Calcscript using variables, possible?

Question

I have a calc that needs looking up a fixed cell each time, i.e
FIX("FY2009","January:December","Coke","Budget")
Sales_Revenue = Sales_Revenue * (1 + Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%" )
END FIX
So "1 + Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%" " is always fixed to a cell and I think the cross dim here is pretty inefficient to go outside. I dont want to grow the FIX statement (e.g. fixing on "West Region" either because I am applying to more regions.
So I am wondering if this could work? But its not working. Anyone?
Var Factor = 1 + (Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%"->"Coke"->"FY2009"->"January" );
FIX("FY2009","January","Coke","Budget")
Sales_Revenue = Sales_Revenue * ( Factor )
END FIX
The idea is trying to get the factor in one quick pass, and then store that in memory and then run the formula without using any cross-dim that has to go out and back. But i cannot get it to work.
Edited by: user634643 on Aug 10, 2009 4:18 PM

Answer 1

A couple of thoughts:
1) Either you reference a block outside of your fix, or carry redundant info in every block. Take your pick and take your chances.
A) If you're storing a single value to use again and again, then this is your best bet: Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%"->"Coke"->"FY2009"->"January" It is not in the calculated block (Actual versus Budget), but such is life -- it is stored once, read many times, and likely (likely, not for sure until you tune your Data Cache) in RAM, so what of it?
B) If you're storing different rates by month, then this is your best bet: Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%" If Period is dense, you are still only reading one block, albeit many cells. Not an appreciable performance hit.
2) Your var statement doesn't work for two reasons:
A) vars can be declared outside of a member calc block (member name, left paren, logic, right paren), but must be valued within the member calc block. This is the "plain old doesn't work" bit.
B) Once A is satisfied, you are still going to reference the same number of blocks outside of your FIX. This is the "would be nice if it works, but unfortunately doesn't" bit.
3) Should "West Region" be in your FIX, or does it apply to all Regions?
4) Could you make your second approach work if it made sense to store the rate in Budget? You'd still have the issue of if it differs by Region, or by Period.
So, where to go?
I'd stick with your first code attempt unless of course you need it to go across Period. If you need the rate by month, go with the second. The FY2009 in the cross dims is redundant given the scope of the FIX, btw.
If you are set on using VAR, try this:
VAR varFactor
FIX("FY2009","January","Coke","Budget")
"Sales_Revenue"
varFactor = 1 + (Sales->Actual->"West Region"->"Growth Rate%"->"Coke"->"FY2009"->"January" ) ;
"Sales_Revenue" = "Sales_Revenue" * varFactor ;
END FIXPersonally, I would stick with your first approach.
Regards,
Cameron Lackpour
P.S. When I get confused about where my data is (which happens a lot, unfortunately), I take the equation out of the picture and try to just assign the complicated bit. If I can get one half of the equation right, then it's off to the next. It can be very difficult to id where data sits and if I'm not sure where multiple pieces of the puzzle are, I get confused. Just my $0.02.