I’m writing this entry, because I had to re-create all the substitution variables (more than 100) when they were lost.
There was an issue with our development Planning server (security was getting corrupted) and we were advised to re-create all the applications.
In the process somebody forgot to copy the Substitution variables and all the subvars were lost!!!!!
There were more than 100 substitution variables and we don’t have a clue what they were.
So how to get them back……
Luckily Essbase stores the substitution variable information in the SEC file. If you open essbase.sec file in an Editor you can see that it stores the user information, which cubes they can access, filters…and substitution variables.
You can find the subvar information after **** Substitution Variables: heading in the SEC file.
The information stored in the SEC file will be similar to the one shown below
ACTYEAR
CRM_Data
Main
FY08
We had a backup of essbase.sec file from previous night and I found out a way to add them back in Essbase. If you don’t want to add them manually in EAS console and if you like MaxL (like me :)) you can make use of the EXCEL file I created.
You can download the file here, with the help of this file you can recreate the Substitution variables with minimum effort.
You have to copy the values in SEC in a required format so that the MaxL can be generated. Read the instructions given in the EXCEL sheet.
If you have any queries please let me know.
Hi Celvin,
How can we open the security.sec file in readable format. We have a backup of esbase.sec file before our system became unstable…We want to compare the sec files from backup and now ..
Thanks
pre 11 version you could open sec file in any text editor and you can read substitution variables. however from 11 version sec file is in a non-readable format.
Thanks Celvin.. we are in 11.1.2 version…Is there a way to do it
I can't think of a way right now, because the issue is how to decode it….maybe you can use a file comparison tool, but you won't be able to track what changed.
To get content of essbase.sec in a file readable by a text editor:
– go to EAS, drill down on Essbase Servers -> "YourEssbaseServer", right-click on Security and select Export security file.
– in pop up textfield type the name for the file and click ok.
File is exported to:
%HYPERION_HOME%productsEssbaseEssbaseServerbin (same location where essbase.sec is located).
After you open the file using any text editor, information about substitution variables can be found at the bottom of the document.
This is useful only for review purposes.
HTH,
Damir
Damir, thank you for the information.
However I created a new utility to extract the information using Maxl.
https://orahyplabs.com/2011/12/export-substitution-variables-from.html
Is it possible to schedule an export for the ".sec" file?
Have a look at export security_file to data_file MaxL
Is it possible to find whether a few variables were created and deleted earlier