You must create an Essbase aggregate storage (ASO) application to contain an aggregate storage cube. An aggregate storage application can contain only one cube. You can create a new ASO application and cube, or convert a block storage cube to ASO.

You can create an aggregate storage application, cube, and outline in the following ways:

• Create a new aggregate storage application and cube. The aggregate storage outline is created automatically when you create the cube. You can use an application workbook to create it.

• Convert a block storage outline to an aggregate storage outline, and then create an aggregate storage application to contain the converted cube and outline.

  Essbase supports the following scenarios for converting block storage outlines to aggregate storage outlines:

  • Non-Unicode block storage outline to non-Unicode aggregate storage outline

  • Non-Unicode block storage outline to Unicode aggregate storage outline

  • Unicode block storage outline to Unicode aggregate storage outline

  The following conversion scenarios are not supported:

  • Unicode block storage outline to non-Unicode aggregate storage outline

  • Aggregate storage outline to a block storage outline

For information on loading dimensions and members into an aggregate storage outline, see Build Dimensions in Aggregate Storage Cubes and Load Data into Aggregate Storage Cubes.

Aggregate storage application and cube information differs from block storage information, and specific naming restrictions apply to aggregate storage applications and cubes. See Inherent Differences with ASO.

To convert a block storage outline to an aggregate storage outline, you can use the create outline MaxL statement.

To create an aggregate storage application or cube, use an application workbook or use these MaxL statements:

• create application

• create database