Oracle Essbase 9 Implementation Guide- P4:Essbase is a multidimensional database management system. The name Essbase stands for Extended Spread Sheet dataBASE. Using the custom add-in provides the end-user with near seamless compatibility in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program. | Download at Preface Thank you for selecting this book. We assure you we will do our very best to make it entirely worth your while. The goal is to demystify the multidimensional database world and have you comfortable with designing building and coding Essbase systems. Always remember Essbase is an art not a science A brief history on Essbase Essbase is a multidimensional database management system. The name Essbase stands for Extended Spread Sheet dataBASE. Using the custom add-in provides the end-user with near seamless compatibility in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program. Essbase as we know it today evolved from software components developed by Arbor Software Corporation and through the acquisition of additional components or tools from other OLAP and Business Intelligence product development companies. In some cases Arbor Software Corporation purchased the entire company to acquire the needed components as was the case with App Source in late 1997. It is generally agreed that the release of Essbase version in 1995 set Essbase as the standard for OLAP and Business Intelligence and Analytics enterprise software. Rapid growth and popularity of the Essbase product led to the merger of Arbor Software Corporation and Hyperion Software becoming Hyperion Solutions Corporation in 1998. This new company achieved near global leadership in the OLAP and Business Intelligence BI software arena and ultimately attracted the attention of Oracle Corporation. Oracle completed the purchase of Hyperion Solutions in 2007 for Billion. Hyperion Solutions is now a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation and offers a complete line of integrated Business Intelligence and Business Performance Management products. Download at Preface Why Essbase In addition to being the leading global provider of OLAP and Business Intelligence software Essbase also offers incomparable value as a RAD Rapid Application Development tool. As will be demonstrated in the following .