📎 This article includes 1 downloadable practice file ↓
In this article
Essbase stores financial data in a cube: a multi-dimensional database built for fast analysis. Smart View is the Excel add-in that lets you query and update it from a spreadsheet.
Cubes, dimensions, members
| Dimension | Example members |
|---|---|
| Year / Period | FY27 › Q1 › Apr, May, Jun |
| Scenario | Actual, Budget, Forecast |
| Entity | Company › Region › Branch |
| Account | Revenue, COGS, Opex… |
| Product / Market | Product lines, regions |
Every number in the cube sits at one member of every dimension, for example Actual, Apr FY27, Delhi branch, Revenue. Higher levels (Q1, North region, Total) are rolled up automatically.
Where Smart View fits
Smart View connects Excel to Essbase, Oracle EPM Cloud (Planning, Financial Consolidation) and some other Oracle sources. You pull data into a grid, slice it, and in planning apps submit data back.
More: Essbase explained.
Examples use a sample Essbase application (Sample.Basic-style dimensions). Connection URLs, applications and member names differ in every company.
Practice
Do the checklist for a cube you have access to.
📎 Practice files for this article
- 📄Lesson 1 checklistStep-by-step exercises for this lesson.⬇ TXT · 286 B
Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.
Stuck on a step? Ask a question and the AI answers using this article.