Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post Reply
lynnsong986
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:20 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: 10.2.2
Excel Version: 2016

Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by lynnsong986 »

Hello, I came across this function DimensionElementInsertDirect in the pre-recorded training video (I did send the question to the trainer but I couldn’t wait for 24 hours)...

He put this function in Prolog where he basically said the reason why he used this one instead of the regular DimensionElement Insert in Metadata is because there were only two elements in the measure dimension and this saves compiling time.

my question is why he placed it in Prolog instead of Metadata? I read somewhere that the direct functions can be placed in any tab, is it true?

Thanks!
Wim Gielis
MVP
Posts: 3105
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:26 pm
OLAP Product: TM1, Jedox
Version: PAL 2.0.9.18
Excel Version: Microsoft 365
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by Wim Gielis »

You can place them in any tab. But of course, if in Metadata / Data tab, then it must be part of the data source. In the other 2 tabs you’re not processing a data source so it can/should be without data source.

The fact that the dimension only has 2 elements is ridiculous as explanation for the Direct function. Usually you tend to use the Direct variants if the dimension has tens of thousands of elements or more and you only need to update the dimension with a very small number of changes.
Best regards,

Wim Gielis

IBM Champion 2024
Excel Most Valuable Professional, 2011-2014
https://www.wimgielis.com ==> 121 TM1 articles and a lot of custom code
Newest blog article: Deleting elements quickly
lynnsong986
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:20 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: 10.2.2
Excel Version: 2016

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by lynnsong986 »

Thanks Wim! That’s exactly why I got so confused! I read the IBM documentation, which states the same as you just explained! I’ll see what he replies on this one...
User avatar
gtonkin
MVP
Posts: 1192
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 3:03 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: Latest and greatest
Excel Version: Office 365 64-bit
Location: JHB, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by gtonkin »

It would not make much sense using DimensionElementInsertDirect in Metadata as DimensionElementInsert would do the same thing.
I did however do this inadvertently because I copied code from Data to Metadata and it crashed my server (10.2.2 FP4)

I have also found severe performance degradation using DimensionElementInsertDirect in Data when dealing with large dimensions and went back to a combination of Metadata and Data.
User avatar
jim wood
Site Admin
Posts: 3951
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 1:51 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: PA 2.0.7
Excel Version: Office 365
Location: 37 East 18th Street New York
Contact:

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by jim wood »

gtonkin wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2019 1:42 pm It would not make much sense using DimensionElementInsertDirect in Metadata as DimensionElementInsert would do the same thing.
I did however do this inadvertently because I copied code from Data to Metadata and it crashed my server (10.2.2 FP4)

I have also found severe performance degradation using DimensionElementInsertDirect in Data when dealing with large dimensions and went back to a combination of Metadata and Data.
Correct me if I'm wrong but, this is also to do with commitment? Normal waits until the tab is changed but direct writes it straight to the dimension, the second being more beneficial it certain circumstances.
Struggling through the quagmire of life to reach the other side of who knows where.
Shop at Amazon
Jimbo PC Builds on YouTube
OS: Mac OS 11 PA Version: 2.0.7
User avatar
gtonkin
MVP
Posts: 1192
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 3:03 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: Latest and greatest
Excel Version: Office 365 64-bit
Location: JHB, South Africa
Contact:

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by gtonkin »

jim wood wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:48 pm ...
Correct me if I'm wrong but, this is also to do with commitment? Normal waits until the tab is changed but direct writes it straight to the dimension, the second being more beneficial it certain circumstances.
This link gives a bit more clarity on the workings.
lynnsong986
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2018 2:20 pm
OLAP Product: TM1
Version: 10.2.2
Excel Version: 2016

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by lynnsong986 »

Thanks for the info, I don't think I'll use the direct method much at all knowing that I might crush the server!! my online trainer never got back to me on this question...I assume that he knew he didn't explain it correctly in the video haha!!
Wim Gielis
MVP
Posts: 3105
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:26 pm
OLAP Product: TM1, Jedox
Version: PAL 2.0.9.18
Excel Version: Microsoft 365
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Question about DimensionElementInsertDirect

Post by Wim Gielis »

I also notice that using DimensionElementInsertDirect in the Prolog tab might mean that you need to run the process twice as the first time the new elements are not inserted.

Still I tend to use the function without any hesitation in the Data tab, I have never crashed the TM1 server with it. What hasn’t been discussed as an advantage of the Direct functions is that you don’t need to have many If’s and other logic twice, in Metadata and Data tab. In the end, good models are also focusing on maintenance of the model, and that is important too.
Best regards,

Wim Gielis

IBM Champion 2024
Excel Most Valuable Professional, 2011-2014
https://www.wimgielis.com ==> 121 TM1 articles and a lot of custom code
Newest blog article: Deleting elements quickly
Post Reply