What are the different types of LOG Files?

Ans: So many log files are there in essbase, but the important log files are 1. Application log 2. Essbase.log 3. Configtool.log 4. eas_install.log 5. essbaseserver-install.log

Suppose we have assigned Generation 2 and Generation 4 as of now and think of adding generation 3 later some time. Can we build the dimension. Ans: No. If gen 2 and gen 4 exists, we must assign gen 3.

What are attributes? Ans: A classification of a member in a dimension. You can select and group members based on their associated attributes. You can also specify an attribute when you perform calculations and use calculation functions. Eg: The database in Sample Basic which has product dimension has some attributes like size, package type, and flavor. We can add these attributes to the dimensions where we can retrieve the data like for example to retrieve coke with 8 Oz with bottles, this is useful for generating reports.

Why do objects gets locked and when does this happens? Ans: Objects gets locked to prevent users to make simultaneous and conflicting changes to Essbase database objects. By default whenever an object is accessed through Aministrative services console or Excel spreadsheet add-in, it gets locked.

What is the difference between UDA's and Attribute dimensions? Ans : Attribute dimensions provides more flexibility than UDA's. Attribute calculations dimensions which include five members with the default names sum, count, min, max and avg are automatically created for the attribute dimensions and are calculate dynamically.

How does Attribute dimensions and UDA's impact batch calculation performance? Ans: UDA's- No Impact as they do not perform any inherent calculations. Attribute dim- No Impact as they perform only dynamic calculations.

What are different types of attributes? Ans: Essbase supports two different types of attributes.

1. User-Defined attributes 2. Simple attributes User-Defined attributes: The attributes that are defined by the user. Simple attributes: Essbase supports some attributes, they are: Boolean, date, number, and string.

What are filters? Ans: A method of controlling access to database cells in essbase. A filter is the most detailed level of security, allowing you to define varying access levels different users can have to individual database values.

What is TB First and TB Last? Ans: TB First: in the Sample.Basic database, the accounts member Opening Inventory is tagged as TB First. Opening Inventory consolidates the value of the first month in each quarter and uses that value for that months parent. For example, the value for Qtr1 is the same as the value for Jan. TB Last: in the Sample.Basic database, the accounts member Ending Inventory is tagged as TB Last. Ending Inventory consolidates the value for the last month in each quarter and uses that value for that months parent. For example, the value for Qtr1 is the same as the value for Mar.

How can we display UDA's in reports? How do they impact report report performance. Ans: UDA's values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance.

How does Attribute dim impact report performance? Ans: They highly impact the report performance as the attributes are calculated dynamically when referenced in the report. For very large number of att dim displayed in the report, the performance could drastically reduce.

While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome. Ans: The record will be rejected.

How is data stored in the Essbase database? Ans: Essbase is an file based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2 GB each and grows sequentially. Can we have multiple metaoutlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services? Ans: Yes

What are LRO's( Linked Reporting Objects)? Ans: They are specific objects like files, cell notes or URL's associated with specific data cells of Essbase database. You can link multiple objects to a single data cell. These linked objects are stored in the server. These LRO's can be exported or imported with the database for backup and migration activities.

What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions? Ans: 1. Generation references 2. Level references 3. Parent-Child references

How does UDA's impact database size? Ans: There will be no impact on the database as the UDAs doesnt store data in the database.

Can we have an metaoutline based on two different OLAp models. Ans: No.

Can we create UDAs and apply it to Dense as well as Sparse dimensions? Ans: Yes

Types of Partitions available in Essbase? Ans: Three types of partitions are there. 1. Transparent partition: A form of shared partition that provides the ability to access and manipulate remote data transparently as though it is part of your local database. The remote data is retrieved from the data source each time you request it. Any updates made to the data are written back to the data source and become immediately accessible to both local data target users and transparent data source users 2. Replicated Partition: 3. Linked Partition:

What is hybrid analysis? Ans: Lower level members and associated data remains in relational database where as upper level members and associated data resides in Essbase database.

Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them. Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results.

On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parellel calculation method. Ans: If we have a single processor, we will use serial calculation but if we have multiple processors we can break the task into threads and make them run on different processors.

How can you display UDAs in reports? Ans: UDA's values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance.

While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome? Ans: The record will be rejected.

What are the specified roles other than Aministrator to view sessions, disconnect sessions or kill users requests for a particular application? Ans: You should have the role of Application manager for the specified application.

What is block locking system? Ans: Analytic services(or Essbase Services) locks the block and all other blocks which contain the childs of that block while calculating this block is block locking system.

What are the three options specified in Username and Password management under security tab in Essbase server proprties. Ans: 1. Login attempts allowed before username is disabled. 2. Number of inactive days before username is diabled. 3. Number of days before user must change password.

Can we have multiple databases in one single application? Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended. Depend on which database that you are going to create. For Example: If you are creating ASO then we cant create more that 1 db per application. If you are creating BSO then you can create more than 1 db per application

How is data stored in the Essbase database? Ans: Essbase is an file based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2 GB each and grows sequentially.

We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-unicode mode. Ans: No

What are the types of partitioning options available in Essbase? Ans: 1. Replicated partition. 2. Transparent partition 3. Linked partition.

Dynamic calc decreases the retreival time and increases batch database calculation time. How true is the statement? Ans: The statement should be just opposite. As dynamic calc members are calculated when requested, the retreival time should increase.

What is the role of provider services. Ans: To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test environment and Development environment on the same server. Can he do that? Ans: Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be different sets of windows services for all these instances.

Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them. Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results.

Hyperion Essbase Interview Questions

Hi, You may also like to read Essbase Interview Questions. I have got this request from someone to post some FAQ's on Hyperion Essbase. Please do not just rely on these questions only. I recommend you read the Essbase documentation and get some hands on to understand the basics. The questions below shold guide you to narrow down your search for the topics you should focus on. Que 1: What are the two storage options available in Essbase and what are the differences? Ans: ASO( Aggregate Storage Option) - Used for 1. If we have large number of dimensions(generally more than 10) 2. Most of the dimensions are sparse 3. We cannot write back in ASO. I heard recently that ASO will also have the writeback capability. I don't remember.

BSO (Block Storage Option)- 1. Dimensions are less and dense(recommended values for no of dim are between 4 and 8) . 2. We can write back hence much suited for planning applications. Financial applications are generally dense structures and normal analytical cubes are sparse. Here we also need to understand what are these dense and sparse members. When the intersections or cells of two dimensions mostly contains a value it is dense. Say for example we have two dimensions period(Month or quarter) and region and we are calculation the sales amount. Generally maximum regions(countries, cities) will have some sales value for a particular month or quarter. Hence we can say that our period dimensions would be dense. But now instead of period, consider another dimension products. Now there are some products which are sold in only some particular regions hence for them there will be no values in other regions or will have very low percentage of data values hence the structure will become sparse. Now the question arises what is the use of calling them dense or sparse. What difference does it make. Do some research and try to find the answer.

Que 2: Can we build dimensions directly from data sources without using rule files. Ans: No. Que 3: When do we generally use build rules files? Ans: To automate the process of creating dimensions with thousands of members. Que 4: What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions? Ans: 1. Generation references 2. level references 3. Parent-Child references. Que 5: In what case we can define generation 1 to a feild in generation build method. Ans: We cannot define that as Generation 1 is not valid. Que 6: Suppose we have assigned Generation 2 and Generation 4 as of now and think of adding generation 3 later some time. Can we build the dimension. Ans: No. If gen 2 and gen 4 exists, we must assign gen 3. Que 7: Can we create more than 2 dimensions using only one build rule file. Ans: Yes, we can do that but it is recommended to use seperate rule file for each dimension. Que 8: What is UDA( user defined attributes). How are they different than Aliases. Ans: UDA represents the class of the members. Aliases are just another names of the members. both are different and has different usage. Que 9: Can we query a member for its UDA in a calculation script. Ans: Yes. You can query a member for its UDA in a calculation script. Que 10: How does UDA's impact database size? Ans: Absolutely no impact as UDA's do not require additional storage space. Que 11: What is the difference between UDA's and Attribute dimensions? Ans : Attribute dimensions provides more flexibility than UDA's. Attribute calculations dimensions which include five members with the default names sum, count, min, max and avg are automatically created for the attribute dimensions and are calculate dynamically. Que 12: How does Attribute dimensions and UDA's impact batch calculation performance? Ans: UDA's- No Impact as they do not perform any inherent calculations. Attribute dim- No Impact as they perform only dynamic calculations. Que 13: How can we display UDA's in reports? How do they impact report report performance. Ans: UDA's values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance. Que 14: How does Attribute dim impact report performance? Ans: They highly impact the report performance as the attributes are calculated dynamically when referenced in the report. For very large number of att dim displayed in the report, the performance could drastically reduce. Que 15: While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome. Ans: Thw record will be rejected. Que 16: How is data stored in the Essbase database? Ans: Essbase is an file based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2 GB each and grows sequentially. Que 17: Can we have multiple databases in one single application? Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

Que 18: Can we have one ASO database and one BSO database in one single application. If yes, how and If No, why. Ans 18. No. Because we define ASO or BSO option while creating the appication and not database. Hence if the application is ASO, the databases it contains will be that type only. Que 19: What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file and a calc script. Ans: .OTL, .RUL and .CSC Que 20: What is the role of provider services. Ans: To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools. Que 21: What is an alternative to create metaoutline, rule file and load data. Answer: Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio. Que 22: Can we start and stop an application individually. How ca this be used to increase performance. Ans: Yes. We can manage our server resources by starting only the applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an application is started, all associated atabases are brought to the memory. Que 23: We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-unicode mode. Ans: No. Que 24: How can I migrate an application from my test environment to the production environment. Can I still do this if my test environment is a windows one and my production env is UNIX one. Also can I still do it if my test env and prod env versions are different. Ans: Hyperion Administrative services console provides a migration utility to do this but onluy the application, database objects are migrated and no data is transferred. the answers to other two questions are Yes. Que 25: A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same server. Can he do that? Ans: Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be dfferent sets of windows services for all these instances. Que: 26 suppose I have a dimension A with members B and C and I do not want B and C to roll up to A. how can I do this. Ans: Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator. Que 27: What does never consolidate operator(^) do? Ans: It prevents members from being consolidate across any dimension. Que 28: Can we have multiple metaoutlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services? Ans: Yes Que 29: Can we have an metaoutline based on two different OLAp models. Ans: No. Que 30: What is hybrid analysis? Ans: Lower level members and associated data remains in relational database where as upper level members and associated data resides in Essbase database. Que 31: Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them. Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results. Que 32: On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parellel calculation method. Ans: If we have a single processor, we will use serial calculation but if we have multiple processors we can break the task into threads and make them run on different processors. Que 33: What is block locking system? Ans: Analytic services(or Essbase Services) locks the block and all other blocks which contain the childs of that block while calculating this block is block locking system. Que 34: What are the types of partitioning options available in Essbase? Ans: 1. Replicated partition. 2. Transparent partition 3. Linked partition. Que 35: Dynamic calc decreases the retreival time and increases batch database calculation time. How true is the statement? Ans: The statement should be just opposite. As dynamic calc members are calculated when requested, the retreival time should increase. Que 36: A customer has a cube with 13 dimensions and the performance was fine. Now they have added two more dimensions in the existing cube and the performance becomes very very slow. Customer said logically nothing wrong with the two new dimensions they have added. What could be the reason for slowdown.

Ans: Even I dont have any clue. I experienced this few days back with a customer. If you can throw some light on this, please post your answer.

Hyperion Planning Class Presentation Transcript

1. ASO 2.

The main difference between ASO and BSO as show you as below: 1. ASO can support large scale of member such as Customer individual analysis, for example if your customer dimension has 1M members, the aggregate calculation time will very faster than BSO. 2. ASO cannot support write-back but BSO can support that feature (Write-Back = Input data directly back to Essbase Cube) 3. ASO can support large scale aggregation but for another purpose such as what-if or allocation should use BSO. 4. For architecture of calculation, ASO use MDX script, BSO use Calc Script. 5. For Cube that have many dimension and more member, ASO can save storage space more than BSO 6. We can use in-line formula on BSO outline but ASO cannot use that

Summary Difference

3.

Summary Difference

4.

1) When you Add or Delete or changing the outline the entire data will remove. 2) There is no right back option. 3) In a standard Dimension + & ~ consolidation property only .In measure -,/,% other symbols are there.. 4) Only one database for Application. 5) There are no Calculation scripts and formulas. 6) Two pass, Variance are not used in ASO. Aggregate storage applications differ from block storage applications in both concept and design. Storage Kernel : Architecture that supports rapid aggregation, optimized to support high dimensionality and sparse data. It doesnt have Dense/Sparse concepts. Physical storage definition Through the Application Properties window, Tablespaces tab in Administration Services. Database creation Migrate a block storage outline or define after application creation. ASO Support only one Database . Multiple hierarchies enabled, dynamic hierarchy, or stored hierarchy designation No two-pass calculation ASO does not have concept of Dense/Sparse. Support for the ~ (no consolidation) operator (underneath label-only members only) and the + (addition) operator Cannot have formulas Restrictions on label only No Dynamic Time Series members Dynamic Calc and Store not relevant No association of attribute dimensions with the dimension tagged as Accounts Database calculation Aggregation of the database, which can be predefined by defining aggregate views Calculation script is not supported by ASO. Only outline consolidation. Formulas Allowed with the following restrictions: Must be valid numeric value expressions written in MDX (cannot contain % operator, replace with expression: (value1/value2)*100) No support for Essbase calculation functions On dynamic hierarchy members, formulas are allowed without further restrictions. Calculation order Member formula calculation order can be defined by the user using the solve order member property Attribute calculations dimension Support for Sum In ASO level 0 cells whose values do not depend on formulas in the outline are loaded whereas in BSO data can be loaded at any level(other than Dynamic Calc). At the end of a data load, if an aggregation exists, the values in the aggregation are recalculated automatically whereas in BSO it has to be explicitly call i.e calc all.Block Atorage No automatic update of values. To update data values you must execute all necessary calculation scripts.

Basic Difference between ASO/BSO

5.

Outline Differences Between Aggregate Storage and Block Storage

6.

Calculation Differences Between Aggregate Storage and Block Storage

7.

Data Load Differences Between Aggregate Storage and Block Storage

8.

Aggregate storage databases can contain multiple slices of data. Data slices can be merged. The loading of multiple data sources into aggregate storage databases is managed through temporary data load buffers. There are 2 ways to create ASO cube

Creating Aggregate Storage Database, Application and Outline


9.

Convert a block storage outline to an aggregate storage outline, and create an aggregate storage application to contain the converted database and outline. Create an aggregate storage application and database. The aggregate storage outline is created automatically when you create the database.

10.

Stored Hierarchies Members of stored hierarchies are aggregated according to the outline structure. Because aggregate storage databases are optimized for aggregation, the aggregation of data values for stored hierarchies is very fast. To allow this fast aggregation, members of stored hierarchies have the following restrictions: Stored hierarchies can have the no-consolidation (~) operator (only underneath Label Only members) or the addition (+) operator. Stored hierarchies cannot have formulas. Dynamic Hierarchies To evaluate a dynamic hierarchy, Essbase calculates rather than aggregates the members and formulas. The order in which members and formulas are evaluated is defined by the solve order property. At the time of retrieval, Essbase calculates the required member combinations and calculates any required outline member formulas. Because dynamic hierarchies are calculated, the data retrieval time may be longer than for data retrieved from stored hierarchies. However, when you design your database, dynamic hierarchies provide the following advantages

11.

Dynamic hierarchies can contain any consolidation operator. Dynamic hierarchies can have formulas.

Alternate Hierarchies An alternate hierarchy may be modeled in either of the following ways: As an attribute dimension, which uses attributes to classify members logically within the dimension (for example, a Product dimension can have attributes such as Size and Flavor.) As a hierarchy of shared members. The alternate hierarchy has shared members that refer to non shared members of previous hierarchies in the outline. The shared members roll up according to a different hierarchy from the non shared members to which they refer. Shared members on dynamic hierarchies can have formulas. The non shared instance of the member must occur in the outline before any shared instances of the member

12. Q 1. Define Hyperion? 13. Ans. Hyperion is Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Performance Management (BPM ) tool. It is the market leader in Operational , Financial and Strategic Planning. It contains the applications for reporting, Planning , dashboards, Analysis, scorecarding, consolidation, Workspace, Master Data Management and Foundation. 14. 15. 16. Q 2. Explain Olap and mention if it is related to HYPERION FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ? 17. Ans. Hyperion HFM/ Hyperion Planning both are Essbase based. They are front-end tech and Ess-base is the back end. Ess-base is a M-OLAP. There are three types of OLAP technology present in the market. These are ROLAP, MOLAP and HOLAP. 18. An example of ROLAP is BO. Here we deal with table and they acts as a virtual cube. But if we think about Oracle Express Hyperion Essbase and Cognos then they are real cubes. Thus MOLAP. ROLAP+MOLAP=HOLAP. 19. In case of BO, we need to join to attain the OLAP effect virtually but behind is a joined table. But in Case of MOLAP there is no concept of table it is cube only. 20. For example a page is a table then a Book is a Cube. 21. If the data is large then it is advisable to take up ROLAP not MOLAP. because the performance of the cubes degrade. If the size of data is arround 100 GB to 150 GB then it is fine to go with MOLAP and if it is more then that then we should choose BO. 22. 23. 24. Q 3. Explain why we use Hyperion? 25. Ans. We have IIS for HFM although there is no IIS for OLAps. If there is no IIS then it is a time taking process to retrieve financial data. 26. 27.

28. Q 4. Is it possible to have one ASO database and one BSO database in a single application. Justify . 29. Ans. No because ASO/BSO classification is defined at Application level and not at the database. 30. 31. 32. Q 5. Can we have multiple databases in single application? 33. Ans. Yes, in this one database per application. 34. 35. 36. Q 6.Can we start and stop an application individually and how to increase performance using this? 37. Ans. We can manage our server resources by starting only applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an application is started, memory is accompanied by all associated data bases. 38. 39. 40. Q 7. Explain custom based macro? 41. Ans. We write Ess base calculator functions and special macro functions under Ess base macros. Custom defined macros makes use of an internal Ess base macro language that enables to combine calculation functions and also helpful to operate on multiple input parameters. 42. 43. 44. Q 8. Explain data file cache? 45. Ans. It represents buffer in memory which holds compressed data files (.PAG ). 46. 47. 48. Q 9. What does DOU mean? 49. Ans. In reference to RPG, DOU means (Do Until).This will execute a loop matched with an End or End do 50. For instance 51. Eval X=1 52. DOU X=4 53. Eval X=X=1 54. EndDo 55. This example will go through the loop 4 times with the result of X being 4. 56. DOU is similar to Do While(DOW) where the difference lies in that the DOU will always perform 1 pass through the loop and DOW will perform the comparison and only continue into the loop if the condition meets else the program continues after the End (EndDo). 57. For example 58. Eval X=1 59. DOW X=4 60. X=X+1 61. Enddo 62. The result is that the loop will not execute and the value of X will be 1. 63. 64. 65. Q 10. Which property helps us to consider using ACE ?

66. Ans. A very little population of intercompany data forces us to consider using ACE. 67. 68. 69. Q 11. Which two functions can produce a report that includes only Elimination entities? 70. Ans. two functions which can produce a report that includes only Elimination entities are a Fixed Name List and Dynamic Name List. 71. 72. 73. Q 12. Explain Dense and Sparse Dimensions? 74. Ans. Dense dimension is a dimension in which most data exists for every combination of dimension members whereas sparse dimensions are the dimensions which has low probability that data will exist for every combination of dimension members. 75. 76. 77. Q 13. What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions? 78. Ans. The following are the three primary build methods for building dimensions :79. 1) Generation references 80. 2) Level references 81. 3) Parent-Child references. 82. 83. Q 14. Differentiate between ASO & BSO? 84. Ans. 1) We cannot write back in ASO although we can write back in BSO. 85. 2) Most dimensions in ASO are sparse whereas in BSO most of them are dense. 86. 3) We cannot create more than 1 database in ASO but we can create more than 1 db per application. If we have more than 10 dimensions then we should opt for ASO. 87. 88. 89. Q 15. Explain attributes? 90. Ans. Classification of a member in a dimension is known as an attribute. We can do selection of group members based on their associated attributes. We can also specify an attribute while performing calculations and along with we can use calculation functions. As example, the db in Sample Basic with product dimension has some attributes like package type, size, and flavor. We can add attributes to the dimensions and can retrieve data. For example, to retrieve coke with 8 Oz with bottles.
91. Can we have multiple metaoutlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services? Ans: Yes

What are LRO's( Linked Reporting Objects)? Ans: They are specific objects like files, cell notes or URL's associated with specific data cells of Essbase database. You can link multiple objects to a single data cell. These linked objects are stored in the server. These LRO's can be exported or imported with the database for backup and migration activities.

What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions? Ans: 1. Generation references 2. Level references 3. Parent-Child references

How does UDA's impact database size? Ans: There will be no impact on the database as the UDAs doesnt store data in the database.

Can we have an metaoutline based on two different OLAp models. Ans: No.

Can we create UDAs and apply it to Dense as well as Sparse dimensions? Ans: Yes

Types of Partitions available in Essbase? Ans: Three types of partitions are there. 1. Transparent partition: A form of shared partition that provides the ability to access and manipulate remote data transparently as though it is part of your local database. The remote data is retrieved from the data source each time you request it. Any updates made to the data are written back to the data source and become immediately accessible to both local data target users and transparent data source users 2. Replicated Partition: 3. Linked Partition:

What is hybrid analysis? Ans: Lower level members and associated data remains in relational database where as upper level members and associated data resides in Essbase database.

Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them. Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results.

On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parellel calculation method.

Ans: If we have a single processor, we will use serial calculation but if we have multiple processors we can break the task into threads and make them run on different processors.

How can you display UDAs in reports? Ans: UDA's values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance.

While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome? Ans: The record will be rejected.

What are the specified roles other than Aministrator to view sessions, disconnect sessions or kill users requests for a particular application? Ans: You should have the role of Application manager for the specified application.

What is block locking system? Ans: Analytic services(or Essbase Services) locks the block and all other blocks which contain the childs of that block while calculating this block is block locking system.

What are the three options specified in Username and Password management under security tab in Essbase server proprties. Ans: 1. Login attempts allowed before username is disabled. 2. Number of inactive days before username is diabled. 3. Number of days before user must change password.

Can we have multiple databases in one single application? Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended. Depend on which database that you are going to create. For Example: If you are creating ASO then we cant create more that 1 db per application. If you are creating BSO then you can create more than 1 db per application

How is data stored in the Essbase database? Ans: Essbase is an file based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2 GB each and grows sequentially.

We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-

unicode mode. Ans: No

What are the types of partitioning options available in Essbase? Ans: 1. Replicated partition. 2. Transparent partition 3. Linked partition.

Dynamic calc decreases the retreival time and increases batch database calculation time. How true is the statement? Ans: The statement should be just opposite. As dynamic calc members are calculated when requested, the retreival time should increase.

What is the role of provider services. Ans: To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test environment and Development environment on the same server. Can he do that? Ans: Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be different sets of windows services for all these instances.

Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them. Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results. 92. Overview:Free Hyperion Interview Questions,Hyperion Essbase Interview Questions.Learn by sharing Hyperion Interview Questions asked in various companies

What is meant by Clean block and Dirty block?

What are the Commands of Intelligent calculation?

How do you calculate the subset of a cube?

What is the difference between standard dimension and attribute dimension?

What is the difference between UDA and Attribute Dimension?

What is meant by XREF Function?

Can you give the same name to different members in UDA?

What is Data Cahce ?

What is the Difference between the Data Cache and Data File Cache?

What is the Size of your cube?

What is Shared members? Can shared members can have children below it ?

What are the different storage properties in Essbase?

What is the difference between Dynamic calc and Dynamic Calc and Store?

How does Essbase consolidates the Data?

What are the Different types of Dimension Building?

What is Label only? Give the the example of it?

What is the Difference between calc all and Calc Dim?

Explain me about your project? And tell me any difficulities that you have faced and how did you resolve it?

What is Commit Block?

Tell me different steps so that your can optimze the performance your cube?

What is Partition?

What are different types of Partition? Have you ever worked on partation?

What is MAXL ? and where is it used? 93. Overview:Hyperion Essbase Questions Answers,Free Hyperion Essbase Job Interview Questions Answers,Hyperion Essbase Technical Questions Answers

Can we have multiple databases in one single application? Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

Can we have one ASO database and one BSO database in one single application. If yes, how and If No, why. Ans: No. Because we define ASO or BSO option while creating the appication and not database. Hence if the application is ASO, the databases it contains will be that type only.

What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file and a calc script. Ans: .OTL, .RUL and .CSC

What is the role of provider services. Ans: To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

What is an alternative to create metaoutline, rule file and load data. Ans: Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio.

What is data file cache? Ans: A buffer in memory that holds compressed data (.PAG) files.

What is custom defined function? Ans: Essbase calculation functions that you develop in the Java programming language and then add to the standard Essbase calculation scripting language by means of MaxL.

Can we start and stop an application individually. How ca this be used to increase performance. Ans: Yes. We can manage our server resources by starting only the applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an application is started, all associated atabases are brought to the memory.

We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-

unicode mode. Ans: No.

How can I migrate an application from my test environment to the production environment. Can I still do this if my test environment is a windows one and my production env is UNIX one. Also can I still do it if my test env and prod env versions are different. Ans: Hyperion Administrative services console provides a migration utility to do this but onluy the application, database objects are migrated and no data is transferred. the answers to other two questions are Yes.

A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same server. Can he do that? Ans: Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be dfferent sets of windows services for all these instances.

Suppose I have a dimension A with members B and C and I do not want B and C to roll up to A. how can I do this. Ans: Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator.

What is custom based macro? Ans: Essbase macros that we write with Essbase calculator functions and special macro functions. Custom-defined macros use an internal Essbase macro language that enables you to combine calculation function and operate on multiple input parameters.

What do you mean by dirty block? Ans: A data block containing cells that have been changed since the last calculation. Upper level blocks are marked as dirty if their child blocks are dirty (that is, have been updated) 94. Tags:Hyperion Interview Questions ,Hyperion Essbase Interview Questions ,Hyperion Essbase Jobs Interview Questions Answers,Hyperion Essbase Technical Interview Questions and Answers

Can we create more than 2 dimensions using only one build rule file. Ans: Yes, we can do that but it is recommended to use seperate rule file for each dimension.

What is UDA( user defined attributes). How are they different than Aliases.

Ans: UDA represents the class of the members. Aliases are just another names of the members. both are different and has different usage.

What is the Extension of Cal Scripts, Batch files, outline, and Rule File? Ans: Rule file is .rul Calc Script is - .csc Batch files - .bat outline - .otl

Why are Filters used? Ans: If you want to grant access to all dimensions then you wouldn't use a filter. Just grant read access for the database to the user and/or group. The only reason you would use a filter is if you wanted to restrict access.

What are Dense and Sparse Dimensions? Ans: Dense: A dimension which has the high probability that data exists for every combination of dimension members Sparse: A dimension which has low probability that data exists for every combination of dimension members

Can we query a member for its UDA in a calculation script. Ans: Yes. You can query a member for its UDA in a calculation script.

How does UDA's impact database size? Ans: Absolutely no impact as UDA's do not require additional storage space.

How does Essbase recover from a database crash? Ans: After a database crash or server interruption, Essbase automatically recovers a database after rolling back the transactions that were active at that time.

Can we build dimensions directly from data sources without using rule files. Ans: No.

When do we generally use build rules files? Ans: To automate the process of creating dimensions with thousands of members.

What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions? Ans: 1. Generation references 2. level references 3. Parent-Child references.

What is the difference between ASO & BSO? Ans: i. We cannot create more than 1 database in ASO, but we can create more than 1 db per application. If we have more dimensions (generally more than 10) then we will go for ASO ii. we cannot write back in ASO, but we can write back in BSO. iii. Most of the dimensions are sparse in ASO whereas in BSO most of them are dense.

How can we backup an aggregate storage database? Ans: To back up an aggregate storage database, copy the application directory ARBORPATH/app/appname.

How can you make a Max L script run at a specified time? Ans: MaxL scripts can be called from a BAT file which is used for scheduling.

I have created an application with one database in Essbase at test environment and now needs to copy the entire application with all security permissions to the production server which is not connected to the test server. How can I do that? Ans: You can acheive this using migration wizard to migrate an application to a text file which you can take physically to the production server. To know how you can do that, take a look at this post Essbase Application Migration.

In what case we can define generation 1 to a feild in generation build method. Ans: We cannot define that as Generation 1 is not valid.

What is Incremental Dimensional Built and one time Dimension Built? Ans: Incremental Dimensional Build: Builds and reads from different data sources for dimension builds and delay restructuring until all data sources have been processed. Can we have multiple databases in one single application? Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended. Can we have one ASO database and one BSO database in one single application. If yes, how and If No, why. Ans: No. Because we define ASO or BSO option while creating the appication and not database. Hence if the application is ASO, the databases it contains will be that type only.

What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file and a calc script. Ans: .OTL, .RUL and .CSC What is the role of provider services. Ans: To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools. What is an alternative to create metaoutline, rule file and load data. Ans: Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio. What is data file cache? Ans: A buffer in memory that holds compressed data (.PAG) files. What is custom defined function? Ans: Essbase calculation functions that you develop in the Java programming language and then add to the standard Essbase calculation scripting language by means of MaxL. Can we start and stop an application individually. How ca this be used to increase performance. Ans: Yes. We can manage our server resources by starting only the applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an application is started, all associated atabases are brought to the memory. We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-unicode mode. Ans: No. How can I migrate an application from my test environment to the production environment. Can I still do this if my test environment is a windows one and my production env is UNIX one. Also can I still do it if my test env and prod env versions are different. Ans: Hyperion Administrative services console provides a migration utility to do this but onluy the application, database objects are migrated and no data is transferred. the answers to other two questions are Yes. A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same server. Can he do that? Ans: Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be dfferent sets of windows services for all these instances. Suppose I have a dimension A with members B and C and I do not want B and C to roll up to A. how can I do this. Ans: Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator. What is custom based macro? Ans: Essbase macros that we write with Essbase calculator functions and special macro functions. Custom-defined macros use an internal essbase macro language that enables you to combine calculation function and operate on multiple input parameters. What do you mean by dirty block? Ans: A data block containing cells that have been changed since the last calculation. Upper level blocks are marked as dirty if their child blocks are dirty (that is, have been updated) When do we generally use build rules files? Ans: To automate the process of creating dimensions with more members, where it will take a lot of time in creating manually. What does never consolidate operator(^) do? Ans: It prevents members from being consolidate across any dimension.

Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here is a list of FAQs about Oracle Data Integrator, we hope you find it useful. Please scroll down to see the answers - if the answer you require is not here then please Contact Us to let us know!

1) What is Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)? 2) What is E-LT? 3) What components make up Oracle Data Integrator? 4) What is Oracle Data Integration Suite? 5) What systems can ODI extract and load data into? 6) What are Knowledge Modules? 7) How do 'Contexts' work in ODI? 8) Does my ODI infrastructure require an Oracle database? 9) Where can I get more information on ODI? 10) Does ODI support web services? 11) Where does ODI sit with my existing OWB implementation(s)? 12) Is ODI Used by Oracle in their products?

ANSWERS 1) What is Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)? Oracle acquired Sunopsis in 2006 and with it "Sunopsis Data Integrator". Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) is an E-LT (Extract, Load and Transform) tool used for high-speed data movement between disparate systems. The latest version, Oracle Data Integrator Enterprise Edition (ODI-EE) brings together "Oracle Data Integrator" and "Oracle Warehouse Builder" as separate components of a single product with a single licence.

2) What is E-LT? E-LT is an innovative approach to extracting, loading and Transforming data. Typically ETL application vendors have relied on costly heavyweight , mid-tier server to perform the transformations required when moving large volumes of data around the enterprise. ODI delivers unique next-generation, Extract Load and Transform (E-LT) technology that improves performance and reduces data integration costs, even across heterogeneous systems by pushing the processing required down to the typically large and powerful

database servers already in place within the enterprise.

3) What components make up Oracle Data Integrator? "Oracle Data Integrator" comprises of: - Oracle Data Integrator + Topology Manager + Designer + Operator + Agent - Oracle Data Quality for Data Integrator - Oracle Data Profiling

4) What is Oracle Data Integration Suite?

Oracle data integration suite is a set of data management applications for building, deploying, and managing enterprise data integration solutions:

Oracle Data Integrator Enterprise Edition Oracle Data Relationship Management Oracle Service Bus (limited use) Oracle BPEL (limited use) Oracle WebLogic Server (limited use)

Additional product options are:

Oracle Goldengate Oracle Data Quality for Oracle Data Integrator (Trillium-based DQ) Oracle Data Profiling (Trillium based Data Profiling) ODSI (the former Aqualogic Data Services Platform)

5) What systems can ODI extract and load data into? ODI brings true heterogeneous connectivity out-of-the-box, it can connect natively to Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, MySQL, LDAP, DB2, PostgreSQL, Netezza. It can also connect to any data source supporting JDBC, its possible even to use the Oracle BI Server as a data source using the jdbc driver that ships with BI Publisher

6) What are Knowledge Modules? Knowledge Modules form the basis of 'plug-ins' that allow ODI to generate the relevant execution code , across technologies , to perform tasks in one of six areas, the six types of knowledge module consist of:

Reverse-engineering knowledge modules are used for reading the table and other object metadata from source databases Journalizing knowledge modules record the new and changed data within either a single table or view or a consistent set of tables or views Loading knowledge modules are used for efficient extraction of data from source databases for loading into a staging area (database-specific bulk unload utilities can be used where available)

Check knowledge modules are used for detecting errors in source data Integration knowledge modules are used for efficiently transforming data from staging area to the target tables, generating the optimized native SQL for the given database Service knowledge modules provide the ability to expose data as Web services

ODI ships with many knowledge modules out of the box, these are also extendable, they can modified within the ODI Designer module.

7) How do 'Contexts' work in ODI? ODI offers a unique design approach through use of Contexts and Logical schemas. Imagine a development team, within the ODI Topology manager a senior developer can define the system architecture, connections, databases, data servers (tables etc) and so forth. These objects are linked through contexts to 'logical' architecture objects that are then used by other developers to simply create interfaces using these logical objects, at run-time, on specification of a context within which to execute the interfaces, ODI will use the correct physical connections, databases + tables (source + target) linked the logical objects being used in those interfaces as defined within the environment Topology.

8) Does my ODI infrastructure require an Oracle database? No, the ODI modular repositories (Master + and one of multiple Work repositories) can be installed on any database engine that supports ANSI ISO 89 syntax such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase AS Enterprise, IBM DB2 UDB, IBM DB2/40.

9) Where can I get more information on ODI? The OTN Data integration home page : http://www.oracle.com/us/products/middleware/data-integration/index.html

10) Does ODI support web services? Yes, ODI is 'SOA' enabled and its web services can be used in 3 ways:

The Oracle Data Integrator Public Web Service, that lets you execute a scenario (a published package) from a web service call Data Services, which provide a web service over an ODI data store (i.e. a table, view or other data source registered in ODI) The ODIInvokeWebService tool that you can add to a package to request a response from a web service

11) Where does ODI sit with my existing OWB implementation(s)? As mentioned previously, the ODI-EE licence includes both ODI and OWB as separate products, both tools will converge in time into "Oracles Unified Data Integration Product". Oracle have released a statement of direction for both products, published January 2010: http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/oracle-data-integrator/sod.pdf OWB 11G R2 is the first step from Oracle to bring these two applications together, its now possible to use ODI Knowledge modules within your OWB 11G R2 environment as 'Code Templates', an Oracle white paper published February 2010 describes this in more

detail: http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/warehouse/pdf/owb-11gr2-code-template-mappings.pdf

12) Is ODI Used by Oracle in their products? Yes there are many Oracle products that utilise ODI, but here are just a few:

Oracle Application Integration Architecture (AIA) Oracle Agile products Oracle Hyperion Financial Management Oracle Hyperion Planning Oracle Fusion Governance, Risk & Compliance Oracle Business Activity Monitoring

Oracle BI Applications also uses ODI as its core ETL tool in place of Informatica , but only for one release of OBIA and when using a certain source system. Future plans are to have ODI fully available through the OBIA offering