Types of element
The four types of element are:
- Base elements
- Consolidated elements
- Rule elements
- Strings
- Base elements
- T hese are at the lowest level of the dimension hierarchy, that is, they have no children. In a cube, physical data is stored in cube cell addresses that are made up of only base elements. A cube cell that contains one or more consolidated or rules elements in its cell address, is a calculated cell and cannot store an item of data. The values of these cells are calculated from data in base cells.
- Consolidated elements
- These are used to create the dimension hierarchy. A consolidated element is a parent, containing other children (base, consolidated or rules elements) as its components. The sum of these elements is the value of the consolidated element. You cannot enter data into a cube cell which contains a consolidated element in its address.
- Rule elements
- Like consolidated elements, rules elements are calculated elements. However, they can perform more complex operations on their components than simple addition. Any cube cell that has a rules element in its address, calculates its value. You cannot enter data into a cube cell which contains a rules element in its address.
- Strings
- Strings are used to define cube cells that will contain strings rather than numbers. Any cube cell that has a string in its cell address is defined as a string cell. String cells are added up in any consolidation or calculation paths. It is therefore possible to enter data into a cell that has a string and one or more consolidated or rules elements in its cell address.