Setting Aliases

The information about aliases and alias tables applies to block storage and aggregate storage databases.

An alias is an alternate name for a member or shared member. For example, members in the Product dimension in the Sample.Basic database are identified both by product codes, such as 100, and by more descriptive aliases, such as Cola. Aliases, stored in alias tables, can improve the readability of outlines or reports.

You can set multiple aliases for a member using alias tables. For example, you can use different aliases for different kinds of reports—users may be familiar with 100-10 as Cola, but advertisers and executives may be familiar with it as The Best Cola. This list shows products in the Sample.Basic database that have two descriptive alias names:

Product  Default              Long Names
100-10   Cola                 The Best Cola
100-20   Diet Cola            Diet Cola with Honey
100-30   Caffeine Free Cola   All the Cola, none of the Caffeine

Alias Tables

Aliases are stored in one or more tables as part of a database outline. An alias table maps a specific, named set of alias names to member names. When you create a database outline, Essbase creates an empty alias table named Default. If you do not create any other alias tables, the aliases that you create are stored in the Default alias table.

An alias table applies to all members in the outline, although you don't have to provide an alias name for every member unless you need it. You may use up to 56 alias tables if you require more than one name for any members in the outline. A common use of multiple alias tables is for language conversion. Users in different countries can set the appropriate alias table to read the outline in their language.

Creating Aliases

You can provide an alias for any member. Alias names must follow the same rules as member names. See Naming Conventions for Dimensions, Members, and Aliases.

You can use any of the following methods to create aliases in an existing alias table:

Manually assign an alias to a member while editing an outline.

To open the outline management interface, see Setting Dimension and Member Properties.
Use Cube Designer and an application workbook to create alias tables and to add aliases to alias tables.
Use dimension build and a data source to add aliases to an alias table.

Creating and Managing Alias Tables

Alias tables enable you to display different aliases.

Creating an Alias Table

An alias table contains a list of aliases to use for outline members. These requirements apply:

You can create up to 56 alias tables for a block storage or aggregate storage outline.
The naming conventions for alias table names are the same as those for dimensions.

See Naming Conventions for Dimensions, Members, and Aliases.
The name of the system-generated default alias table, which is Default, cannot be changed; however, the name of alias tables that you create can be changed.
(Optional.) You can specify multiple language codes for an alias table. When you create an alias table, a language code is not specified.

A new alias table is empty. To add aliases to an alias table and assign them to members, see Creating Aliases.

See these topics:

Setting an Alias Table as Active

The active alias table contains the aliases that Essbase currently displays in the outline.

To view a list of alias tables in the outline and to set the current alias table, you can use the MaxL statements query database get active alias_table and alter database set active alias_table .

Copying an Alias Table

To copy an alias table, the table must be persisted in the database directory.

You can copy alias tables using the alter object MaxL statement.

Renaming an Alias Table

You can rename an alias table using the alter object MaxL statement.

Clearing and Deleting Alias Tables

You can delete an alias table from the outline, or you can clear all the aliases from an alias table without deleting the alias table itself.

When you clear the aliases from an alias table, language codes associated with that alias table are removed.

You cannot delete or rename the default alias table. To manage alias tables, see Understand and Create Alias Tables. You can delete an alias table using the MaxL statement alter database unload alias_table.