Tag Archive for: Upgrade

PBCS is about to release a major upgrade (1 of 2 every year scheduled). Oracle released a 29 page document laying out everything that should be expected. Want the abbreviated version?

 

  • Want your users to see the simplified user interface? You will be able to make it the default.
  • Welcome to EPBCS. This enhanced version will include modules for Financials, Workforce, Projects, and Capital.
  • Users can now create dashboards that include editable forms and ad hoc grids, and include new chart types.
  • Forms, task lists, and reports can be viewed in either list view or hierarchical view.
  • You can now use an attribute dimension as a dimension, as a filter in forms and reports, and within ad hoc grids. Using attribute dimensions enables administrators and end users to perform tasks such as:
    1. Filtering data using attribute members, such as by products with a certain color
    2. Performing cross-dimensional rollups across attribute members
    3. Reporting and analysis with attribute dimension members using Smart View, or financial reports
    4. Using attribute dimensions in dynamic user variables 
Attribute dimensions are optional and are listed separately on the Layout tab of the Form Designer. Drag the Attribute dimension to a Point of View or to a row or column to add it to the form grid.
  • Administrators can create aliases for artifacts similar to alias tables where things like forms can be viewed in native languages.
  • For new applications, administrators can optionally choose a simplified multicurrency option during application creation. Using simplified currency avoids the use of the Hsp_Rates dimension and adds a Currency dimension with exchange rates stored in the Account dimension
  • You can now create smart lists based on dimension hierarchies. This dynamically updates smart list values based on member updates.
  • Form grid display can be tied to the start and end period for the respective scenarios on display
  • A new action menu in the console allows customers to clear specific areas within both input and reporting cubes
  • Users can now drill on shared members to get to the children of the base member.
  • Form designers can now prevent the form save confirmation message from being displayed to users by specifying an option in form design.
  • The usability and readability of forms is increased with duplicate aliases. Aliases can now contain the same name within an alias table and across alias tables.
  • Import Metadata functionality is extended to Microsoft Word.
  • You can now quickly add attribute dimensions to an ad hoc grid at any time during the ad hoc session.
  • In the Planning Admin Extension, you can now work with attribute dimensions and the Time Period dimension. Just as with regular dimensions, you can use the Planning Admin Extension in the Smart View application to quickly import and edit attribute and time dimension application metadata.
  • System Templates are now displayed under New Objects.
  • You can now add a warning or an error to a step using validation conditions. Errors prevent the next step. Warnings allow the next step after you click OK on the warning message. You can use a design- time prompt or function on the validation condition. This allows you to use functions on design-time prompts without having to create non-promptable design-time prompts.
  • When you are debugging business rules, a Condition Builder is now available to help you build conditions.
  • You can use the Member Selector dialog box to create MDX syntax and validation before running a partial clear.
  • The following new design-time prompt types are available:
    1. Percent
    2. Integer
    3. StringAsNumber
    4. DateAsNumber
    5. Smart List
    6. UDA

New Design-Time Prompt Functions

  • @AVAILDIMCOUNT – Returns the number of available dimensions.
  • @DEPENDENCY – “Inclusive” returns member(s) from Input 1 for which Input 2 has member(s) specified from the same dimensions. “Exclusive” returns members from Input 1 for which Input 2 has no specified members in the same dimensions.
  • @DIMATTRIBUTE – Returns the attribute name if the specified attribute is associated with a dimension.
  • @DIMNAME – Returns the name of a dimension if it is valid for the database.
  • @DIMUDA – Returns the UDA name if the specified UDA is valid for the dimension.
  • @EVALUATE – Returns the result of an expression.
  • @FINDFIRST – Finds the first substring of a string that matches the given regular expression.
  • @FINDLAST – Finds the last substring of a string that matches the given regular expression.
  • @GETDATA – Returns the value of the slice.
  • @INTEGER – Returns an integer.
  • @ISDATAMISSING – Returns true if the value of the slice is missing.
  • @ISANDBOXED – Determines if the current application is sandboxed.
  • @ISVARIABLE – Determines if the argument is a variable.
  • @MATCHES – Returns “true” if the first substring of a string matches the given regular expression.
  • @MEMBERGENERATION – Returns the generation number of a member.
  • @MEMBERLEVEL – Returns the level number of a member.
  • @MSGFORMAT – Takes a set of objects, formats them, and then inserts the formatted strings into the pattern at the appropriate places.
  • @OPENDIMCOUNT – Returns the number of dimensions for which a member was not specified.
  • @VALUEDIMCOUNT – Returns the number of dimensions for which a member was specified.
  • @TOMDX – Returns an MDX expression.

New Design Time Prompt Types

  1. Percent
  2. Integer
  3. StringAsNumber
  4. DateAsNumber
  5. Smart List
  6. UDA

New Custom Defined Functions

  • @CalcMgrBitAnd – Performs a bitwise AND operation, which compares each bit of the first operand to the corresponding bit of the second operand. If both bits are 1, the corresponding result bit is set to 1; otherwise, the corresponding result bit is set to 0.
  • @CalcMgrBitOR – Performs a bitwise OR operation, which compares each bit of the first operand to the corresponding bit of the second operand. If either bit is 1, the corresponding result bit is set to 1; otherwise, the corresponding result bit is set to 0.
  • @CalcMgrBitExOR – Performs an exclusive bitwise OR operation, which compares each bit of the first operand to the corresponding bit of the second operand. If either bit is 1, the corresponding result bit is set to 1; otherwise, the corresponding result bit is set to 0.
  • @CalcMgrBitExBoolOR – Performs an exclusive boolean bitwise OR operation.
  • @CalcMgrBitCompliment – Performs a unary bitwise complement, which reverses each bit.
  • @CalcMgrBitShiftLeft – Performs a signed left shift.
  • @CalcMgrBitShiftRight – Performs a signed right shift.
  • @CalcMgrBitUnsignedShiftRight – Performs an unsigned right shift.
  • @CalcMgrCounterClearAll – Removes all keys and values from the counter
  • @CalcMgrCounterClearKey – Removes the value from the counter associated with the key
  • @CalcMgrCounterDecrement – Decrements the value in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, a value of zero is set for the key
  • @CalcMgrCounterDecrementKey – Decrements the value in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, a value of zero is set for the key
  • @CalcMgrCounterGetKeyNumber – Returns the text found in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, missing value is returned.
  • @CalcMgrCounterGetKeyText – Returns the text found in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, missing value is returned.
  • @CalcMgrCounterGetNumber – Returns the number from the counter specified by the key. If the key is not found or the value is not a number, missing value is returned.
  • @CalcMgrCounterGetText – Returns the text found in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, missing value is returned.
  • @CalcMgrCounterIncrement – Increment the value in the counter specified by the key
  • @CalcMgrCounterIncrementKey – Increments the value in the counter based on the key. If the key is not found, a value of zero is set for the key.
  • @CalcMgrExcelToDate – Converts an Excel date to YYYYMMDD format.
  • @CalcMgrExcelToDateTime – Converts an Excel date to YYYYMMDDHHMMSS format.
  • @CalcMgrGetStringFormattedDateTime – Converts the date defined by format to date in the YYYYMMddHHmmss format.
  • @CalcMgrDateToExcel – Converts a date in YYYYMMDD format to an Excel date
  • @CalcMgrDateTimeToExcel – Converts a date in YYYYMMDDHHMMSS format to an Excel date
  • @CalcMgrRollDay – Roll the day up or down to the date which is in the YYYYMMDD format
  • @CalcMgrRollDate – Adds or subtracts (up or down) a single unit of time on the given date field without changing larger fields.
  • Possible values of date_part are: day, month, week and year.
  • @CalcMgrRollMonth – Roll the month up or down to the date which is in the YYYYMMDD format.
  • @CalcMgrRollYear – Roll the year up or down to the date which is in the YYYYMMDD format.
  • @CalcMgrExcelACCRINT – Returns the accrued interest for a security that pays periodic interest
  • @CalcMgrExcelACCRINTM – Returns the accrued interest for a security that pays interest at maturity
  • @CalcMgrExcelAMORDEGRC – Returns the depreciation for each accounting period by using a depreciation coefficient
  • @CalcMgrExcelAMORLINC – Returns the depreciation for each accounting period
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOUPDAYBS – Returns the number of days from the beginning of the coupon period to the settlement date
@CalcMgrExcelCOUPDAYS – Returns the number of days in the coupon period that contains the settlement date
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOUPDAYSNC – Returns the number of days from the settlement date to the next coupon date
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOUPNCD – Returns a number that represents the next coupon date after the settlement date
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOUPNUM – Returns the number of coupons payable between the settlement date and maturity date, rounded up to the nearest whole coupon
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOUPPCD – Returns a number that represents the previous coupon date before the settlement date
  • @CalcMgrExcelCUMIPMT – Returns the cumulative interest paid on a loan between start_period and end_period
@CalcMgrExcelCUMPRINC – Returns the cumulative principal paid on a loan between the start period and the end period
  • @CalcMgrExcelDB – Returns the depreciation of an asset for a specified period using the fixed-declining balance method
  • @CalcMgrExcelDDB – Returns the depreciation of an asset for a specified period using the double- declining balance method or some other method you specify
  • @CalcMgrExcelDISC – Returns the discount rate for a security
  • @CalcMgrExcelDOLLARDE – Converts a dollar price expressed as an integer part and a fraction part, such as 1.02, into a dollar price expressed as a decimal number. Fractional dollar numbers are sometimes used for security prices.
  • @CalcMgrExcelDOLLARFR – Converts a dollar price, expressed as a decimal number, into a dollar price, expressed as a fraction
@CalcMgrExcelDURATION – Returns the annual duration of a security with periodic interest payments
  • @CalcMgrExcelEFFECT – Returns the effective annual interest rate
  • @CalcMgrExcelFV – Returns the future value of an investment
  • @CalcMgrExcelFVSCHEDULE – Returns the future value of an initial principal after applying a series of compound interest rates
  • @CalcMgrExcelINTRATE – Returns the interest rate for a fully invested security @CalcMgrExcelIPMT – Returns the interest payment for a given period for an investment based on periodic, constant payments and a constant interest rate
  • @CalcMgrExcelIRR – Returns the internal rate of return for a series of cash flows
  • @CalcMgrExcelISPMT – Calculates the interest paid during a specific period of an investment
  • @CalcMgrExcelMDURATION – Returns the Macauley modified duration for a security with an assumed par value of $100
  • @CalcMgrExcelMIRR – Returns the internal rate of return where positive and negative cash flows are financed at different rates
  • @CalcMgrExcelNOMINAL – Returns the annual nominal interest rate
  • @CalcMgrExcelNPER – Returns the number of periods for an investment
  • @CalcMgrExcelNPV – Returns the net present value of an investment based on a series of periodic cash flows and a discount rate
  • @CalcMgrExcelPMT – Returns the periodic payment for an annuity
  • @CalcMgrExcelPPMT – Returns the payment on the principal for a given period for an investment based on periodic, constant payments and a constant interest rate
  • @CalcMgrExcelPRICE – Returns the price per $100 face value of a security that pays periodic interest
  • @CalcMgrExcelPRICEDISC – Returns the price per $100 face value of a discounted security
  • @CalcMgrExcelPRICEMAT – Returns the price per $100 face value of a security that pays interest at maturity
  • @CalcMgrExcelPV – Returns the present value of an investment
@CalcMgrExcelRATE – Returns the interest rate per period of an annuity
  • @CalcMgrExcelRECEIVED – Returns the amount received at maturity for a fully invested security
  • @CalcMgrExcelSLN – Returns the straight-line depreciation of an asset for one period
  • @CalcMgrExcelSYD – Returns the sum-of-years’ digits depreciation of an asset for a specified period
  • @CalcMgrExcelTBILLEQ – Returns the bond-equivalent yield for a Treasury bill
  • @CalcMgrExcelTBILLPRICE – Returns the price per $100 face value for a Treasury bill
  • @CalcMgrExcelTBILLYIELD – Returns the yield for a Treasury bill
  • @CalcMgrExcelXIRR – Returns the internal rate of return for a schedule of cash flows that is not necessarily periodic
  • @CalcMgrExcelXNPV – Returns the net present value for a schedule of cash flows that is not necessarily periodic
  • @CalcMgrExcelYIELD – Returns the yield on a security that pays periodic interest
  • @CalcMgrExcelYIELDDISC – Returns the annual yield for a discounted security; for example, a Treasury bill
  • @CalcMgrExcelYIELDMAT – Returns the annual yield of a security that pays interest at maturity
  • @CalcMgrExcelCEILING – Rounds a number up (away from zero) to the nearest integer or to the nearest multiple of significance
  • @CalcMgrExcelCOMBIN – Returns the number of combinations for a given number of objects
  • @CalcMgrExcelEVEN – Rounds a number up to the nearest even integer
  • @CalcMgrExcelFACT – Returns the factorial of a number
  • @CalcMgrExcelFACTDOUBLE – Returns the double factorial of a number
  • @CalcMgrExcelFLOOR – Rounds a number down, toward zero
  • @CalcMgrExcelGCD – Returns the greatest common divisor
  • @CalcMgrExcelLCM – Returns the least common multiple
  • @CalcMgrExcelMROUND – Rounds a number to a specified number of digits
  • @CalcMgrExcelMULTINOMIAL – Returns the multi-nominal of a set of numbers
  • @CalcMgrExcelODD – Rounds a number up to the nearest odd integer
  • @CalcMgrExcelPOWER – Returns the result of a number raised to a power
  • @CalcMgrExcelPRODUCT – Multiplies its arguments
  • @CalcMgrExcelROUNDDOWN – Rounds a number down, towards zero
  • @CalcMgrExcelROUNDUP – Rounds a number up, away from zero
  • @CalcMgrExcelSQRT – Returns a positive square root
  • @CalcMgrExcelSQRTPI – Returns the square root of (number * pi)
  • @CalcMgrExcelSUMSQ – Returns the sum of the squares of the arguments
  • @CalcMgrExcelSUMPRODUCT – Returns the sum of the products of corresponding array components
  • @CalcMgrExcelAVEDEV – Returns the average of the absolute deviations of data points from their mean
  • @CalcMgrExcelDEVSQ – Returns the sum of squares of deviations
  • @CalcMgrExcelLARGE – Returns the nth highest number
  • @CalcMgrExcelMEDIAN – Returns the median of the given numbers
  • @CalcMgrExcelSMALL – Returns the nth smallest number
  • @CalcMgrExcelSTDEV- Estimates standard deviation based on a sample
  • @CalcMgrExcelVAR – Estimates variance based on a sample
  • @CalcMgrExcelVARP – Estimates variance based on the entire population
  • @CalcMgrFindFirst – Find the first substring of this string that matches the given regular expression.
  • @CalcMgrFindLast – Find the last substring of this string that matches the given regular expression.
  • @CalcMgrMatches – Returns true, if the first substring of this string that matches the given regular expression. For regular expression, see ”java.util.regex.Pattern” in the Java docs.
  • @CalcMgrMessageFormat – Creates a string with the given pattern and uses it to format the given arguments.
  • @CalcMgrStartsWith – Tests if this string starts with the specified prefix.

Security

  • While the overall access rights granted to a user are controlled by the assigned identity domain role, Service Administrators can use the Access Control feature from the Console to assign additional application-level access by provisioning users and Native Directory groups with application-specific roles. For instance, a Planner in the service can now be assigned the Approvals Administrator role to enable the user to perform approvals-related activities.
 

What’s New in Hyperion 11.1.2?

Shared Services

 

As you’ve no doubt noticed by now, this has turned into a series of posts involving new features in the 11.1.2 release of the Hyperion products. This post will cover some of the significant changes to Shared Services, including improvements to Security Administration, Lifecycle Management, and Taskflows.

Security Administration

It’s been well-documented at this point that there have been multiple issues with the OpenLDAP approach to the Native Directory. In 11.1.2, the OpenLDAP has been replaced with a relational database as the storage point for native accounts and provisioning. This has already proven beneficial, as it allows for the next improvement below.
There is no longer a need for Essbase synchronization for users, as it is now done automatically. This is a welcome change from most, as it was always very easy to forget to refresh security. However, group synchronization must still be done manually.
The supported SSL configurations have also seen significant improvements. These include:
  1. SSL Offloading
  2. 2-way SSL deployment
  3. SSL termination at the web server
Oracle Single Sign-On (OSSO) is also supported in this release. The Oracle Internet Directory (OID) is used to provide SSO access to web applications.

Lifecycle Management (LCM)

Like the rest of Shared Services, LCM has adopted Oracle Diagnostics Logging (ODL) as the standard logging mechanism.
Perhaps the biggest improvement to LCM is that it now supports the extraction of data. Essbase data now appears as a selectable artifact when performing an export, and can be updated with the outline. On this note, I should probably point out that for cross-product migrations, LCM determines the correct order based on dependencies.
Some other modifications to LCM include:
  1. Additional information in migration status reports, including source and destination details.
  2. Users must be provisioned with the Shared Services Administrator role to work with the Deployment Metadata tool.
  3. The Calc Manager is supported, and has its own node under Foundation. As a result, business rules can now be migrated to classic HFM and Planning applications.

Shared Services Taskflow

This release has seen the addition of two new roles in Shared Services
  1. Manage Taskflows – This role allows users to create and edit a taskflow
  2. Run Taskflows – This role permits users to view and run a taskflow, but they cannot create or edit taskflows

 

Follow the link below to view the complete document of changes
 
 

 

Yesterday, Oracle announced the official launch of the Enterprise Performance Management 11.1.2 Release.  This release introduces some major enhancements to the existing Hyperion applications, along with three new products – Disclosure Management, Financial Close Management and Public Sector Planning and Budgeting. 

I’ve had the opportunity to see the release live during a partner launch event and have been very impressed thus far.  Over the next few weeks, In2Hyperion will begin to look at this release and share how to take advantage of new functionality. 

View the press release below.

http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/066183

More information is also available on the Oracle website, which has been updated to include information for the 11.1.2 Release.

http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/mediakits/epm-system-release-media-kit-066160.html.

 

There are a host of new features in version 11.  As with most product releases, there are the typical improvements related to memory, scripting, and stability.  But, there are some other, very notable, functional additions that might peak your interest.

Lifecycle Management

Shared Services now provides a consistent way to manage environments.  This console gives administrators the ability to compare applications, search for artifacts, and perform artifact migrations. It comes with a command line tool to automate tasks, as well as a full API for those who want to customize the process even further.

Typed Measures

Essbase now stores text!  Well, somewhat.  Text measures give administrators a way of storing a value other than a number in a data intersection.  Technically, it still stores numbers, but it represents a string.  A member in the measures dimension can have a text attribute.  This member is associated with an enumerated list.  Each member in that list has an index number, which is what is in the database.  When reporting is done, that number is converted to the associated text value in the enumerated list.  Members can also be tagged as Date, which changes the formatting to; you guessed it, a date.

Varying Attributes

Attributes have been around for a while now in Essbase.  Some people hate them and some love them.  They definitely have their place in the design of a database.  One limitation has been the inability to walk forward attributes over time.  For example, assume we have an attribute that identifies our customers into tiers based on their credit score.  If a customer’s score changes such that they move to a higher or lower tier, the history is lost because their attribute is the same for all time periods.  Not anymore.  Varying attributes adds the capability of Essbase to store, and calculate measures for attributes that vary over multiple dimensions.

Backup and Recovery

I have seen many methods to making sure Essbase applications are secured.  In version 11, there are some new options for BSO databases.  First, an option in EAS exists to backup the entire database, including its data and all of its objects, to one file.  When changing things rapidly through the day, this is a nice feature to ensure you don’t lose valuable work.  The entire database can easily be restored.  This is much quicker than manually archiving all the objects (calc scripts, load rules, outlines, and reports) and keeping data exports.

Secondly, Essbase now includes the option to log transactions and replay them.  With this option turned on, Essbase applications can be restored with the option to replay all transactions that occurred after the backup occurred.  Now, a database can be restored to a specific point in time.

ASO Data Management

ASO now includes Maxl scripting to enable administrators to clear data from regions of a database in two ways.  The first and most obvious is to remove the values from the database.  The second is the ability to copy the data into another member as the inverse, resulting in a total of zero.

The use of Environment Variables

If your process management uses variables to decrease maintenance tasks from, this might be something that will intrigue you.  Version 11 has access to not only Essbase variables, but operating system environment variables as well.

Monitoring Environment Reponses

Many environments take advantage of partitioning.  Now, there is a way to evaluate the cost of using partitions.  Using the ENABLE_DIAG_TRANSPARENT_PARTITION configuration setting in the essbase.cfg file, administrators can log transaction response times.

Common Log Locations

Version 11 organizes all log files in one location.  This is a very nice improvement.  Rather than searching through each products’ directory tree for the area logs are stored, they are now located in one common folder, with a folder for each of the Hyperion products.

Override Implied Shares

Essbase now includes an option in the outline management section to ignore the default setting for implied shares.  This can be very helpful when using partitions, as well as a host of other situations.

Notable Calculations Additions

Now that members can carry a text or date value, there are a host of functions that open up a whole new realm of possibilities.  DATEROLL will increase a value based on a specific time interval.  DATEDIFF will take the difference between two dates at the interval designated.  DATEPART will pull the time period (week, month, day, etc) from any date.  These operations were difficult at best, in previous releases of Essbase.