IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: TI Dimension Functions

May 2, 2023

Have you ever updated a dimension in the Prolog of your TurboIntegrator (TI) script and then received errors when making further changes to the dimension in the Metadata section? This is because certain dimension altering functions such as DIMENSIONELEMENTINSERT are not evaluated until the Data Procedure runs.

Dimension updates in IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 follow a specific pattern: duplicate the current dimension, make changes to the duplicated dimension, and then apply the changes to the actual dimension. The applied changes to the actual dimension do not occur until the Data procedure begins (e.g., when all Metadata scripting is completed).

Let’s say that you placed code in the Prolog to add elements using the DIMENSIONELEMENTINSERT function. If you then try to interrogate or manipulate those elements in the Metadata tab, the script would not be successful because the changes have not been fully completed. This can be resolved by instead using the DIRECT version of dimension manipulation functions, such as DIMENSIONELEMENTINSERTDIRECT. The direct version of the functions applies changes immediately to the current dimension and does not require the entire Metadata processing to be completed.

This approach will allow you to properly manipulate dimension in both the Prolog section and the Metadata section of the same script.

IBM Planning Analytics, which TM1 is the engine for, 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!

Author

Marc Assenza

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