Understanding Recursive System Resolution

The analytic calculation engine resolves recursive systems immediately without using the process of iteration.

To understand the process of how the analytic calculation engine determines and resolves recursive systems, consider the following formula for the SALES data cube:

PREVSELF(MONTHS) + SALES_GROWTH

The analytic calculation engine determines that this is a recursive system by performing the following steps:

  1. The analytic calculation engine determines that this is a circular formula because the PREVSELF built-in function, which refers to the SALES data cube, exists within the formula.

  2. The analytic calculation engine analyzes the calculation conditions of the cells within this formula and determines that these cells create a recursive system, because the cells within this formula are not dependent on the values of those same cells.

The analytic engine then resolves this recursive system immediately without iteration.