Frequently Asked Hyperion Interview

Questions
1. What is a hybrid analysis?

2. What is a block locking system?

3. Types of Partitions available in Essbase?

4. What is a custom-defined function?

5. When do we generally use build rules files?

6. What is TB First and TB Last?

7. How do you optimize the outline?

8. When does Fragmentation occur?

9. How does Essbase recover from a database crash?

10. What is the difference between UDA’s and Attribute

dimensions?

Hyperion Interview Question and Answers

1. What are the two storage options available in Essbase and what are the
differences?
ASO (Aggregate Storage Option) – Used for

 If we have a large number of dimensions (generally more than 10)

 Most of the dimensions are sparse
 We cannot write back in ASO. I heard recently that ASO will also
have write-back capability.
BSO (Block Storage Option)

 Dimensions are less and dense (recommended values for no of dim

are between 4 and 8).
 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 these dense and
sparse members are. When the intersections or cells of two dimensions
mostly contain 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 a period, consider another dimension product. 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 a very
low percentage of data values hence the structure will become sparse.

2. Can we build dimensions directly from data sources without using rule
files?
No.

3. When do we generally use build rules files?

To automate the process of creating dimensions with thousands of
members.

4. What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions?
1. Generation references
2. Level references
3. Parent-Child references.
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5. In what case we can define generation 1 as a field in the generation build

method?
We cannot define that as Generation 1 is not valid.

6. What is the difference between UDA’s and Attribute dimensions?

Attribute dimensions provide more flexibility than UDA’s. Attribute
calculation dimensions which include five members with the default names
sum, count, min, max and avg are automatically created for the attribute
dimensions and are calculated dynamically.

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

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

Aliases?
UDA represents the class of the members. Aliases are just other names of
the members. both are different and have different usage.

9. Can we query a member for its UDA in a calculation script?

Yes. You can query a member for its UDA in a calculation script.

10. How does UDA’s impact database size?

Ans: Absolutely no impact as UDA’s does not require additional storage
space.

11. 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?
No. If gen 2 and gen 4 exist, we must assign gen 3.

12. How do Attribute dimensions and UDA’s impact batch calculation

performance?
1. UDA’s- No Impact as they do not perform any inherent calculations.
2. Attribute dim- No Impact as they perform only dynamic calculations.

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

14. How does Attribute dim impact report performance?

The highly impact the report performance as the attributes are calculated
dynamically when referenced in the report. For a very large number of att
dim displayed in the report, the performance could drastically reduce.

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

16. How is data stored in the Essbase database?

Essbase is a file-based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2
GB each and grows sequentially.

17. Can we have multiple databases in one single application?

Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

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

19. What is the role of provider services.

To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

20. What is an alternative to creating a meta outline, rule file, and load
data.
Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio.

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

22. We have created an application in Unicode mode. Can we change it

later to non-Unicode mode?
No.

23. A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on the

same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same
server. Can he do that?
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.

24. 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.
Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator.

25. What does never consolidate operator (^) do?

It prevents members from being consolidated across any dimension.

26. Can we have multiple meta outlines based on one OLAP model in
Integration services?
Yes

27. Can we have a meta outline based on two different OLAP models.

No.

28. What is a hybrid analysis?

Lower-level members and associated data remain in the relational
database whereas upper-level members and associated data reside in the
Essbase database.

29. Why is top-down calculation less efficient than bottom-up calculation?

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

30. On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parallel calculation
method?
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.
31. What is a block locking system?
Analytic services (or Essbase Services) lock the block and all other blocks
which contain the Childs of that block while calculating this block is the
block locking system.

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

33. Can we have multiple meta outlines based on one OLAP model in
Integration services?
Yes

34. What are LRO’s (Linked Reporting Objects)?

They are specific objects like files, cell notes, or URLs associated with
specific data cells of the 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.

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35. How does UDA’s impact database size?

There will be no impact on the database as the UDA’s don’t store data in
the database.

36. Can we create UDA’s and apply them to Dense as well as Sparse dimensions?

Yes

37. Types of Partitions available in Essbase?

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

38. Why is top-down calculation less efficient than bottom-up calculation?

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

39. On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parallel calculation
method?
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.

40. How can you display UDA’s in reports?

UDA’s values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact
report performance.

41. What are the specified roles other than Administrator to view sessions,
disconnect sessions or kill user's requests for a particular application?
You should have the role of Application manager for the specified
application.

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

43. Can we have multiple databases in one single application?

Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.
Depend on which database you are going to create.

For Example: If you are creating ASO then we can’t create more than 1 db
per application. If you are creating BSO then you can create more than 1
db per application

44. How is data stored in the Essbase database?

Essbase is a file-based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2
GB each and grows sequentially.

45. We have created an application as a Unicode mode. Can we change it

later to non-Unicode mode?
No

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

47. What is the role of provider services?

To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

48. A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on the

same machine to have both the test environment and the development
environment on the same server. Can he do that?
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.

49. Why top-down calculation less efficient than bottom-up calculation?

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

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50. Can we have multiple databases in one single application?

Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

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

52. What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file, and calc script?
OTL, .RUL and .CSC

53. What is the role of provider services?

To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

54. What is an alternative to creating a meta outline, rule file, and load
data?
Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio.

55. What is a data file cache?

A buffer in memory that holds compressed data (.PAG) files.

56. What is a custom-defined function?

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.

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

58. We have created an application in Unicode mode. Can we change it

later to non-Unicode mode?
No.

59. 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 a UNIX one? Also, can I still do it
if my test env and prod env versions are different?
Hyperion Administrative services console provides a migration utility to do
this but only the application, database objects are migrated and no data is
transferred. the answers to the other two questions are Yes.

60. A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on the

same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same
server. Can he do that?
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.

61. 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.
Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator.

62. What is a custom-based macro?

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 functions and
operate on multiple input parameters.

63. What do you mean by dirty block?

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)

64. When do we generally use build rules files?

To automate the process of creating dimensions with more members,
where it will take a lot of time in creating manually.

65. What does never consolidate operator(^) do?

It prevents members from being consolidated across any dimension.

66. What are the different types of LOG Files?

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

67. 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?
No. If gen 2 and gen 4 exist, we must assign gen 3.

68. What are attributes?

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 dimensions 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.

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

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70. What are the different types of attributes?

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, which are: Boolean,
date, number, and string.

71. What are filters?

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.

72. What is TB First and TB Last?

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 month’s
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 month’s parent.
For example, the value for Qtr1 is the same as the value for Mar.

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

74. How does Attribute dim impact report performance?

The highly impact the report performance as the attributes are calculated
dynamically when referenced in the report. For a very large number of att
dim displayed in the report, the performance could drastically reduce.

75. How is data stored in the Essbase database?

Essbase is a file-based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2
GB each and grows sequentially.

76. How do you optimize the outline?

Usually, the outline is optimized using the hourglass design for dimension
ordering i.e,
1. Dimension with Accounts tag
2. Dimension with Time tag
3. Largest Dense dimension
4. Smallest dense dimension
5. Smallest Sparse dimension
6. Largest Sparse dimension

77. What are the ways to improve performance during data loads?
There are several ways to optimize load
1. Grouping of Sparse member combinations
2. Making the data source as small as possible
3. Making source fields as small as possible
4. Positioning the data in the same order as the outline
5. Loading from Essbase Server
6. Managing parallel data load processing

78. What are the design considerations for calculation optimization?

You can configure a database to optimize calculation performance. The
best configuration for the site depends on the nature and size of the
database.
1. Block Size(8Kb to 100Kb) and Block Density
2. Order of Sparse Dimensions
3. Incremental Data Loading
4. Database Outlines with Two or More Flat Dimensions
5. Formulas and Calculation Scripts

79. When does Fragmentation occur?

Fragmentation is likely to occur with the following:
1. Read/write databases that users are constantly updating with data
2. Databases that execute calculations around the clock
3. Databases that frequently update and recalculate dense members
4. Data loads that are poorly designed
5. Databases that contain a significant number of Dynamic Calc and Store
members
6. Databases that use an isolation level of uncommitted access with
commit block set to zero

80. How can you measure fragmentation?

You can measure fragmentation using the average clustering ratio or
average fragmentation Quotient.

Using the average fragmentation quotient

Any quotient above the high end of the range indicates that reducing
fragmentation may help performance
Small (up to 200 MB) 60% or higher
Medium (up to 2 GB) 40% or higher
Large (greater than 2 GB) 30% or higher

Using the average clustering ratio:

The average clustering ratio database statistic indicates the fragmentation
level of the data (.pag) files. The maximum value, 1, indicates no
fragmentation.

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81. How do you can prevent and remove fragmentation?

You can prevent and remove fragmentation:
1. To prevent fragmentation, optimize data loads by sorting load records
based upon sparse dimension members. For a comprehensive discussion
of optimizing data load by grouping sparse members.
2. To remove fragmentation, perform an export of the database, delete all
data in the database with CLEAR DATA, and reload the export file.
3. To remove fragmentation, force a dense restructure of the database.

82. Why is database restructuring?

As your business changes, you change the Essbase database outline to
capture new product lines, provide information on new scenarios, reflect
new time periods, etc. Some changes to a database outline affect the data
storage arrangement, forcing Essbase to restructure the database.

83. What are the types of database restructuring?

The two ways by which a database restructure is triggered:
1. Implicit Restructures
2. Dense restructure
3. Sparse restructure
4. Outline-only restructure
5. Explicit Restructures

84. What are the conditions affecting Database restructuring?

Intelligent Calculation, name changes, and formula changes affect
database restructuring:
1. If you use Intelligent Calculation in the database, all restructured blocks
are marked as dirty whenever data blocks are restructured. Marking the
blocks as dirty forces the next default Intelligent Calculation to be a full
calculation.
2. If you change a name or a formula, Essbase does not mark the affected
blocks as dirty. Therefore, you must use a method other than full
calculation to recalculate the member or the database.

85. What are the files used during Restructuring?

When Essbase restructures both the data blocks and the index, it uses the
files described
essxxxxx.pag
Essbase data fileessxxxxx.ind
Essbase index filedbname.esm
Essbase kernel file that contains control information used for db
recoverydbname.tct
Transaction control tabledbname.ind
Free fragment file for data and index-free fragmentsdbname.otl
Outline file in which is defined all metadata for a database and how data is
stored

86. What are the actions that improve performance for restructuring?
There are a number of things you can do to improve performance related to
database restructuring:

 If you change a dimension frequently, make it sparse.

 Use incremental restructuring to control when Essbase performs a
required database restructuring.
 Select options when you save a modified outline that reduce the
amount of restructuring required.

87. What are LRO’s( Linked Reporting Objects)?

They are specific objects like files, cell notes or URLs associated with
specific data cells of the 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.
88. What are the specified roles other than Administrator to view sessions,
disconnect sessions or kill user's requests for a particular application?
You should have the role of Application manager for the specified
application.

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

90. I have created an application with one database in Essbase at the 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?
You can achieve this using the migration wizard to migrate an application to
a text file which you can take physically to the production server.

91. From the above question When I migrated the application to the
production server I do not see any data in the Essbase database. What has
gone wrong and how to correct this?
Nothing has gone wrong. Migration utility does not migrate the actual data.
If you want to copy the exact data from the test machine, get it exported
using export utility and import it on a production machine.

92. Referring to the above question, Can I still do this if my production

server and test server are two different operating systems. Explain.
While exporting the database, you can write the database data to an ASCII
text file which enables you to load data on different platforms.

93. How can we backup an aggregate storage database?

To back up an aggregate storage database, copy the application directory
ARBORPATH/app/appname.
94. How does Essbase recover from a database crash?
After a database crash or server interruption, Essbase automatically
recovers a database after rolling back the transactions that were active at
that time.

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