Did you know IBM Planning Analytics has a new function called “Default Members?” This is different from default subsets. Default members are what is used if you were to simply drag a dimension into a Planning Analytics for Excel (PAx) sheet or a Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) book. Below is what it looks like when dragged into PAx:
![Setting default members in Planning Analytics](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_1.png)
The default members isn’t as simple as saving a subset, however. It is maintained in a Planning Analytics control cube called “}HierarchyProperties.” You simply pick the dimension that you wish to update, and update the “DefaultMember” for it.
![Learn how to set default members in Planning Analytics](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_2.png)
![IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Setting default members](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_3.png)
However, if you immediately try to go back and refresh your PAx sheet, what you’ll see is the following:
![Understanding default members in Planning Analytics](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_4.png)
Nothing changed! There’s an additional step that is required to update the default member of a dimension. You can either:
- Restart the server
- Run a TI process with the new function called “REFRESHMDXHIERARCHY”
REFRESHMDXHIERARCHY can either be ran for a single dimension, as shown below, or can be run for all dimensions by simply not specifying a dimension.
![IBM Planning Analytics: Setting default members](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_5.png)
After running this TI process, you can then go back and update your PAx sheet or PAW book and receive the expected results.
![Planning Analytics: Setting default members](https://revelwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/default-members_an_6.png)
IBM Planning Analytics is full of new features and functionality. Not sure where to start? Our team here at Revelwood can help. Contact us for more information at info@revelwood.com. And stay tuned for more Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks weekly in our Knowledge Center and in upcoming newsletters!
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