Create the Nexus Cube Model

A Cube is a multidimensional model composed of Dimensions. Cubes may be composed of various Dimensions that serve different purposes. This Cube (created from the Account, Version, Region, and Month) is a good example of a financial reporting and planning model.

To create the Cube:

1.   In the Database Explorer, expand to the correct database i.e., PowerExcel Panning Model.

2.   Right-click on Cubes and select New Cube. The Create New Cube dialog appears.

3.   In the Create New Cube dialog, enter the <name of the Cube>, i.e., Sales.

4.   Click Create. The Add Elements dialog appears; this is where you will define the Dimensions to be included in the Cube.

5.   Tick the checkboxes corresponding to the relevant Dimensions. For this example, tick all the checkboxes (i.e., Account, Version, Region and Month dimensions).

Note


In more complex models, you may have many more Dimensions from which to create one or more Cubes. Furthermore, Dimensions can be used in more than one Cube.

6.   Click OK.

7.   The Cube Definition Window for the Sales cube appears, where you can further define Cube Settings.

The Cube Definition Window for Nexus Studio consists of five tabs: Settings, Dimensions, Formulas, Dependencies and Persistent Calculations. The following is a brief explanation of options available:

   a. Settings Tab - Descriptions for options found under this tab follows below:

• Configuration Section

• Name – Displays the name of the Cube. Rename a Cube by typing a new name in the corresponding field.
• Display Name – Allows change to the Cube name displayed (after save and reopen) in a front-end.
• Type – For the present, Custom Cube is the designation; no other option available in the current version.
• Numeric Values Only – The default False setting allows entry of text characters; the True setting limits values to numeric values.
• Administrative Cube – The False setting allows the Cube to be seen by all users; the True setting limits Cube viewing to the Administrator.
• Nexus Synchronization – Stores Nexus Cube data into its relational database and works with Nexus Cubes in a relational database. The data is stored in the Storage Column of the olation SQL table (OLATION_USING_OLATION).
• Read-Only – The False setting allows editing by non-Administrators based on Security (if Security is enabled); the True setting allows no editing, even by Administrators.
• Calculation Threads – Defines the number of CPU threads used for calculating the Cube.

• Formulas Section

• Unlimited Calculation Depth – A False setting allows up to 30 levels of recursion for formula calculation; a True setting allows the program to continue to calculate.
• Maximum Calculation Depth – Sets the level of recursions for formula calculations.
• Use Dependencies – Enables this optimization feature to dramatically speed up the calculation process. For example: through the use of dependencies, the Olation engine can be instructed to perform aggregation only on cells that have dependencies that refer to non-zero values.
• Protection – When set to False, a Nexus Studio user may reach the Formula editor (Formulas tab); when set to True, a Password textbox appears to limit access.
• Expire – When set to True, you can specify a time past, which formulas will not work

Notes


A Cube may be protected for the following reasons: (1) An Admin or internal developer has locked the Cube, so that it may not be changed by other users, or (2) This application may have been created by a publisher/implementer and, as a means to protect their intellectual property, they do not allow access to change/view the Cube properties. Contact the publisher/implementer to change this protected status. And note that changes to Formulas and other meta data may require support from the publisher for the application to function correctly. Further, if the Password is lost or otherwise unobtainable, contact the publisher of Nexus Studio (PARIS Technologies).

• Persistent Calculations Section

• Recurse only on Change – This feature ensures that, when True, if the result of a persistent calculation does not change the original value, then the recursion will stop.
• Maximum Persistent Calculation Depth – Allows users to set the Maximum Persistent Calculation Depth to limit the maximum depth of recursion. To set the Maximum Persistent Calculation Depth, click on the corresponding text box and enter the number of recursions allowed.
• Generate Values on Load – A True setting ensures calculations across all potentially changed values since the last save/close.

• Saving Section

• Save Dependencies – Saves Cube dependencies if any are applicable.
• Save Cache – A True setting saves cache, depending on Value caching settings to Storage Column of the Olation SQL table.

• Value Caching Section

• Cache Intermediate Aggregates – The True setting retains cached values for intermediate aggregates; the False setting calculates aggregates upon each view.
• Cache Level – Set to High, Medium, or Low.

   b. Dimensions Tab - Allows you to reorder Dimensions as well as add or remove Dimensions in a Cube. This arrangement of Dimensions will dictate how they will appear in a PowerExcel Slice. In this example, we can reorder the Dimensions as follows:

   c. Formulas Tab - Allows you to define formula for your Cube. For more information on writing a Cube formula, proceed to this section.

   d. Dependencies Tab - Allows a user to define dependency formulas for calculation optimization purposes. By specifying dependencies, a user can, for example, order the engine to include in aggregation only those detail elements or cells that have dependencies referring to non-zero values. There are several command icons from the Olation ribbon that are particularly helpful for the creation of dependency formulas.

   e. Persistent Calculations Tab - Allows a user to specify persistent calculations formulas. Persistent Calculations are computed at Data Entry time rather than at Slice calculation time, and results are written directly to disk as opposed to existing solely in RAM. This provides speed enhancements because persistent calculation formulas do not need to be calculated each time a Cube is recalculated.

8.   Save the Cube by clicking on the Save icon on the ribbon.

Notes


The newly created Cube, i.e., Sales, now appear in the Database Explorer as an item under Cubes.