Technical data

Chapter 5 Creating Data Cubes

PeopleSoft recommends that you create virtual data cubes when you expect the cubes to be large, sparse,

and output-only, especially when a relatively small slice of the ordinary cubes is used in any given analytic

instance ID. The analytic calculation engine takes a long time to recalculate nonvirtual cubes that are

large, sparse, and output-only. When you make these cubes into virtual cubes, you eliminate them from

the recalculation process and drastically reduce memory requirements. If an analytic instance uses only a

small slice of the cube, t he cube calculates on demand quickly and requires less memory because of the

sparsity compression.

Virtual cubes are a lso useful for intermediate calculations that do not require permanent storage p ermanently,

especially if these cubes would normally be large and sparse .

Note. You cannot use virtual cubes for intermediate calculations that are part of a recursive or circular system.

Note. Do not create virtual cubes out of large, dense cubes that are displayed frequently and take a long

time to recalculate. Such virtual cubes cause delays when an application requests data. To be certain of

recalculation time, PeopleSoft recommends you test whether using a virtual cube causes a significant

delay in the generation of data.

See Chapter 10, “Creating Rules, Formulas, and User Functions,” Understan ding Circular Systems and

Recursive Systems, pag e 135 and Enterprise PeopleTools 8.49 PeopleBook: PeopleCode API Reference,

“Analytic Calculation Engine Classes,” Recalculate.

Intermediate virtual cubes can count as output-only cubes, as long as they do not have nonvirtual dependents.

For example, you can create formulas such as the following for output-only virtual cubes:

• This formula is for the SALARY_BY_EMPLOYEE data cube:

GROUPSUM(RCD JOB, SALARY, BUDGET_PERIOD, BUS_UNIT, EMPID, LEDGER, VERSION)

• This formula is for the BENEFITS_BY_EMPLOYEE data cube:

GROUPSUM(RCD JOB, BENEFITS, BUDGET_PERIOD, BUS_UNIT, EMPID, LEDGER, VERSION)

• This formula is for the SALARY_AND_BENEFITS_BY_EMPLOYEE data cube:

SALARY_BY_EMPLOYEE + BENEFITS_BY_EMPLOYEE

Even though SALARY_BY_EMPLOYEE and BENEFITS_BY_EMPLOYEE are used by another virtual

cube, they a re not recalculated by the analytic calculation engine if there are no nonvirtual dependents. For

this reason, you must write the final formula f or the SALARY_AND_BENEFITS_BY_EMPLOYEE data

cube in this way:

GROUPSUM(RCD_JOB, SALARY, BUDGET_PERIOD, BUS_UNIT, EMPID, LEDGER, VERSION) +⇒

GROUPSUM(RCD JOB, Benefits, Budget Period, Bus Unit, EmpID, Ledger, Version)