@MOVMIN

The @MOVMIN calculation function for Essbase applies a moving n-term minimum (lowest number) to an input data set. @MOVMIN modifies a data set for smoothing purposes.

Each term in the list is replaced by a trailing minimum of n terms, and the first terms (the n-1 terms) are copies of the input data.

Syntax

@MOVMIN (mbrName [, n [, XrangeList]])

Parameters

mbrName: Any valid single member name, or a function that returns a single member.
n: Optional. A positive integer value that represents the number of values that are used to calculate the moving minimum. The default is 3.
XrangeList: Optional. A valid member name, a comma-delimited list of member names, cross dimension members, or a member set function or range function (including @XRANGE) that returns a list of members from the same dimension. If XrangeList is not specified, Essbase uses the level 0 members from the dimension tagged as Time.

Notes

While calculating the moving minimum, @MOVMIN skips #MISSING values. For example, if one value out of four is #MISSING, @MOVMIN calculates the minimum of the remaining three values.

This function calculates a trailing, rather than a centered, minimum. For example:

Trailing Minimum       Centered Minimum
    1   2   3              1   2   3
            1                  1

If you use a member set function to generate a member list for the XrangeList parameter (for example, @SIBLINGS), to ensure correct results, consider the order in which Essbase sorts the generated member list. For more information, see the help topic for the member set function you are using.
When you use @MOVMIN in a calculation script, use it within a FIX statement. Although FIX is not required, using it may improve calculation performance.
When you use @MOVMIN across a large range in a sparse dimension, you may need to increase the size of the calculator cache.

Example

The following example is based on the Sample Basic database. Assume that the Measures dimension contains an additional member, Mov Min.

"Mov Min" = @MOVMIN(Sales,3,Jan:Jun);

In this example, the @MOVMIN function smoothes sales data for the first six months of the year (Jan through Jun). The results of @MOVMIN can be used with the @TREND to forecast minimum sales data for the holiday season (for example, October - December).

This example produces the following report:

            Colas     New York    Actual
                Sales       Mov Min     
                =====       =======
Jan              678          678       
Feb              645          645       
Mar              675          645       
Apr              712          645       
May              756          675       
Jun              890          712

In this example, Essbase uses three values at a time to calculate the moving minimum. The first two values (Jan,Feb) for Mov Min and the first two values for Sales are the same. The value for Mar represents the trailing minimum of Jan, Feb, and Mar. The value for Apr represents the trailing minimum of Feb, Mar, and Apr. The remaining values represent the trailing minimum for each group of three values.