Calculating and Analyzing Data

Typically, using the OLAP DML, you calculate and analyze data in the following ways:

• Perform common calculations using built-in functions that are described in detail in the Oracle9i OLAP DML Reference help.
• Aggregate (or roll up) data in variables that are dimensioned by one or more hierarchical dimensions as outlined in Chapter 12, "Aggregating Data".
• Allocate data to a variable from a source object based on the data of a base object as described in Chapter 9, "Allocating Data".
• Create populated solution variables using the MODEL object as described in Chapter 8, "Working with Models".
• Forecast data based on analysis of trends as described in the entries for the FCSET, FCOPEN, FCEXEC, FCCLOSE, and FCQUERY commands in the Oracle9i OLAP DML Reference help.

The OLAP DML provides built-in functions for numeric analysis. The categories of these functions are described below.

Category	Description
Numeric cell-by-cell	Operate on each cell of an expression or variable.
Time series	Retrieve values from a previous or future time period and perform calculations on those values.
Statistical	Perform calculations for statistical analysis.
Financial	Perform calculations for financial analysis.
Aggregation	Return an aggregate value, generally consisting of a single value for many values of the input expression.