Major Allocation Rule Types

Allocation rules move data from one or more sources to targets. Allocation rules spread data based on an allocation driver; they determine the flow of allocated data and allocation amounts. They have a defined source and destination with options for defining a driver basis and accounting offset.

The allocation relationships in each rule impact the methods that Profitability and Cost Management uses to construct calculation logic and how the Oracle Essbase engine executes it. Not all rule types are equal in terms of performance. The major allocation rule types in order of performance (best performing first) are as follows:

  • Simple Dimension Extension (SDE)
  • Complex Dimension Extension (CDE)
  • Simple Reclassification (SR)
  • Complex Reclassification (CR)
  • Same as Source, Different Dimension (SAD)

Allocation Rule Types and Options

The following table identifies allocation rules in order of performance, It identifies the member selection options allowed for each rule type.

Generally, to comply with the requirements of each rule type, you must abide by certain conditions while selecting the source, destination, and driver options as listed in the following table. For example, for SDE rule type, source selection can be one level 0 member or any other member. If the source is a level 0 member for an SDE rule type, the destination can be one of the following:

  • A level 0 member
  • Any other member if no Driver selection is made for that dimension

If the source of an SDE rule type is any member other than a level 0 member, condition for source dimension selection requires that the destination property be set to Same As Source. Consider this SDE rule definition where Source is Currency (USD): The destination must be set as Same As Source(Currency) so that the source currency is used in the destination.

Table 4-1 Allocation Rule Type and Allowed Member Selection Options

  Member Selection Options Allowed for each Rule Type
Rule Type Source Dimensions Destination Dimensions Driver Dimensions
Simple Dimension Extension
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection if the Destination Dimension is Same as Source for the same dimension
  • At least one Same as Source
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection if no Driver selection made for same dimension
  • Allocate evenly
  • Specified Driver Location is a Level 0 Tuple
Complex Dimension Extension
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection if the Destination Dimension is Same as Source for the same dimension
  • At least one Same as Source
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection
  • Allocate evenly
  • Specified Driver Location is a Level 0 Tuple
  • Specified Driver Location is not a Level 0 Tuple
Simple Reclassification
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection
  • Same as Source
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection of no Driver selection made for the same dimension
  • Allocate evenly
  • Specified Driver Location is a Level 0 Tuple
Complex Reclassification
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection
  • Same as Source
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection
  • Allocate evenly
  • Specified Driver Location is a Level 0 Tuple
  • Specified Driver Location is not a Level 0 Tuple
Same as Source, Different Dimension
  • A single level 0 member
  • Any other member selection
  • Same as Source
  • Same as Source, Different Dimension
  • Any other member selection
  • Allocate evenly
  • Specified Driver Location is a Level 0 Tuple
  • Specified Driver Location is not a Level 0 Tuple