Essbase 11.

1 Workshop
ASO Partial Data Clear
Updated: JUNE-30-2008

Oracle Corp. Essbase 11.1 Workshop: ASO Partial Data Clear 1

Workshop – ASO Partial data clear

Description
This workshop demonstrates how to clear the subset of an ASO cube.

Background
Until Release 11.1, it had not been possible to clear data from a region of an ASO
(aggregate storage) cube. Customers have requested the ability to clear, for example, the
previous month’s data and then load the current month’s data to the cleared cells, instead
of having to rebuild the whole cube.
There are two options for clearing a region of the ASO cube:
• PHYSICAL.
• LOGICAL
These two options effect distinctly different results:
• When using PHYSICAL clear, the cleared cells will be empty (#MISSING).
• When using LOGICAL clear, the cleared cells will have their data replaced with
zeros instead of being empty.
The LOGICAL clear is much faster than the PHYSICAL clear. The time the PHYSICAL
clear requires is proportional to the number of input cells, while the LOGICAL clear is
proportional to the size of the cleared region. In most cases the LOGICAL clear should
be used, due to its faster performance. However, you may need to modify formulas and
calc scripts that rely on the data normally found in the #MISSING cells.

Prerequisites
Before beginning this workshop, verify that you have the ASOSamp.sample database
installed in Essbase.
Note: This workshop assumes you have a working knowledge of Essbase, Essbase
Administration Services, and Excel Add-in.

Exercise - Partial data clear

1. Start Administration Services console.

2. Open the ASOSamp.Sample database.

3. Open the MaxL script editor by selecting File > Editors > MaxL script editor.

4. From the MaxL menu, select “Set options.”

Oracle Corp. Essbase 11.1 Workshop: ASO Partial Data Clear 2

5. In the Results panel group, select the check box “Show information messages”.
6. Clear data for a region of the ASO cube.
For example, to clear data for Jan in ASOSamp.Sample, create and run following
MDX script:
alter database ASOSamp.Sample clear data in region '{[Jan]}';

After the script has run, messages about the execution are displayed in the Results
panel in the lower half of the editor window.
7. Make a note of the time required for the script to run. This is displayed in the Results
panel.
Note: You can run the script from the “Execute script” button on the editor Toolbar or from the
MaxL menu.

8. Open the Spreadsheet Add-in and create query on the ASOSamp.Sample database.

Oracle Corp. Essbase 11.1 Workshop: ASO Partial Data Clear 3

9. Drill down until Jan is displayed. Notice that there are zeros for Jan data, as shown
below:

10. Load data back in ASOSamp.sample, by using the Data Prep Editor to load the
dataload.txt with the dataload.rul file on the server.
11. Refresh the spreadsheet and see that the data for Jan reappears.
12. Repeat steps 4 through 6, using the following PHYSICAL argument:
alter database ASOSamp.Sample clear data in region '{[Jan]}' PHYSICAL;

13. Make a note of the time required for the script to run. This is displayed in the Results
panel.
14. Compare this time to that required when the command was run without the physical
command.
Note that in step 6, the spreadsheet had empty cells ( #MISSING) in the cleared
region.
15. If you wish to restore your sample database to its original state, repeat steps 8 through
10.
Note: You may wish to turn off the information messages by selecting Tools > Set options.
16. Compare the times for the two types of data clear, LOGICAL and PHYSICAL. The
LOGICAL clear should be faster than PHYSICAL clear.

Oracle Corp. Essbase 11.1 Workshop: ASO Partial Data Clear 4

Additional information

Below is a syntax overview. Consult the online help for more detailed syntax
descriptions.

MDX syntax for Logical clear of a region:

ALTER DATABASE DBS-NAME CLEAR DATA IN REGION ‘MDX-SET-EXPRESSION’;

Logically clears region identified by ‘MDX-SET-EXPRESSION’.

Note: The cleared data will appear as 0.

MDX syntax for Physical clear of a region:

ALTER DATABASE DBS-NAME CLEAR DATA IN REGION ‘MDX-SET-EXPRESSION’ PHYSICAL;

Physically clears region identified by ‘MDX-SET-EXPRESSION’.

Note: The cleared data will appear as #MISSING, but you will get slower performance.

Workshop evaluation
Here are a few items to consider as you evaluate this workshop:
• Are you planning to use the option of partial data clear for ASO?
• If yes, for what purpose?
• Which data clear are you planning to use, logical or physical data clear?
• Did you notice a difference in performance when using LOGICAL and PHYSICAL?
How much was the difference?
• Other comments?

Oracle Corp. Essbase 11.1 Workshop: ASO Partial Data Clear 5