The Relations Page: Standard Cube

Relations enable the user to get fact values using shift towards the current calculation point. They are used to generate expressions of cube calculated facts.

On creating a cube, data is extracted from sources, which are bound with cube facts and calculated facts values are calculated. Calculated facts are calculated individually in each cube cell. The addition of relation to the calculated fact formula enables, on calculating in the particular cell, the use of not only values specified for facts in this cell, but also facts in other cells obtained by shifting in cube dimensions. The shift can be set up by one or several dimensions at the same time. When used in a formula, each relation can be applied for different cube facts.

To add and set up relations, go to the Relations page of the standard cube wizard:

Click the Add button, the Relation Properties dialog box opens.

Set a name and a unique identifier of the created relation in the dialog box.

Select the required relation name and click the Edit button. The dialog box that opens enables the user to determine the name and unique identifier.

Select the relation name and click the Delete button. The relation is deleted after confirmation.

To set up relations of the selected dimensions, execute the following:

Double-click the dimension.
Click the Edit button.

The Relation Formula dialog box opens when one of the operations is executed:

Use appropriate radio buttons and options to set up the relation:

None. The current position is taken as the dictionary position.
Levels Up. The result of this relation is the element owner separated by the specified number of levels from the current element. The number of levels is specified in the number editor, which is available when the radio button is selected. If, for example, the Perm Region element is the current one, and the one-level-up step is specified, the Ural District element is selected, and if the two-levels-up step is specified, the Russian Federation element is selected. The number of levels up must not exceed the total number of levels minus 1.
Elements Back. The result of this relation is the element of the same level separated by the specified number of elements from the current element. The order number is specified in the value editor, which is available when the radio button is selected.
Specified Element. Selecting this radio button enables the dictionary tree where the specific element is to be selected. In this case, regardless of the cube current position, the result of the relation is this very element.

NOTE. Selecting this radio button opens the Determine Parameter Values dialog box to specify parameter values for the parametric dimension.

Expression. The result of the relation is the specified expression. To specify the expression, use buttons below the input box or using the expression editor opened by clicking the button. Use the following cube parameters to form the expression in the formula editor, for example:

MyModule.MyFunc(:ITEM)
:ITEM

Where ITEM is the cube parameters identifier.

To create an expression, the buttons can also be used:

- T. Current element (should be always used on creating an expression).
- UP. One level up.
- DOWN. One level down.
- NEXT. Next element.
- PREV. Previous element.

Expression creating should be started from the current element. To do this, use the T button. Expression examples:

- T.PREV.
- T.PREV.UP.
- T.UP.NEXT, and so on.

To calculate element number in the specified relation, the custom function can be used. The function result is an integer value. Function call format:

- Fore. [Unit/form identifier].[Function name]. For example:

MyModule.MyFunc(T);

- Fore.NET. [Namespace].[Class name].[Function name]. For example:

MyModuleNET.MyClass.MyFunc(T);

To calculate the offset by elements of calendar dimension, the user can use methods of the CalendarDimension class. To execute calculation relative to the current element, use the T parameter.