1.2.0.1 July 30, 2019 JWS

Cubes are dependent on the Variables that are used by the cube setup.  Please note variables are defaulted by System Parameter settings when appropriate.
 
Manual Build of cubes require setting the variables to be used by the cube build for the cubes selected.

How do Cube Variables work?

Cube Variables are used to control the settings in your Cubes and Scorecards. This document only covers the interaction with Cubes. GoWSI recommends that clients maintain a set of design cubes hooked up to the variables and a set of published cubes which are used by end users. The design cubes are rolled forward or back with every variable change and the published cubes act as the data snapshot for users.

 In a typical site configuration Cube Variables are tied to the global System Parameters so that they can be maintained in a single area and be leveraged by our Process Scheduler. Functionally, then, as a power user you:

 Go to Data Management -> Code Table Maintenance

2. To make things easier to find, set your Service Area to System User Config or Parameter and your Code Table to System Parameters (user set)

   

3. Now that the System Parameter table is loaded go to the Parameters that need alteration and change their Value Don’t forget to save after using the checkmark.

4. After setting and saving all related Parameters trigger either the Process Scheduler Batch Profile that handles your cube builds or manually update the variables and rebuild the cubes in the Cube Manager.

How do I know what Parameters to change?

 1. Go to ESM -> Cube Management

2. Head into the C: Variables Tab

3. Find the set of variables you’re trying to confirm Parameters for. GoWSI typically calls them GL – CURRENT for the General Ledger design cubes and PAYROLL – CURRENT for payroll cubes. Select the appropriate line.  The records are set by user and do not reference any dictionary.
   

4. On the bottom grid you’ll find the list of Parameters.
   1. Anything that has a check on the In Use column is being used by the related cubes.
   2. Anything that has a check on the Designer column will get its data from the System Parameter with an identical FieldName, unless it has a General Formula; if it has a General Formula then it will automatically calculate itself.
   3. Anything that has a check on the User Entry column is only altered within the variables. These values only change if a user manually changes them here.

      

   5. On the bottom grid you’ll find the list of Cubes that will be updated using the Parameter settings.

How do I manually update variables and rebuild the design cubes? How do I manually rebuild a cube?

 If you are trying to rebuild a cube without changing its variables/period start at step 5.

 1. Alter any parameters that need to be changed in System Parameters (user set)

2. Get to the C: Variables tab in Cube Management.

3. Select the variables set you want to use.

4. Go to the top Options -> Update Variables for Profile. Doing this will transfer all Designer variables from System Parameters to the Variable Details, and then apply it to all cubes that the variable set updates.

5. Proceed back to the A: Cube Manager

6. Find a cube that’s part of the Build Group you want to build, or the cube itself you’re wanting to rebuild. If it’s an existing published cube you will need to ensure that the Frozen column is unchecked; design cubes should never be frozen.

7. Pick the appropriate utility from the top Options button. If you’re looking to just rebuild a single cube, choose A: Build Cube. If you’re looking to rebuild the entire build group choose B: Build Cubes In Current Group.

How do I publish a cube?

 Go to the A: Cube Management

2. If you are not publishing the cubes to an existing build group/display group then you will need to create the groups first in the E: Support Tables If you are publishing to an existing Build Group entry proceed to step 6.

3. Build groups are unique per set of published cubes. It is a recommended practice that you have a build group per period and cube period type (GL period and Pay period). Simply add a new line using the ‘+’ on the bottom and type in a unique Group Code and Description. Don’t forget to save using the checkmark. For example, we usually use a build group such as ‘GL2019P01’ or ‘PAY2019P01’.

   

4. Display groups do not have to be unique per set of published cubes and are often more convenient if they are annual instead of by period. If you would like to use an existing Display Group you don’t need to create a new one. If you are creating a new Display Group simply put in a unique Group Code and Description. If you have created a new Display Group don’t forget to update your cube group security in User Maintenance.
5. Rollover Groups

5. Head into the top Options button, over into the C: Copy or Rollover Groups

   

   

6. The utility used diverges depending on whether there are already cubes in the Build Group.
   1. If the Build Group is empty you’ll be copying.
      1. Check the upper Freeze Target Cubes if you would like.
      2. Source Build Group becomes the design group you’re copying from.

• Target Build Group is the destination group. There must be no existing cubes assigned to this Build Group.

1. Target Display Group is the destination Display Group to use. This is used for security purposes and user filtering.
2. Append to Cube Code contains whatever values you want to show up after the cube code. We usually recommend, for example, ‘2019P01’ for April 2019.
3. Append to Cube Description contains whatever values you want to show up after the cube’s description. For example, ‘ – April 2019’ for April 2019.

• Finally, click A: Copy Source to Target Group.

1. If the Build Group already contains cubes you’ll need to Rollover instead. Note, the exact same number of cubes and cube types need to be identical between the Design Group and the target Build Group.
   1. Check the lower Freeze Target Cubes if you would like.
   2. Select the target Build Group from the dropdown.

• Click B: Rollover Source to Target Group.

How do I manually adjust the range of a cube column?

GoWSI does not recommend directly editing the cube column ranges but there are situations where it may be more convenient to do a quick adjustment to an already published cubes, or to control a simple non-updating cube without having to go through variables (eg: a full year budget cube that only gets rolled forward once a year).

Understanding the relationship between cube ranges and columns, though, can be useful for figuring out why the results in cube periods may appear to be out of period or out of year.

Cube column ranges may also need to be edited in situations where the underlying source data contains multiple versions. For example, if the Payroll Budget table contains data for both a published set of SALBUDGET data and FORECAST data for a single fiscal year then all payroll budget columns will need to have the additional set of filtering applied.

It is important to understand how the cube columns connect to the underlying tables and fields.

On the A: Cube Manager tab you’ll find the C: Cube Layout sub-tab.

The Fieldname column contains the linking value between the columns in the cube and the B: Tables and Fields tab.

On the top grid of the B: Tables and Fields tab you can see a listing of all data sources for the cube. The Notes column typically contains the destination Fieldname if relevant. If you click on a line you can see the detailed information on the bottom A: Source Fields tab.

The Target Fieldname column shows the exact column that will be filled out by the table source. GoWSI recommends not altering any data in this tab without assistance.

Now that we’ve confirmed that the table is supplying data to the column we’re inspecting we can evaluate the ranges on the column in the B: Ranges tab.

If the table is having its range limited from a parameter it will have a special Range Type (see Technical Documentation for this listing) or the Variable Begin/Variable End columns will be filled in.

If you need to create a new range filter for the data source use the ‘+’ at the bottom to create a new line. You’ll want to fill out the FieldName the range is on, and the Range Type if applicable.

To edit an existing line, or to edit a newly created line, select the line and go into the bottom Options -> Modify Range.

The Range Builder window will pop up. See the Technical Documentation for the information on the various filters.

From this popup you can modify the range as needed, Test Using Database Data if you want to test the results (most useful for the Evaluate Expression option), and then hit OK to save or Cancel to back out.

Your changes will take effect the next time the cube is rebuilt.