HFM,ESSBASE& Planning Interview Questions & Answers

Q1.What is Hyperion?

                Hyperion is a database that allows you to access the data very quickly. The company was bought by Oracle in 2007 and Oracle has continued to improve the product.

                The Fancy name of Hyperion is Business Intelligence and it aims to support better business decision-making. Thus a BI system can be called a decision support system (DSS). Though the term business intelligence is sometimes used as a synonym for competitive intelligence, because they both support decision making, BI Uses technologies, processes, and application to analyze mostly internal, structured data and business processes while competitive intelligence gathers, analyzes and disseminates information with a topical focus on company competitors.

Q2.What is Hyperion Planning?

                Hyperion Planning is a budgeting and forecasting application from Oracle formerly owned by Hyperion Solutions Corporation. Hyperion Planning uses Essbase (s multidimensional database product sold by Hyperion) as a database and calculation engine, a relational repository for business logic, and includes a web-based user interface.

                The Software allows you to add planning or forecast data to actuals. You can use Web Forms to add the planning data or use the Excel SmartView tool. Most of the Hyperion reporting tools work great with planning.

Q3.What is Oracle Hyperion Financial Management (HFM)?

                Oracle Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) is a comprehensive Web-based application that delivers global financial consolidation, reporting and analysis in a single, highly scalable software solution.

                Oracle  Hyperion Financial Management, part of the Oracle EPM Suite, supports the collection, consolidation and reporting of financial results in multiple GAAPs as well as IFRS, and the reconciliation of differences among the various standards. Hyperion Financial Management can be deployed quickly to integrate data from multiple Oracle and non-Oracle transactional  systems, provide top-side reporting that conforms to IFRS requirements, and help organizations make the transition to IFRS.

Q4.Mention the main Features in Hyperion Planning v11.1.2.3?

                The latest release of Oracle Hyperion Planning, v11.1.2.3, offers new key features for users and administrators, including ASO support within Planning, more flexibility to import and export metadata, and task list report visualizations. MijaDeering, Principal Solutions Manager at Edgewater Ranzal, provides an overview of these and other features of the newest Planning release. Her presentation also includes a live demo of key features and an opportunity for viewers to ask questions and better understand the product’s enhancements.

Oracle Hyperion Planning is a centralized, Microsoft Office and Web-based planning, budgeting and forecasting solution that integrates financial and operational planning processes and improves business predictability.  It allows organizations to reduce planning, budgeting, and forecasting cycles by weeks or months and improve accuracy of plans and forecasts.  Microsoft Office products are used as an interface into Oracle Hyperion Planning, so the learning curve for users is minimized, and Planning speeds up the time it takes to update plans and refresh reports.  The cost of ownership is reduced through superior application deployment, management tools, and packaged data integration.

Q5. What are the different types of LOG Files?

Ans: So many log files are there in essbase, but the important log files are

1. Application log

2. Essbase.log

3. Configtool.log

4. eas_install.log

5. essbaseserver-install.log

Q6. Suppose we have assigned Generation 2 and Generation 4 as of now and think of adding generation 3 later some time. Can we build the dimension?

Ans: No. If gen 2 and gen 4 exists, we must assign gen 3.

Q7. What are attributes?

Ans: A classification of a member in a dimension. You can select and group members based on their associated attributes. You can also specify an attribute when you perform calculations and use calculation functions. Eg: The database in Sample Basic which has product dimension has some attributes like size, package type, and flavor. We can add these attributes to the dimensions where we can retrieve the data like for example to retrieve “coke with 8 Oz with bottles”, this is useful for generating reports.

Q8. Why do objects gets locked and when does this happens?

Ans: Objects gets locked to prevent users to make simultaneous and conflicting changes to Essbase database objects. By default whenever an object is accessed through Aministrative services console or Excel spreadsheet add-in, it gets locked.

Q9. What is the difference between UDA’s and Attribute dimensions?

Ans : Attribute dimensions provides more flexibility than UDA’s. Attribute calculations dimensions which include five members with the default names sum, count, min, max and avg are automatically created for the attribute dimensions and are calculate dynamically.

Q10. How does Attribute dimensions and UDA’s impact batch calculation performance?

Ans: UDA’s- No Impact as they do not perform any inherent calculations.

Attribute dim- No Impact as they perform only dynamic calculations.

Q11. What are different types of attributes?

Ans: Essbase supports two different types of attributes.

1. User-Defined attributes

2. Simple attributes

User-Defined attributes: The attributes that are defined by the user.

Simple attributes: Essbase supports some attributes, they are: Boolean, date, number, and string.

Q12. What are filters?

Ans: A method of controlling access to database cells in essbase. A filter is the most detailed level of security, allowing you to define varying access levels different users can have to individual database values.

Q13. What is TB First and TB Last?

Ans: TB First: in the Sample.Basic database, the accounts member Opening Inventory is tagged as TB First. Opening Inventory consolidates the value of the first month in each quarter and uses that value for that month’s parent. For example, the value for Qtr1 is the same as the value for Jan.

TB Last: in the Sample.Basic database, the accounts member Ending Inventory is tagged as TB Last. Ending Inventory consolidates the value for the last month in each quarter and uses that value for that month’s parent. For example, the value for Qtr1 is the same as the value for Mar.

Q14. How can we display UDA’s in reports? How do they impact report performance?

Ans: UDA’s values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance.

Q15. How does Attribute dim impact report performance?

Ans: They highly impact the report performance as the attributes are calculated dynamically when referenced in the report. For very large number of att dim displayed in the report, the performance could drastically reduce.

Q16. While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome?

Ans: The record will be rejected.

Q17. How is data stored in the Essbase database?

Ans: Essbase is an file based database where the data is stored in PAG files of 2 GB each and grows sequentially.

Q18.What do you mean by a custom defined function?

Answer : Essbase calculation functions that you develop in the Java programming language and then add to the standard Essbase calculation scripting language by means of MaxL.

Q19.Can we have multiple databases in one single application?

Answer : Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

Q20.Can we have one ASO database and one BSO database in one single application. If yes, how and If No, why?

Answer : No. Because we define ASO or BSO option while creating the appication and not database. Hence if the application is ASO, the databases it contains will be that type only.

Q21.What is an alternative to create metaoutline, rule file and load data.?

Answer : Integration services and in version 11, we have Essbase studio.

Q22.What do you mean by a data file cache?

Answer : A buffer in memory that holds compressed data (.PAG) files.

Q23.What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file and a calc script.

Answer : OTL, .RUL and .CSC

Q24.What is the role of provider services?

Answer : To communicate between Essbase and Microsoft office tools.

Q25.We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-unicode mode.

Answer : No.

Q26.Can we start and stop an application individually. How ca this be used to increase performance?

Answer : Yes. We can manage our server resources by starting only the applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an application is started, all associated databases are brought to the memory.

Q27.How can I migrate an application from my test environment to the production environment. Can I still do this if my test environment is a windows one and my production env is UNIX one. Also can I still do it if my test env and prod env versions are different?

Answer : Hyperion Administrative services console provides a migration utility to do this but onluy the application, database objects are migrated and no data is transferred. the answers to other two questions are Yes.

Q28.What is custom based macro?

Answer : Essbase macros that we write with Essbase calculator functions and special macro functions. Custom-defined macros use an internal Essbase macro language that enables you to combine calculation function and operate on multiple input parameters.

Q29.A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same server. Can he do that?

Answer : Yes. We can have multiple instances of an Essbase server on a single machine and there will be different sets of windows services for all these instances.

Q30.Suppose I have a dimension A with members B and C and I do not want B and C to roll up to A. how can I do this?

Answer : Using (~) exclude from consolidation operator.

Q31.What does never consolidate operator(^) do?

Answer : It prevents members from being consolidate across any dimension.

Q32.What do you mean by dirty block?

Answer : A data block containing cells that have been changed since the last calculation. Upper level blocks are marked as dirty if their child blocks are dirty (that is, have been updated)

Q33.When do we generally use build rules files?

Answer : To automate the process of creating dimensions with more members, where it will take a lot of time in creating manually.

Q34.Can we have multiple meta outlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services?

Ans: Yes

Q35.What are LRO's( Linked Reporting Objects)?

Ans: They are specific objects like files, cell notes or URL's associated with specific data cells of Essbase database. You can link multiple objects to a single data cell. These linked objects are stored in the server. These LRO's can be exported or imported with the database for backup and migration activities.

Q36.Can we create UDA’s and apply it to Dense as well as Sparse dimensions?

Ans:

Q37.Types of Partitions available in Essbase?

Ans: Three types of partitions are there.

1. Transparent partition: A form of shared partition that provides the ability to access and manipulate remote data transparently as though it is part of your local database. The remote data is retrieved from the data source each time you request it. Any updates made to the data are written back to the data source and become immediately accessible to both local data target users and transparent data source users

2. Replicated Partition:

3. Linked Partition:

Q38.What is hybrid analysis?

Ans: Lower level members and associated data remains in relational database where as upper level members and associated data resides in Essbase database

Q39.Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them?

Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results.

Q40.On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parellel calculation method.

Ans: If we have a single processor, we will use serial calculation but if we have multiple processors we can break the task into threads and make them run on different processors.

Q41.How can you display UDA’s in reports?

Ans: UDA's values are never displayed in the reports and hence do not impact report performance.

Q42.What are the specified roles other than Aministrator to view sessions, disconnect sessions or kill users requests for a particular application?

Ans: You should have the role of Application manager for the specified application.

Q43.What is block locking system?

Ans: Analytic services(or Essbase Services) locks the block and all other blocks which contain the childs of that block while calculating this block is block locking system.

Q44.What are the three options specified in Username and Password management under security tab in Essbase server proprties.

Ans: 1. Login attempts allowed before username is disabled.

2. Number of inactive days before username is diabled.

3. Number of days before user must change password.

Q45.Can we have multiple databases in one single application?

Ans: Yes. But only one database per application is recommended.

Depend on which database that you are going to create. For Example: If you are creating ASO then we can’t create more that 1 db per application. If you are creating BSO then you can create more than 1 db per application

Q46.Dynamic calc decreases the retreival time and increases batch database calculation time. How true is the statement?

Ans: The statement should be just opposite. As dynamic calc members are calculated when requested, the retreival time should increase.

Q47.Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation?Being less efficient, why do we use them?

Ans: In the process it calculates more blocks than is necessary. Sometimes it is necessary to perform top-down calculation to get the correct calculation results.

List of top 50 hyperion interview questions.
1.  What are the two storage options available in Essbase and what are the differences?
2.  Can we build dimensions directly from data sources without using rule files.
3.  When do we generally use build rules files?
4.  What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions?
5.  In what case we can define generation 1 to a field in generation build method.
6.  Suppose we have assigned Generation 2 and Generation 4 as of now and think of adding generation 3 later some time. Can we build the dimension.
7.  Can we create more than 2 dimensions using only one build rule file.
8.  Can we query a member for its UDA in a calculation script.
9.  How does UDA's impact database size?
10. What is the difference between UDA's and Attribute dimensions?
11. How does Attribute dimensions and UDA's impact batch calculation performance?
12. How can we display UDA's in reports? How do they impact report report performance.
13. How does Attribute dim impact report performance?
14. While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome.
15. How is data stored in the Essbase database?
16. Can we have multiple databases in one single application?
17. Can we have one ASO database and one BSO database in one single application. If yes, how and If No, why.
18. What are the file extensions for an outline, rule file and a calc script.
19. What is the role of provider services.
20. What is an alternative to create meta outline, rule file and load data.
21. Can we start and stop an application individually. How can this be used to increase performance.
22. We have created an application as unicode mode. Can we change it later to non-unicode mode.
23. How can I migrate an application from my test environment to the production environment. Can I still do this if my test environment is a windows one and my production env is UNIX one. Also can I still do it if my test env and prod env versions are different.
24. A customer wants to run two instances of an Essbase server on a same machine to have both test env and Development env on the same server. Can he do that?
25. suppose I have a dimension A with members B and C and I do not want B and C to roll up to A. how can I do this.
26. What does never consolidate operator (^) do?
27. Can we have multiple meta outlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services?
28. Can we have an meta outline based on two different OLAP models.
29. What is hybrid analysis?
30. Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation? Being less efficient, why do we use them.
31. What is block locking system?
32. What are the types of partitioning options available in Essbase?
33. Dynamic calc decreases the retrieval time and increases batch database calculation time. How true is the statement?
34. A customer has a cube with 13 dimensions and the performance was fine. Now they have added two more dimensions in the existing cube and the performance becomes very slow. Customer said logically nothing wrong with the two new dimensions they have added. What could be the reason for slow down.
35. Can we have multiple meta outlines based on one OLAP model in Integration services?
36. What are LRO's( Linked Reporting Objects)?
37. What are the three primary build methods for building dimensions?
38. How does UDA's impact database size?
39. Can we have an meta outline based on two different OLAP models.
40. Can we create UDA’s and apply it to Dense as well as Sparse dimensions?
41. Types of Partitions available in Essbase?
44. What is hybrid analysis?
45. Why top-down calculation less efficient than a bottom-up calculation? Being less efficient, why do we use them.
46. On what basis you will decide to invoke a serial or parallel calculation method.
47. How can you display UDA’s in reports?
48. While loading the data, you have applied both the selection criteria as well as rejection criteria to a same record. What will be the outcome?
49. What are the specified roles other than Administrator to view sessions, disconnect sessions or kill users requests for a particular application?
50. What is block locking system?

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