Unsynchronized data can slow the performance of books and views. Data is unsynchronized when stored user or calculated data values do not match the values that display in Metrics Management. User data is the raw data presented in data measures. Calculated data is the result of calculations on user data presented in group and formula measures. Data becomes unsynchronized when changes are made to:
User data, for example, when users input or import data.
View hierarchies, for example, when a parent measure definition changes when a new measure is added to a view.
Calendar settings, for example, when the system specialist moves calendar settings forward.
When a user selects an unsynchronized measure, Metrics Management synchronizes before displaying the measure. Metrics Management either retrieves the latest user data value, or produces a new calculated data value. The database stores changed data values in synchronized user and calculated data. For this reason, synchronized values in a book or view display more quickly than unsynchronized values.
The Enable pending user data entry setting determines when Metrics Management calculates and displays the results of changes to user data, view hierarchies, and calendar settings. If pending user data entry is disabled, Metrics Management performs calculations dynamically using changed data when users open measures. If pending user data is enabled, Metrics Management displays only synchronized data. In this case, changes to user data, hierarchies, and calendar settings are pending until synchronization takes place. The system specialist performs synchronization manually or by using pbvcon. The length of time this process takes depends on the size and complexity of the database. For this reason, perform synchronization at the end of the day or overnight. Enable pending user data if the database is very large or if users change data frequently.
Synchronization, as shown in Figure 1‑23, displays the synchronization status of user data, hierarchies, and calculated data. The status includes the last time data was synchronized, and how long data has been unsynchronized. When synchronization is performed manually, the system specialist can enable notification that user data, hierarchies, and calculated data are unsynchronized. With this setting enabled, the system specialist receives notifications on log out. Only administrative users have the appropriate privileges to receive notifications.
Figure 1‑23 Database synchronization status
How to define database synchronization settings
1 Choose Setup➛Configure.
2 In Synchronization, perform any of the following tasks:
To enable pending user data, choose Enable pending user data entry. Choose whether to be reminded on logout when user data is unsynchronized.
Choose whether to be reminded on log out if location and measure hierarchies or calculated data are unsynchronized.
User data, for example, when users input or import data.
