In Essbase, a substitution variable acts as a dynamic filter. Substitution variables are defined on the server using Essbase Application Manager. Your administrator names the substitution variable and set its value equal to a user-defined parameter. For example, a variable might be named Latest Period and have its value set to equal November. When the latest period ends, the variable’s value could be reset to December, and so on.
An advantage of this type of variable is that saved queries capture the variable’s name instead of hard coding the actual value. Each time the query is run, different data could be returned if the variable’s value has been changed on the server.
To apply a substitution variable:
Click Substitution Variable in the Operator Type drop-down list.
The Filter dialog box retrieves all available variables in the Substitution Variables list.
Move the member(s) to the Applied Filters list and click OK.
You can also double-click the member to add it to the Applied Filters list.
In the Members field, select the member(s) to use as a variable filter.
Move the member(s) to the Applied Filters list and click OK.