Introduction

Yes, it is true that Groovy is available in on-premise and cloud (PBCS) versions of Hyperion Planning.  No, it is not true that the same flavor of Groovy exists in both.  Both have their advantages, and both have their drawbacks.  The likelihood that they will ever be the same is extremely low, and here is why.

The Difference Is

On-Premise gives developers the ability to write and use independent Groovy compiled applications.  These can be used in Business Rules as CDFs (custom defined functions).  Developers have complete functionality to make this do whatever they want.  It can return results to save to Essbase/Planning, it can interact with SQL, can run other programs, pretty much anything you can access that has a JAVA API.

PBCS doesn’t have the same flexibility.  Custom defined functions can’t be compiled and stored on the server.  PBCS, rather, has “Groovy Calculations.”  This gives developers the flexibility to interact with the Data Forms that on-premise doesn’t have.  Developers can iterate through the cells and act accordingly.  It can stop the form from saving, calculate and override data entered, color code cells, customize Data Maps, Smart Pushes, dynamically generate calculations, move data between databases, all with access to much of the Groovy functionality.

PBCS also supports the REST API, so Groovy can be used to access that and do everything, even more, that EPM Automate can do.

Why They Will Never Be The Same

This is just an opinion.  Technology changes so rapidly that this may change.  Corporate strategy changes almost as rapidly.

If PBCS had to ability to do what on-premise does, the ability for Oracle to support the instance would be a challenge.  CDFs can delete all the files on a server, for instance, and I don’t see a cloud provider giving developers this much control in a shared environment.

I also don’t see on-premise to have the same proactive interaction that PBCS has with Groovy Calculations purely because Oracle is pushing the cloud, and they want the most current functionality to exist in the platform they are pushing clients to use.

My Two Cents

I understand why there is a difference, and I don’t expect it to change in the near future.  3 years ago I didn’t expect that I would tell you that I would rather do a cloud implementation than on prem, either.  I do think as people get more comfortable with the cloud, and security improves, there will be advances.  I think there will be a future state where the cloud offerings will be closer to having the flexibility to the on-premise implementations.

Introduction

Chris Hull has been kind enough to partner with us to present how the methods available in Groovy calculations have made a huge impact in their budgeting and reporting process using PBCS.

One of the biggest user complaints about their first budgeting process in PBCS was that they had to wait to get their consolidated reporting until an admin ran the process or a scheduled consolidation ran.  Thanks to what Groovy offers, this is no longer going an issue.

For those of you that participated, I have added some additional content.  I know we were limited on time.  I skipped a few examples and rushed through diving into the actual steps and Groovy processes.  I included additional examples and more information on the process below.  If you didn’t attend, I would encourage you to walk through the items in the order they are presented.

If any of this is of interest to you and you would like to speak further about the capabilities, please send an email.

Thanks for everybody that participated and supported this event.

Presentation Recording

Additional Questions

There were a few questions after we signed off.  I will do my best to answer them below.

Question: How can internal IT team support this solution? Does Huron train them on how to to write Groovy, change code in Groovy?  Demo shows only 3 cells were changed, how is performance if all products were changed? Doesn’t it hit MDX error limit anyways?  Does Oracle SR team support issues/bugs related to Groovy?

Answer: Most of our solutions are not maintained by IT, but by finance.  Huron certainly can train administrators on how to maintain the Groovy calculations.  As far as performance, I changed 75 products and it took 14 seconds to push the data from GP to the GP reporting application, and .4 seconds to synchronize it to the Fin cubes.  MDX isn’t used to do the synchronization so the MDX text limit is irrelevant.  Oracle does support the product and they support issues related to the API, which Groovy uses.  I have seen some issues resolved in weeks, and others that are still being addressed months later.

Question: What capabilities does the tool have to track changes to the budget?

Answer: PBCS, when turned on, has auditing at the cell level.  Every time data is changed, the user, date/time, old value, and new value are recorded.  At any point a user can look at that and see the change history.

Expanding On The Groovy Form Save Process

Additional Examples

Presentation PowerPoint

Conclusion

Thanks again.  I hope to do more of these in the future and will make sure  you are included in the invitation.

I have been selected to speak at the OVOAUG on February 16, 2018.  I have been there before, and it is a very nice group of people to engage with.  If you are in the area, or would like to hear more about how Groovy in PBCS can change the landscape of performance, user interaction, improvement of data input, and reduced user frustration, please go to http://ohio.communities.oaug.org/ and register.  I would love to see as many of you there as possible.

Here is the agenda.  It is going to be a functional overview, but we will touch on how to start writing Groovy, and if you show up, I will be more than happy to talk before and/or after the session.

Introduction

When an application is used to demonstrate sensitive information, a training class includes people that shouldn’t see live data, or security is being tested, often times using real data is not an option.  I have written PowerShell scripts and .NET applications to randomize data from Essbase exports, as well as Custom Defined Functions to randomize with calculations.  PBCS just made it much easier.  Using one EPMAutomate command all the data in all the applications can be randomized.  We don’t have the ability to control what is change, which would be a nice addition as I always excluded anything greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1 in an effort to exclude rates and things like a boolean true/false, or headcount.  But, the ability to do it in one command is mighty appreciated!

Masking Data in PBCS

In a recent update to EPM Automate, Oracle introduced a new method – maskData. It can’t get any easier to use.  Once you log in to EPM Automate, simply run maskData.

epmautomate maskData

When this is executed, it will ask you to confirm that you want to randomize the data in the application.  If you want to bypass the confirmation, add -f after maskData and it will force the command to run without confirmation.

Thank You Mr. Obvious

Be very careful using this!  Make sure you are logged on to test, and not production!

Reports out of Hyperion Planning are typically identified in 2 categories.

• Standard “canned” reports – These reports are used generically in a global aspect to report data in common formats and standardized views. These are often generated in volume and printed for presentations and executive review.
• Ad hoc reports – These reports are more flexible, often adjusted to explain current variances and market conditions. These reports are most likely generated by analysts and managers producing unique views to explain variances that exist at a point in time.  The need to alter, change, and customize these reports are essential to identify and explaining current business conditions.

Reporting from Hyperion Planning can be completed in 3 (debatably 4) ways.  Deciding which reports are developed, or produced, and in which delivery method, is critical to making the most of the reporting capabilities and development time available.

The recommended approach for reports that are distributed globally, need to have a consistent look and feel, and use standard hierarchies and financial definitions, is to build them in Hyperion Financial Reporting. This will enable users to execute the exact same report, with their specific point of view, and distribute it to anybody in the company.  It can also be mass distributed by email to thousands of users for their specific business ownership when data is finalized.  Reports can be grouped into books so users can easily run a set of reports for their line of business quickly and easily. Development of reports in HFR take a little longer are can be more time consuming to change, so selecting reports in this delivery method should be evaluated and considered carefully.

Reports that consistently change, are not required to be mass produced, or don’t require a defined format, are more commonly produced in SmartView/Excel.  This delivery method provides the ultimate flexibility in creativity and customization.  These reports can be rapidly produced and development and is cost effective.  These reports, although extremely flexible, require complete ownership on data validation by the users, as they don’t change automatically to the changes in the hierarchies of the application.  Developing reports in SmartView/Excel is extremely beneficial when the report changes rapidly and it supports the ability to quickly identify business variances and explain those variances to management.

The following matrix will help you identify the best reporting method for your environment.

If you use Smart View, you are familiar with the Smart View Shared Connection URL, which is unique to the environment that Smart View connects.  That property is saved in a file on your computer and has the default URL, as well as all the saves URLs in the drop-down list.

There are times users want this drop down cleaned up.  If the URL changes due to environment changes, or they enter the wrong URL and it is saved, the need to clean up what is in this setting can reduce confusion and user frustration.  Often, IT departments want to deploy these settings and need to understand how to make every user’s Smart View configuration the same.  Understanding where these settings are stored and how the file that stores them is configured will assistance with either of these requests.

The user’s computer will hold, or require a file if a new deployment of settings is the path IT takes, in the following folder.

<drive>:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Oracle\SmartView

The drive is almost always C, and the username is unique to every organization in the naming convention used.  If the user already has setup Smart View, a file named properties.xml exists.  This file can be edited in any text editor.  If you are familiar with XML files, you will see a typical XML structure.

The entire file is enclosed in a cfg tag, so it is opened with <cfg> and closed with </cfg>.  The current provider URL is within a provider tag.  All saves provider URLs are inside a previousURLList tag and separated by a pipe (|) delimiter.  So, the file is laid out like this.

<?xml version=”1.0″?>
<cfg>
<provider></provider>
<previousURLList>provider 1|provider 2|provider 3|…</previousURLList>
</cfg>

As a consultant, I have many providers saved, so the configuration.xml file on my system looks like a little busy.  The file will likely be smashed together and not easily readable.  Opened in a text editor:

<?xml version=”1.0″?><cfg><provider><overrideWorkspaceUrl>https://planning-test-a499161.pbcs.us6.oraclecloud.com/workspace/SmartViewProviders</overrideWorkspaceUrl><previousURLList>http://mp1epm01:19000/SmartViewProviders|http://mp1epm01:19000/workspace/|https://planning-a499161.pbcs.us6.oraclecloud.com/workspace/SmartViewProviders|https://planning-test-a499161.pbcs.us6.oraclecloud.com/workspace/SmartViewProviders|https://planning-test-a499161.pbcs.us2.oraclecloud.com/workspace/SmartViewProviders|https://planning-test-shiloh.pbcs.us2.oraclecloud.com/workspace/SmartViewProvidersx|http://mp1epm01.huronconsultinggroup.com:19000/workspace/SmartViewProviders|https://mp1epm01:19000/SmartViewProviders|https://mp1epm01.huronconsultinggroup.com:19000/aps/SmartView|https://mp1epm01.huronconsultinggroup.com:13080/SmartViewProviders</previousURLList><overrideUrl/></provider></cfg>

If this file is opened in an XML editor, or viewed in Internet Explorer, it will be more readable.

If old providers need to be removed, they can be deleted from this file and the user will see the change the next time Excel is started. If there is a need to distribute a pre-configured setup, build this file manually, or use an existing user’s file, and deploy it to all new users.

If you are a fan of the HSGetValue and HSSetValue, you probably are using a private connection. As you know, anybody that uses the template has to either change the connection string to their own predefined private connection, or set up a private connection with the same name. When dealing with inexperience users, both methods can be problematic.

You may be surprised to know that the Get and Set Value functions can use a shared connection. Rather than using the private connection name, the following can be specified to use a shared connection in place of the private connection name.

Private connection syntax:
HsGetValue(“PrivateConnectionName”,”POV”)
HsSetValue (dollar amount,”PrivateConnectionName”,”POV”)

Shared connection syntax:

HsGetValue(“WSFN|ProviderType|Server|Application|Database”,”POV”)
HsSetValue (dollar amount,”WSFN|ProviderType|Server|Application|Database”,”POV”)

Parameter Summary

• “WSFN” is a static string and never changes
• The provider type for planning is “HP” regardless of whether the server is a cloud server or on premise server
• The server specifies the location of the server housing the application. For PBCS, use the URL provided by Oracle (planning-test-domain.pbcs.us2.oraclecloud.com)
• The application is the application name
• The database is the plan type, or database name

Put that all together and the string looks like this.
WSFN|HP|planning-test-A12345.pbcs.us2.oraclecloud.com|Finance|Revenue

Conclusion

Although there are a few drawbacks to using a shared connection (users could use the wrong connection and not get the expected result), my experience has been that the pros (no setup of private connections, can be used in multiple environments without changing anything, etc.) far outweigh the cons.

Working with Jake Turrell always benefits me in many ways.  Jake found a fantastic way to minimize the effort it takes to create test accounts for testing and training Planning users.  You no longer have to create new multiple accounts.

“During the testing phase of most Planning implementations, developers need to create test user accounts.  I typically create at least one test user for each security group so I can verify that the correct access has been assigned.  With an on-premises Hyperion Planning implementation, this is easy – simply create user ID’s in the Shared Services native directory.  With PBCS, creating bulk test ID’s can be difficult, as each user ID requires a unique e-mail address.  If you need 50 test users, should you create 50 fake/temporary e-mail accounts?  Luckily the answer is no.”

Check out how here.

About Jake

Jake Turrell is a Hyperion Architect and Oracle Ace Associate with over 20 years of experience implementing Enterprise Performance Management solutions. Jake’s technology career began in the early 90’s as a Financial Systems intern at Dell in Austin, Texas, administering IMRS Micro Control (the DOS-based predecessor to Hyperion Enterprise). After working at Dell, Jake joined Ernst & Young’s Management Consulting practice where he worked with a variety of technologies. He later returned to the Hyperion world and joined a boutique Hyperion consulting firm in Dallas, Texas.
Jake has spent the last 17 years implementing Hyperion Planning and Essbase solutions for a variety of clients across multiple industries. Certified in both Hyperion Planning and Essbase, Jake holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

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.

Problem

Oracle has recommended settings for Internet Explorer (IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10 and IE11) when using Hyperion products.  I get this question a lot from my clients, so I thought I would share Oracles suggested settings.  Without changing these, there will be intermittent problems, and frustration points.

Solution

Configure browser to check for new version every time user visits a page

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > General
• In “Browsing history” section click on “Settings” button and then select “Every time I visit the webpage” option
• Click OK, then Apply.

Disable default pop-up blocking

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Privacy tab
• Uncheck “Turn on Pop-up Blocker”

Add Workspace URL to trusted sites

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Security tab
• Select “Trusted sites” from “Select a zone to view or change security settings” window, then click on “Sites” button.
• Type your workspace URL in form http://workspaceserver:portnumber in “Add this website to the zone”
• Uncheck “Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone”
• Click Add, then Close.
• Click OK and Apply.

Customize security settings

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Security tab
• Select “Trusted sites” from “Select a zone to view or change security settings” window
• Select zone containing your Oracle Hyperion servers and click on “Custom level…” button
• In “Miscellaneous” section enable options “Access data sources across domains” and “Allow script-initiated windows without size or position constraints”
• In “ActiveX controls and plug-ins” section enable “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins” and “Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting”.
• Click OK
• Click Apply, then OK

Enable option “Always allow session cookies”.

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Privacy Tab > Advanced. Check the “Override automatic cookie handling”, accept the first and third party cookies and check the “Always allow session cookies” option.

Only for SSL enabled environments: Disable option “Do not save Encrypted Pages to Disk”.

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Advanced Tab. In “Security” section uncheck the option “Do not save Encrypted Pages to Disk”.

Disable option “Enable Native XMLHTTP”. This setting is recommended only for customers using HFM 9.3.1 or older with IE 7. If you are using version 11.1.1.x of EPM products or newer, this option should be enabled.

• Open Internet Explorer
• Go to Tools > Internet options > Advanced Tab. In “Security” section uncheck the option “Enable Native XMLHTTP”.

Using Internet Explorer 9 Compatibility View option.

• Open Internet Explorer
• For 11.1.2.1.600 Planning and EPMA: Compatibility View should be enabled in Tools > Compatibility View Settings
• For EPM 11.1.2.2 products: Go to Tools > Compatibility View Settings. Make sure EPM Workspace URL is not enabled for Compatibility View and uncheck all available options at the bottom of the pop-up window.

For products using JRE Plugin (Web Analysis, Performance Scorecard, Administration Services) make sure that a compatible version of plugin is installed on the client machine.

• Check JRE Plugin certification for your EPM product in support matrix
• Check installed Java version in Control Panel > Java > General > About. If required update Java version to a supported release.
• Enable option “Always Auto-Download” in Control Panel > Java > Advanced > JRE Auto-Download=

Using Internet Explorer 11 Enterprise Mode. Limited support with EPM 11.1.2.2.500 and 11.1.2.3.500. For more information see Document 1920566.1.

• Open Internet Explorer > Tools
• Select Enterprise Mode. This option is visible only after enabling it in Windows Registry. See this Microsoft document for more details: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn640687.aspx