Inserting a formula

The Period and Product dimensions provide the x and y axes of the Tutorial1 report. To populate the report with data, we insert an OLAP formula into the data cell in cell C11, which is shared by both hyperblocks.

  1. Open the Tutorial1 report.
  2. In Design mode, click cell C11.
  3. Click the Edit OLAP Formula button in the Objects toolbar.
    The Objects toolbar is a vertical toolbar at the left of the report.
  4. Select Cell values as the formula type.
  5. Select the BestPracticesOLAP database alias.
    Note: The term Database Alias is used only in the Application Studio client application. Elsewhere, the term Data Connection is used.
  6. Select the ANALYSIS cube.
    In the Hierarchy column of the Data Area, Formula is displayed in place of the Period and Product hierarchies. The Selection column displays the cell references of the hyperblocks to which the Period and Product dimensions are linked.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Save the report.
  9. Select View > Report Mode > View, or click the View button on the toolbar
    You can expand the Product dimension vertically and the Period dimension horizontally. You can drill down the data from All Tires to a single make of tire in a single quarter or month of a selected year.
  10. Return to Design mode.
The Formula Editor at the top of the worksheet displays the formula when you click the value in C11. In this case we have created a CELLGET formula.

A feature of CELLGET is that it does not require explicit references to all the dimensions of the cube. The default element of any dimension that is not directly referenced is used. The formula in C11 returns the actual value in respect of all channels, all points of sale, and all regions, although it explicitly references only the Product and Period dimensions.