which is the more efficient calc script? Limit cross dim operators if possible FIX (Sales) Budget = Actual * 1.2; ENDFIX FIX (Budget) Sales = Sales->Actual * 1.2; ENDFIX

62 Workshop You have a sales analysis application with the following dimensions: Accounts dense (member formulas and all upper levels are stored) Periods dense (no member formulas and all upper levels are stored) Product sparse (no member formulas and all upper levels are stored) Region sparse (no member formulas and all upper levels are stored) Scenario sparse (member formulas on dynamically calc d members) Introduction date attribute dimension (no member formulas) Sales Manager attribute dimension (no member formulas)

63 Workshop Choose the best consolidation calc script: CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS, PRODUCT, REGION, SCENARIO, INTRODUCTION DATE, SALES MANAGER ); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS); AGG(PRODUCT, REGION, SCENARIO, INTRODUCTION DATE, SALES MANAGER ); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS); AGG(PERIODS, PRODUCT, REGION); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS); AGG(PRODUCT, REGION);

64 Workshop Choose the best consolidation calc script: CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS, PRODUCT, REGION, SCENARIO, INTRODUCTION DATE, SALES MANAGER ); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS); AGG(PRODUCT, REGION, SCENARIO, INTRODUCTION DATE, SALES MANAGER ); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS); AGG(PERIODS, PRODUCT, REGION); CALC DIM(ACCOUNTS, PERIODS); AGG(PRODUCT, REGION);

65 Check Your Understanding Choose the true statement: If/then dense dimensions; fix sparse dimensions If/then sparse dimensions; fix dense dimensions You need to clear Actuals data (which is in the sparse Scenario dimension). What command should you use? How can you create a block in Essbase?

66 Check Your Understanding Choose the true statement: If/then dense dimensions; fix sparse dimensions If/then sparse dimensions; fix dense dimensions You need to clear Actuals data (which is in the sparse Scenario dimension). What command should you use? CLEARBLOCK

67 Check Your Understanding How can you create a block in Essbase? Load data Calculate the database Use the DataCopy command Place a sparse member on the left side of an assignment statement SET CREATENONMISSINGBLK ON OFF;

68 Design & Optimize Calculations Tips and Tricks

69 Goal Make the calculation run faster Variety of settings/changes available to make things run faster Many limiting factors Existing reports/processes Source systems Hardware

70 Serial vs. Parallel Calculation Serial Calculation Default Current Essbase behavior Each calc is executed serially Parallel Calculation Set at system, application, database or calc script Generates tasks Schedules tasks to run on up to 4 threads Operating system can schedule each thread on a separate CPU

71 Parallel Calculation Apply multiple processors to a calc Only straight forward calcs can use this If order dependent portions, calculated in serial Maximum of 4 processors Recommend 1 less than number on server Available in Essbase XTD Analytic Services 6.5

72 Parallel Calculations Set at the server, application, database or individual calc script level Can run on up to 4 threads Essbase will analyze the outline and calculation request to determine if parallel calc is possible Check the application log to see how parallel calc is being used Calculating in parallel with [2] threads

73 Parallel Calculation Essbase will review the request Complex formula interdependencies will force a serial calc If parallel processing is feasible, Essbase splits the request into independent tasks that can be run concurrently

74 Parallel Calculations Set number of worker threads In essbase.cfg CALCPARALLEL appname dbname n In calc script SET CALCPARALLEL n N = 1 through 4; default is 1 Set number of dimensions in task suffix In essbase.cfg NUMTASKDIMS appname dbname n In calc script SET NUMTASKDIMS n N = 1 to number of sparse dimensions Use when fixing on the last sparse dimension

75 Cache Settings More is not always better Sometime Hyperion Essbase seems to spend more time maintaining caches than calculating Usually find a point where increasing cache does not improve performance Typically a trial and error process Set uncommitted / 0 on Transaction tab

76 Dense/Sparse Settings This will make the largest difference Other factors influence decisions Attribute dimensions If only a portion of the database is calculated ideally you want to Fix on it as sparse members Reduces the number of blocks processed May need to try a number of combinations Smaller blocks almost always calc faster

77 Control Calculation Environment Use SET Commands Set CACHE HIGH; New cache Tracks the block used in the calc Set CALCHASHTBL ON; Good for flat dimensions Set FromBottomUp ON; Faster than TopDown Make sure you get correct results

78 FRMBOTTOMUP Top down calculations are less efficient b/c more blocks are calculated then necessary By default Essbase does bottoms up You can explicitly force a bottoms up calc in a formula SET FRMBOTTOMUP in a calc script CALCOPTFRMLBOTTOM UP in Essbase.cfg Increases performance

79 Set Functions in Calc Scripts Set AggMissg defines whether to aggregate #missing child values and overwrite a parent value with #missing. Improves performance if set to ON. Set Cache defines the amount of calculator cache to be applied to this script. Improves performance if properly set. Set LockBlocks defines the amount of lockblocks to be applied to this script. Set Msg defines the type of information to be reported by the calculator. Set UpdateCalc defines whether to use intelligent calculation capabilities.

80 More SET Commands SET LOCKBLOCK HIGH; Allows more blocks to be locked Not really optimization but SET CALCTASKDIMS n; Determines how many dimensions are used to generate opportunities for the parallel calculation

81 Dynamic Calc Can improve calc times significantly Make entire dimension dynamic calc Never needs to be calculated Especially effective for Time dimension Normally calculates very slowly All upper level members of dense dimension Keeps block smaller Upper 1-2 levels of sparse dimension(s) Be aware of how many blocks are needed to calc highest level

82 Custom Functions Can write functions in Java Compile, save on server, and register Call from calc scripts Run slower than same calc command May run faster than complex series of database passes required to perform the same thing

83 Custom Macros Can predefine combinations of commands SumRange is actually a Macro Combines Sum and Range functions Not necessarily faster but might avoid errors Need to define parameters May be possible to save a pass of blocks

84 Database Statistics Not a optimization technique but a tool Can monitor calculation impacts Number of blocks created Can refresh while calc is running Block creation rate Not necessarily best for the calc Copy and paste into Excel

85 Sparse Dimension Aggregation Order Sparse dimensional aggregation should be ordered from fewest blocks created to most blocks created To find this information 1. Load data into the database and record the total number of blocks using the Essbase application manager 2. Calculate a single Sparse dimension 3. Again record the total number of blocks using the Essbase application manager 4. Repeat for all Sparse dimensions

86 Block (within a calc script) Cell Block Top Down Bottom up By default Essbase uses block mode Block mode groups cells within a block and simaltaneously calcuates the cells in each group Block mode is faster Block mode can cause data dependency issues

87 Cell Mode Cell mode calculates each cell sequentially Functions that cause cell @ISMBR on a

88 Intelligent Calculation Intelligent calculation allows Essbase to remember which blocks in the database need to be calculated based on new data coming in, and which haven t been impacted (and don t need calculation) Intelligent calculation is wonderful when you re running a default calc But intelligent calculation is the devil s work when you re running a calc script

89 Intelligent Calculation Use only on databases with no complex calculations or formulas Use on those databases that simply aggregate Proves most effective for sparse incremental updates

90 Review Blocks that are Processed Can use SET MSG DETAIL Each block is listed as it is calculated See application log Can determine number of times each block is processed Can also see if expected blocks are being processed Often, extra blocks are being read Correct by updating FIX

91 Simulate the Calculation Method to predict the actual calc time Based on the number of blocks that would be created SET MSG ONLY; SET NOTICE HIGH; CALC ALL; Does not actually calc the database but provides timings Run the calc, and use ratio of actual time to simulated Not perfect but

92 Testing Calc Scripts The following methodology works well: Use a test database Create test data in Excel Keep it on its own sheet Clear the database Use Lock & Send to load test data Run the calc from Excel Retrieve onto a test sheet

93 More on Testing Best to know expected outcome before retrieving Can create a calc script to clear the database Minimizes switching between Excel and App Manager The key is small amounts of data which allows short test cycles Many people test with large amounts of data resulting in long cycles and inability to get many tests in per day When initial testing is complete, add to the test data set to make sure everything is working properly

94 Typical Issues Intelligent Calc Prevents blocks from being calculated FIX on too few or too many members Nested FIX s are OR s, not AND s Dynamic Calc runs after Batch Calc Dynamic calc members do not make good counters Referring to the wrong block Remember, every intersection is processed unless the calculation is focused

95 Recap - Calculation Optimization If you are on dynamic calcs, exclude from will only work on existing blocks Calc only those dimensions requiring calculation Example Do you need to rollup Scenario (Actual + Budget)? AGG and CALC DIM are not the same Agg is faster for straight aggregating dimensions Fix on Sparse, If on Dense Reduce the number of passes through the database Simplify if possible Unary calcs instead of formulas Dynamic calcs, Dynamic Time Series

96 Check Your Understanding How do you turn on parallel calc? When should you use intelligent calculation? Which is faster cell mode or block mode? What are potential issues with block mode? What functions force cell mode?

97 Check Your Understanding How do you turn on parallel calc? Set number of worker threads In essbase.cfg CALCPARALLEL appname dbname n In calc script SET CALCPARALLEL n Set number of dimensions in task suffix In essbase.cfg NUMTASKDIMS appname dbname n In calc script SET NUMTASKDIMS n When should you use intelligent calculation? Most of the time turn intelligent calc OFF Using default calc and running sparse incremental updates Which is faster cell mode or block mode? Block mode What are potential issues with block mode? Data dependency issues

98 Check Your Understanding What functions force @ISMBR on a

99 Calculation Scripts and Member Formulas Questions?

100 Optimizing Oracle Essbase Formulas & Calc Scripts NOTE: Slides will not be distributed. Edward Roske BLOG: LookSmarter.blogspot.com WEBSITE: TWITTER: Eroske