Attribute transaction logging

Attributes are a part of dimensions and are loaded and saved together with dimension elements.

When an attribute value is entered it is stored only in memory as long as the dimension is not saved. This is comparable to cell values in a cube that are only stored in memory as long as the cube is not saved.

All specified attribute values are also written to an attribute transaction log. Some operations do this atomically after the operation finished successfully. The name of the log file is <dimension name>.DRS. For example, PRODUCTS.DRS. It is used to restore attribute changes in case the Database Worker was unable to save the dimension before shutting down.

The behavior of attribute transaction files is very similar to the cubes' transaction files (.TRS):

  • When a dimension is loaded, the attribute values stored in the corresponding DRS file are loaded.
  • When new attribute values are entered they are immediately written to the DRS file.
  • After the dimension is successfully saved or released from memory the DRS file is deleted.