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About Calculated Measures

Calculated measures return values that are computed at run time from data stored in one or more measures. Like relational views, calculated measures store queries against data stored in other objects. Because calculated measures do not store data, you can create dozens of them without increasing the size of the database. You can use them as the basis for defining other calculated measures, which adds depth to the types of calculations you can create.

Because calculated measures do not contain data, they are not associated with a build process. You can create a calculated measure at any time, and it is available immediately for querying by SQL applications.

Table: OLAP Calculation Types lists the predefined calculations and provides links to specific information about defining each type.

OLAP Calculation Types

Category Calculation Description

Share

Share


Calculates the ratio of a measure's value for the current dimension member to the value of a selected member.

Rank

Rank


Orders the members of a dimension based on the values of the selected measure.

Prior and Future Periods

Prior Period


Returns the value from an earlier time period.

Prior and Future Periods

Difference from Prior Period


Calculates the difference between the values of the current time period and an earlier time period.

Prior and Future Periods

Percent Difference from Prior Period


Calculates the percent difference between the values of the current time period and an earlier time period.

Prior and Future Periods

Future Period


Returns the value from a later time period.

Prior and Future Periods

Difference from Future Period


Calculates the difference between the values of the current time period and a later time period.

Prior and Future Periods

Percent Difference from Future Period


Calculates the percent difference between the values of the current time period and a later time period.

Period to Date

Period to Date


Uses the selected aggregation method to calculate the values within a range up to the current time period.

Period to Date

Period to Date Period Ago


Uses the selected aggregation method to calculate the values within a range up to a prior time period.

Period to Date

Difference from Period To Date Period Ago


Uses the selected aggregation method to calculate the difference in values within a range up to the current time period compared to the same calculation up to a prior period.

Period to Date

Percent Difference from Period To Date Period Ago


Uses the selected aggregation method to calculate the percent difference in values within a range up to the current time period compared to the same calculation up to a prior period.

Parallel Period

Parallel Period


Returns the value from a parallel period.

Parallel Period

Difference from Parallel Period


Calculates the difference in values between the current time period and a parallel period.

Parallel Period

Percent Difference from Parallel Period


Calculates the percent difference in values between the current time period and a parallel period.

Moving Aggregates

Moving Total


Calculates the total over a rolling number of time periods.

Moving Aggregates

Moving Average


Calculates the average over a rolling number of time periods.

Moving Aggregates

Moving Maximum


Returns the maximum value over a rolling number of time periods.

Moving Aggregates

Moving Minimum


Returns the minimum value over a rolling number of time periods.

Cumulative Aggregates

Cumulative Total


Calculates a running total across a range of time periods ending with the current period.

Cumulative Aggregates

Cumulative Average


Calculates a running average across a range of time periods ending with the current period.

Cumulative Aggregates

Cumulative Maximum


Returns the maximum value within a range of time periods ending with the current period.

Cumulative Aggregates

Cumulative Minimum


Returns the minimum value within a range of time periods ending with the current period.