Time Series Analysis using a View dimension

Content

Over the past few months several posters have asked about calculating and reporting on time series values such as YTD, QTD, Trailing 12 months.

The EPM Planning and Close business processes have this built into the Essbase outline as they use the block storage outline (BSO) Essbase databases.  Since PCM uses aggregate storage outline (ASO) databases that do not include this capability built into a time dimension you need to build it into your dimensions yourself.

To help understand this and to boost use of time series reporting in PCM I have provided a sample application that uses the Period dimension to compute XTDs and a View dimension to simplify reporting as well as compute additional tine related values like trailing X months values.