Create User-Defined Attributes

You can create, assign, and unassign user-defined attributes (UDAs) in Essbase block storage (BSO) databases. A UDA is a descriptor you can use to filter data retrievals. For example, you might create a UDA called Major Market and assign it to all members that are part of a major market.

Like attributes, UDAs help you filter data retrievals based on characteristics. Unlike attributes, UDAs have no built-in calculation functionality. However, UDAs can be assigned to dense and sparse dimensions, whereas attributes can be assigned to only sparse dimensions. Also, a UDA can be assigned to any level or generation in a BSO dimension.

• Redwood
• Classic

1. On the Home page, navigate to the application, and select the Actions menu .
2. Choose Databases > Database Name > Launch Outline.

3. If the outline is locked, and you are an administrator, click Unlock .

   Before you forcefully unlock a locked outline, make sure that no one else is working with it.

4. If the outline is not already in edit mode, click Edit .

5. Highlight a member to which you would like to assign a UDA.

6. Right click the member and select Inspect.

7. Click User-defined Attributes.

8. In the User-defined Attributes field, enter a UDA name and press the Enter key.

9. Click Apply and Close to create the UDA for the dimension and assign the new UDA to the member.

10. Click Save to save the outline.

1. On the Applications page, expand the application.
2. Click the Actions menu to the right of the cube name and select Outline.
3. If the outline is not already in edit mode, click Edit.
4. Highlight a member to which you would like to assign a UDA.
5. Right click the member and select Inspect.
6. Click the User-defined Attributes tab.
7. In the User-defined Attributes field, enter a UDA name and press the Enter key.
8. Click Apply and Close to create the UDA for the dimension and assign the new UDA to the member.
9. Click Save to save the outline.