Several optional products, designed to extend and enhance the scope of OLAP applications, can be addressed using the Essbase server. The following sections describe these products.
Essbase Spreadsheet Toolkit includes over 20 macro and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions that enable you to build customized Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 applications. The applications incorporate Essbase commands. Commands such as EssCascade, EssConnect, and EssDisconnect provide all of the functionality of their corresponding Essbase menu commands. For more information, see the Essbase Spreadsheet Add-in online help.
Essbase Partitioning option enables you to define areas of data that are shared or linked between data models. Partitioning can affect the performance and scalability of Essbase applications. Partitioning provides more effective response to organizational demands, reduced calculation time, increased reliability and availability, and incorporation of detail and dimensionality. For more information, see Accessing Linked Partitions.
Essbase SQL Interface enables access to PC and structured query language (SQL) relational databases by making the Essbase server operate as an open database connectivity client. Using Essbase SQL Interface, data can be moved easily from these diverse corporate data sources into the Essbase server for user access and analysis. For more information, see the Essbase SQL Interface Guide.
Essbase Application Programming Interface (API) enables application developers to create custom applications quickly by using standard tools while taking advantage of the robust data storage, retrieval, and manipulation capabilities of Essbase. Essbase API supports Visual Basic and C. For more information, see the API Reference.
Essbase Currency Conversion translates, analyzes, and reports on foreign financial data. Any exchange rate scenario can be modeled, and you can even perform ad hoc currency conversions of data directly from the spreadsheet. The Currency Conversion product is compliant with Financial Accounting Standards Board 52 (FASB52). For more information, see Working with Currency Conversions.
Essbase Integration Services works with Essbase, Microsoft Excel, and Lotus 1-2-3. Essbase Integration Services is a suite of tools and data integration services that serve as a bridge between relational data sources and the Essbase server. Integration Server drill-through is one of the tools of Essbase Integration Services. Using Integration Server drill-through, you can view and customize spreadsheet reports that display data retrieved from relational databases. For more information, see Using Drill-Through
Hyperion Objects are ActiveX controls that enable you to build application programs quickly and easily to access and manipulate data residing in Essbase servers. You can combine objects with other controls in a visual design environment to construct new programs.