Essbase : Multiple SQL Data Loads in Parallel to Aggregate Storage Databases

Most of the time, loading Essbase data from SQL Server  in serial mode works just fine:

alter database EssApp.EssDb initialize load_buffer with buffer_id 1;

import database EssApp.EssDb data

connect as SQLUser identified by SQLPswd

using server rules_file   'Load.rul' to load_buffer with buffer_id 1

on error write to 'errorfile.err';

import database ASOsamp.Sample data from load_buffer with buffer_id 1;

But if you have a lot of SQL data loads that take a long time, you might run into complaints from your client to speed of the data load process.  Well, your in luck!

SmartView / Essbase Error 1051021

This will be a quick post on a common SmartView / Essbase error message that comes to me from my clients:

"What does this error message mean?"

Cannot set active application/cube. Essbase Error(1051021): You have been logged out due to inactivity or explicitly by the administrator.

Either there was too much time between your retrieves that SmartView automatically logged you out of Essbase or the Administrator has taken the cube offline for some reason.  But don't worry, there is an easy solution:

HFM Extended Analytics 101

One of my clients asked me to give them a quick write up of how Extended Analytics works in HFM since they've never used it before but are looking to explore more possibilities going forward.

Normal data extracts from HFM are limited in the point of view you get to select for the data being extracted.  You are limited to select on 6 of the 12 dimensions the remainder are defaulted, you can only select the following dimensions:

• Year
• Period
• Entity
• Account
• Scenario
• View

The remainder of the dimensions are defaulted for you: 

• ICP - Base ICP
• C1 - Base C1

Essbase Alternative : deFacto Performance Mangement

I have used Essbase ever day for the past 13+ years, its huge part of my life, but I've recently started working on some clients running a viable Essbase alternative, deFacto Performance Management.  I'm not saying that I'm leaving Essbase behind, but those of you looking for an alternative to the Hyperion suite (Essbase, Planning, HFM) on the Microsoft platform, might want to give deFacto a look.  Since it offers as good or better performance but at a far more manageable cost, deFacto is a definite possibility for you.

For more information, please see their website defactoglobal.com and mention this blog for special discount on pricing.  Here is some quick points for your reference regarding deFacto Performance Management

• A good way to think about deFacto is that they are Microsoft’s answer to the Hyperion’s of the world, except far less expensive to get up and running and support.

• deFacto Planning is a complete & unified solution - combining budgeting, planning, forecasting, consolidation, reporting and analysis all into one unified product. So unlike their competitors you only have to purchase one solution and not cobble together a bunch of different products to get the functionality you need.

• deFacto’s native Excel user interface securely connects to deFacto’s pre-built Microsoft SQL-based data warehouse. Utilizing both the relational database and multi-dimensional (cube) Analysis Services capabilities of SQL, deFacto offers unmatched performance and scalability.

• deFacto offers the most flexible deployment options as well – on-premise, hosted, cloud, physical or virtual – the choice is completely up to you. Additionally they have both web and device-based reporting, analysis, and budgeting capabilities

Check them out and let me know what you think, I am really stoked about the possibilities of working with deFacto.