1. Introduction to Essbase
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2. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 2
Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
Explain multidimensional analysis and the benefits of multidimensional databases
Identify Essbase components and architecture
Explain the Essbase development cycle
Discuss the two Essbase business scenarios used in this class
Describe the setup and development interface for the training environment
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3. About Multidimensional Analysis
The fast, efficient exploration of business data across multiple perspectives.
January gross sales for all products and all customers in the current year
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4. Avoiding Pitfalls of Spreadsheet-Based Analysis
Analysis based on multiple spreadsheets presents hurdles.
Data integrity suffers because of user errors or stale data.
Validating spreadsheet reports wastes time and resources.
Centralized database presents a single version of the truth.
Two spreadsheets prepared by different users show two different totals. Which one is correct?
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5. Providing Business Perspective
Multidimensional analysis uses a database that is structured on business concepts and that is designed around business needs.
Accountant
Region manager
Multidimensional database
Product manager
Financial analyst
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6. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 6
Appealing to Analysts
Analysts prefer to view multidimensional data in cubes, rather than in relational tables.
Selection (slice and dice)
Aggregation (roll up)
Navigation to more detailed data (drill down)
Visualization operations (pivot)
Relational table
Data cube
Product
Time
Sales
Lightbolt
Jan
166
Feb
182
Thunderball
131
149
Jan
Feb
Lightbolt
166
182
Thunderball
131
149
1 measure: Sales
2 dimensions: Time, Product
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7. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 7
About Essbase
Financial consolidation
and reporting
Customer and profitability analysis
Sales tracking
and analysis
Product line analysis
Customize
Report
Essbase
Develop
Planning
and
budgeting
Executive information systems
(EIS)
Administer
Performance and
variance reporting
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8. Administration Services Console
Essbase Architecture
Administration Services Console
Essbase Studio
APIs
MaxL
Smart View
Client Tier
Middle Tier
Provider Services
Administration Services
Essbase Studio Server
Database Tier
Essbase Server
Essbase cube
RDBMS
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9. Administration Services
Client Tier
APIs for developing customized user interfaces
A command-based tool (MaxL) for performing batch loading and maintenance during off-peak hours
Smart View for performing data retrieval, report design, and low-volume data updates
Administration Services Console and Essbase Studio for administering the Essbase environment and building cubes
Administration Services
Console
Essbase Studio
APIs
MaxL
Smart View
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10. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 10
Middle Tier
Provider Services for handling data retrieval and submission requests between Smart View and Essbase Server.
Administration Services for coordinating development and administration tasks between Administration Services Console and Essbase Server.
Essbase Studio Server for handling modeling and deployment activities during cube development in Essbase Studio.
Provider Services
Administration Services
Essbase Studio Server
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11. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 11
Database Tier
Essbase Server (where Essbase cubes are stored)
Relational databases that support the Essbase environment:
Repositories (log file analysis, metadata catalog)
Relational data files (sources of data and metadata)
Essbase Server
Essbase cube
RDBMS
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12. Essbase Cube Development Cycle
Design & build
Essbase cube
Designing an Analytic Services database is a cyclic process that typically moves from a planning stage to verification stage. The process includes the following basic steps:
Build MDB: In this step you determine the information needs that the database must satisfy. You identify source data, user information, and access needs. As a result of this step, you design the database outline that determines the structure of the database.
Load Data: After an outline and security plan are in place, you load the database with test data to enable the later steps of the process.
Calculate: In this step, you test the consolidations in the outline and write and test formulas and calculation scripts for specialized calculations.
Report and verify: Users access data through reports and spreadsheets. In this step, you design the report layouts and run the reports. You also verify with users whether the database satisfy the analytic goals. If the initial database design requires fine tuning, you repeat the cycle.
Report
&
verify
Load data
Calculate & aggregate
Copyright © 2003 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved 12

13. Essbase Business Scenarios and Training Environment
In the classroom using a single machine, you build an Essbase cube for each of two fictitious companies, each with its own analytical needs.
For Bigcorp Corporation, you build a predesigned Essbase cube through a series of classroom exercises.
For Country Kitchen Desserts, you design and build an Essbase cube by completing a case study.
Designing an Analytic Services database is a cyclic process that typically moves from a planning stage to verification stage. The process includes the following basic steps:
Build MDB: In this step you determine the information needs that the database must satisfy. You identify source data, user information, and access needs. As a result of this step, you design the database outline that determines the structure of the database.
Load Data: After an outline and security plan are in place, you load the database with test data to enable the later steps of the process.
Calculate: In this step, you test the consolidations in the outline and write and test formulas and calculation scripts for specialized calculations.
Report and verify: Users access data through reports and spreadsheets. In this step, you design the report layouts and run the reports. You also verify with users whether the database satisfy the analytic goals. If the initial database design requires fine tuning, you repeat the cycle.
Bigcorp Corporation
Country Kitchen Desserts
Copyright © 2003 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved 13

14. Business Scenario: Bigcorp Corporation
Bigcorp Corporation, a high-tech manufacturer of hard disk drives, recently purchased Essbase. Bigcorp has designed—but not yet built—a multidimensional analysis system for analysis and reporting.
It needs you to build an Essbase cube that enables analysis in three functional areas:
Finance (costs and revenues)
Manufacturing (volume)
Sales (product and customer)
Designing an Analytic Services database is a cyclic process that typically moves from a planning stage to verification stage. The process includes the following basic steps:
Build MDB: In this step you determine the information needs that the database must satisfy. You identify source data, user information, and access needs. As a result of this step, you design the database outline that determines the structure of the database.
Load Data: After an outline and security plan are in place, you load the database with test data to enable the later steps of the process.
Calculate: In this step, you test the consolidations in the outline and write and test formulas and calculation scripts for specialized calculations.
Report and verify: Users access data through reports and spreadsheets. In this step, you design the report layouts and run the reports. You also verify with users whether the database satisfy the analytic goals. If the initial database design requires fine tuning, you repeat the cycle.
Bigcorp Corporation
Copyright © 2003 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved 14

15. Business Scenario: Country Kitchen Desserts
Country Kitchen Desserts (CKD), an international food services company, is growing at a fast pace. CKD needs you to design and build an Essbase database that focuses analysis on cost containment during a period of expected growth.
Analysis will be heaviest in the following areas:
Finance (income statement and variances)
Sales (region, salesperson, product)
Designing an Analytic Services database is a cyclic process that typically moves from a planning stage to verification stage. The process includes the following basic steps:
Build MDB: In this step you determine the information needs that the database must satisfy. You identify source data, user information, and access needs. As a result of this step, you design the database outline that determines the structure of the database.
Load Data: After an outline and security plan are in place, you load the database with test data to enable the later steps of the process.
Calculate: In this step, you test the consolidations in the outline and write and test formulas and calculation scripts for specialized calculations.
Report and verify: Users access data through reports and spreadsheets. In this step, you design the report layouts and run the reports. You also verify with users whether the database satisfy the analytic goals. If the initial database design requires fine tuning, you repeat the cycle.
Country Kitchen Desserts
Copyright © 2003 HP corporate presentation. All rights reserved 15

16. Training Environment: Setup
Bigcorp
Administration Services
Administration Services Console
Provider Services
CKD
Essbase Server
Smart View
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17. Training Environment: Developer Interface
Interface for Essbase developers and system administrators
Object window
Navigation frame
Message frame
Administration Services Console
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18. Quiz Select the correct description of an Essbase cube.
Presentation Title
Quiz
Select the correct description of an Essbase cube.
A multidimensional matrix that facilitates analysis from many perspectives
A collection of related dimensional tables that are analyzed using SQL queries
A three-dimensional data view, similar to an Excel workbook with multiple worksheets
A metaphor for relational data storage
Answers: 1

19. Presentation Title
Quiz
Essbase is multidimensional database software optimized for both operational and financial analysis.
True
False
Answer: 1

20. Presentation Title
Quiz
Select the correct order of steps for creating a production Essbase database.
A. Analyze data
B. Create a database
C. Calculate data
D. Load data
D, C, A, B
A, C, B, D
B, D, C, A
C, B, A, D
Answer: 3

21. <Course name> <Lesson number> - 21
Summary
In this lesson, you should have learned to:
Explain multidimensional analysis and the benefits of multidimensional databases
Identify Essbase components and architecture
Explain the Essbase development cycle
Discuss the two Essbase business scenarios used in this class
Describe the setup and development interface for the training environment
<Course name> <Lesson number> - 21