User Role

If your user role in Essbase is User with no application permissions, you can use the Files catalog (specifically, the shared, users, and gallery folders), download desktop tools from the Console, and explore the Academy to learn more about Essbase.

You must be granted additional access to applications by Power Users or Service Administrators. Applications are structures that contain one or more cubes, also known as databases. You can see only applications and cubes for which you have been granted application permissions.

You can have a unique application permission for each application on the server. Application permissions, from least privileged to highest, are:

Database Access Permission

If your user role in Essbase is User and you have Database Access permission for a particular application, you can view data and metadata in the cubes within the application.

Your ability to view data and metadata may be limited in areas that are restricted by filters. You may be able to update values in some or all areas of the cube, if someone has granted you write access using a filter. You can use drill through reports, if any exist, to access sources of data outside the cube, as long as a filter does not restrict your access to the cells within the drillable region.

With Database Access permission, you can also view the cube outline, and download files and artifacts from the application and cube directories. Job types you can run include building aggregations (if the cube is an aggregate storage cube), and running MDX scripts. Using the Console, you can view database size and monitor your own sessions.

If you are a scenario participant, you can view base data as well as scenario changes, and if you are a scenario approver, you can approve or reject the scenario.

Database Update Permission

If your user role in Essbase is User and you have Database Update permission for a particular application, you can make updates to the cubes within the application.

With Database Update permission for a particular application, you can do everything that a user with Database Access permission can do. Jobs you can run include loading, updating, and clearing data in the cube. You can export the cube data to tabular format. You can run any calculation scripts that you have been granted permission to execute. You can create, manage, and delete your own scenarios in block storage cubes that are enabled for scenario management.

Database Manager Permission

If your user role in Essbase is User and you have Database Manager permission for a particular application, you can manage the cubes within the application.

With Database Manager permission for an application, you can do everything that a user with Database Update permission can do. Additionally, you can upload files to the cube directory, edit the cube outline, export the cube to an application workbook, and start/stop the cube using the web interface. Job types you can run include building dimensions, exporting data, and exporting the cube to a workbook.

As a Database Manager, you also have access to the database inspector, which gives you control of even more cube operations. To open the database inspector from the web interface, start with the Applications page, and expand the application. From the Actions menu to the right of the name of the cube you want to manage, click Inspect to launch the inspector.

Using the database inspector, you can:

  • Enable scenarios or change the number of scenarios allowed
  • Manage dimensions, including generation and level names
  • Access and manage files related to the database
  • Create and edit calculation scripts, drill through reports, MaxL scripts, MDX scripts, report scripts, and rules files for dimension building and data loading
  • Assign users permissions to execute calculation scripts
  • Create and assign filters to grant or restrict data access for specific users and groups. You can assign filters, for your cube, to any users or groups who are already provisioned to use the application (an Application Manager or higher must provision users).
  • Manage cube-level substitution variables
  • View locked cube objects and data blocks
  • View and change database settings
  • View database statistics
  • View and export audit records from the web interface

Application Manager Permission

If your user role in Essbase is User and you have Application Manager permission for a particular application, you can manage the application and cubes.

With Application Manager permission for a particular application, you can do everything that a user with Database Manager permission can do, for all cubes in the application. Additionally, you can make copies of any cubes within the application. You can copy or delete the application if you are the owner (the power user who created it), and you can delete any of the cubes in the application, if you are the cube owner (the power user who created it). You can start/stop the application using the web interface, and you can view and terminate user sessions in the Console. Job types you can run include running MaxL scripts, and using Export LCM to back up cube artifacts to a zip file.

Using the database inspector, you can manage cubes in your application the same way that a Database Manager can, and additionally, you can purge audit records for cubes.

As an Application Manager, you also have access to the application inspector, which gives you control of even more operations. To open the application inspector from the web interface, start with the Applications page. From the Actions menu to the right of the name of the application that you manage, click Inspect to launch the inspector.

Using the application inspector, you can:

  • Access and manage files related to the application
  • Manage application-level connections and Datasources for access to external sources of data
  • Change application configuration settings
  • Provision and manage user and group permissions for the application and its cubes
  • Add and remove application-level substitution variables
  • Change general application settings
  • View application statistics
  • Download application logs