Previewing Hierarchies

You can preview the structure of a hierarchy while creating or editing a hierarchy and while creating or editing a cube schema.

You can also preview a hierarchy anytime from the Metadata Navigator.

To preview hierarchies:

Access the Sample Data window by performing an action:
- In the hierarchy editor, when creating or editing a hierarchy, click Preview.
- In the Choose Measures and Hierarchies page of the Cube Schema Wizard, click Preview Hierarchies.
- Right-click a hierarchy in the Metadata Navigator and select Preview Hierarchy.
- Select a hierarchy to preview by double-clicking it in the Metadata Navigator and, in the Hierarchy editor (a tab in the work area of the Essbase Studio Console) click Preview.
Choose a viewing option:
- With Caption Binding—displays the hierarchies using data derived from the caption binding expression of each dimension element in the hierarchy.
- With Key Binding—displays the hierarchies using data derived from the key binding expression of each dimension element in the hierarchy.
The Sample Data window is displayed.
For example, using the TBC sample database, in a simple Market hierarchy made up of these members:
- REGION, where the caption binding expression equals connection : \'tbcSource'::'tbc.region'.'REGION' . toString ; and key binding expression equals connection : \'tbcSource'::'tbc.region'.'REGIONID' . toString
- STATE, where the caption binding expression equals connection : \'tbcSource'::'tbc.market'.'STATE' . toString; and the key binding expression equals connection : \'tbcSource'::'tbc.market'.'STATEID' . toString
When you select the With Caption Binding option, the preview results are:
```
Market
  REGION=>STATE
    East
      New York
      Massachusetts
      Florida
      Connecticut
      New Hampshire
    West
      California
      Oregon
      etc.
```
When you select the With Key Binding option, the preview results are:
```
Market
  REGION=>STATE
    1
      1
      2
      3
      3
      5
    2
      6
      7
      etc.
```
Note:
When you select a Performance Management Architect hierarchy to preview, the Preview EPMA Dimension window is displayed where you will view the properties of individual members (see step 4).
If previewing hierarchies from the Choose Measures and Hierarchies page of the Cube Schema Wizard, perform these steps:
1. Click the tabs at the top of the Sample Data window to view a single hierarchy or all hierarchies in the cube schema.
2. When finished viewing the hierarchy sample, click OK to return to the Cube Schema Wizard.
If previewing a Performance Management Architect dimension, in the Preview EPMA Dimension window, take these actions:
1. Expand the hierarchy in the left frame.
2. Select a member in the hierarchy and view the properties listed in the Property Name and Property Value columns on the right.
3. Repeat step 4.b for each member whose properties you want to view.