Last year I presented an in-depth overview on PowerShell and how it can be utilized in the Hyperion environment. I have been asked many times to share it. Read more
Tag Archive for: epbcs
Introduction
When moving data in PBCS with Data Maps or Smart Pushes, they have limits on how much data can be moved. The amount of data can be seen in the logs, and look something like this. Read more
Introduction
Data Map Error:
Push Data failed. Error: Exported data size of data map that is being executed from groovy is more than permissible amount: 100 MB.
If you are confused, join the club. The results are inconsistent as some data pushes are successful that are over the 100MB limit. So, why the following error? Read more
Introduction
Accessing Substitution Variables is critical in most calculations, and accessing them in Groovy is a little more complex than it needs to be with not having an API to get them. Since the SubstitutionVariable is not available, there are a couple ways to get them. The precursor to this post is three-fold.
- Read the Bug Report: Groovy SubstitutionVariable Class Not Functioning post on Jan 8, 2018 regarding the SubstitutionVariable class availability.
- Thanks to Abhi for providing a great alternative.
- It may be helpful to read Adventures in Groovy Part 4: Run Time Prompts to understand how to access RTPs in a Groovy calculation.
In my bug report above, I suggested grabbing them via a hidden column or row from a form. A reader suggested a another way to do this, and I think it is a better way to accomplish it. Rather than grabbing the substitution variable by adding it to the form and hiding the column/row from the user, Abhi provided a much cleaner approach to working around not having access to the SubstitutionVariable class by using hidden RTPs.
Create Run Time Prompts to Access Substitution Variables
Assume the following 3 variables are required in business rules. Create a new RTP for each. The naming convention is irrelevant, but should be considered and be consistent for easy reference in the business rules. In this read, I have assumed there isn’t an existing RTP with the defaults set to a substitution variable. Even if there is, it might be beneficial to create ones specifically for this need so future changes don’t impact the values.
Name: subVar_CurMonth
Type: Member
Dimension: Period
Default Value: &v_CurMonth
RTP Text: N/A
Name: subVar_CurYear
Type: Member
Dimension: Period
Default Value: &v_CurYear
RTP Text: N/A
Name: subVar_BudYear
Type: Member
Dimension: Period
Default Value: &v_BudYear
RTP Text: N/A
Business Rule Inclusion
Inside the business rule, the following convention is required to add the variables.
/*RTPS: {subVar_CurMonth subVar_CurYear subVar_BudYear}*/
Set all the RTPs in the Variables tab to set to hidden so the user isn’t prompted for these. Now, the substitution variables can be referenced.
def varCurMonth = rtps.subVar_CurMonth.toString() def varCurYear = rtps.subVar_CurYear.toString() def varBudYear = rtps.subVar_BudYear.toString()
Conclusion
Since these are likely to be used in many rules, it would be beneficial to add these to a script and embed that script into the rules that need to access these. Any new variable that needs to be included can be added to the script, and all the business rules would then have access to them. There are a number of ways to do this with Groovy calculations, but the simplest way is to embed it like a non Groovy business rule. This can be dragged from the left pane, or entered manually. The syntax is
%Script(name:="script name",application:="application Name",plantype:="plantype name"
If and when Oracle releases the class that provides direct access to sub vars, expect it to be documented here.
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. Read more
Introduction
Groovy provides a very easy way to interact with the user via run time prompts, or RTPs. These can be linked to dimensions, members, and input. One of the huge benefits of getting RTPs in Groovy is that the result can be validated, and the calculation can be cancelled if they don’t validate (we will touch on this in a future post).
The Solution
This is one of the easier things to do with a Groovy calculation. There are two things required. First, the Groovy calculation must prompt the user to select a value. This is done by doing the following.
/*RTPS: {RTP_Consolidate_Data}*/
At any point in the script after the above, the value can be used. If it is going to be used multiple times, it might be easier to set a variable. Regardless of the approach, the value can be referenced using the rtps object as follows.
String sRTP sRTP = rtps.RTP_Consolidate_Data.toString()
That is all that is required!
Conclusion
Beyond the obvious uses of an RTP, I have started using these for a number of other reasons.
- On global forms where multiple values may be changed throughout a short period of time and execute long running calculations, like allocations, I have seen benefits of prompting a user with a yes/no smartlist RTP. If the user has more changes, they may not need to execute the calculation after every save. This gives them the option.
- If there is a requirement where some prompts are dependent on other prompts, using RTPs in Groovy gives you the flexibility to validate the combination. For example, if an employee is set to hourly with a VP title, the prompts can be validated and returned to the user as invalid combinations before the prompts are removed from user view.
Introduction
With the introduction of Groovy Calculations this summer, one of the things I use most, especially for applications with data forms that include a large sparse dimension in the rows with suppression on, is the option to loop through cells and identify only the POV on the cells that have changed. Read more
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.
Introduction
We all know the Data Form validation rules are serviceable, but they are not robust. When Smart View advanced and forms were opened in Excel, the validation logic developers had in JavaScript became useless. Since then, we have really missed the ability to communicate with the user interactively with visual cues and validation rules that halted the saving of data. Well, Groovy calculations to the rescue! Read more
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. Read more