Automated relational schema generation within a multidimensional enterprise software system

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• executing software instructions with the computer to select multidimensional data in response to input from a user, wherein the multidimensional data includes at least one measure having a plurality of different data types and formats for a dimension of a data cube;
• executing software instructions with the computer to produce a database schema for a relational database to store values of the at least one measure for the plurality of different data types and formats, wherein the database schema includes a table having one or more columns for identifying members along the dimensions of the data cube and multiple additional columns to store the values for the at least one measure, each of the columns corresponding to a different data type for storing values of the at least one measure for the respective data type;
• storing values in at least two of the additional columns for the same members of the dimensions of the data cube such that the at least two additional columns contain values for the plurality of different data types and formats for the at least one measure;
• and
• executing a calculation on at least one of the members of the at least one measure in the relational database, wherein the at least one of the members includes a first value in a first one of the columns in a data type and format corresponding to the first one of the columns and a second value in a second, different one of the columns in a different data type and format corresponding to the second one of the columns, wherein the calculation references the first value and the second value.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

• select multidimensional data in response to input from a user, wherein the multidimensional data includes at least one measure having a plurality of different data types and formats for a dimension of a data cube;
• produce a database schema for a relational database to store, values of the at least one measure for the plurality of different data types and formats, wherein the database schema includes a table having one or more columns for identifying members along the dimensions of the data cube and multiple additional columns to store the values for the at least one measure, each of the columns corresponding to a different data type for storing values of the at least one measure for the respective data type;
• store values in at least two of the additional columns for the same members of the dimensions of the data cube such that the at least two additional columns contain values for the plurality of different data types and formats for the at least one measure;
• and
• execute a calculation on at least one of the members of the at least one measure in the relational database, wherein the at least one of the members includes a first value in a first one of the columns in a data type and format corresponding to the first one of the columns and a second value in a second, different one of the columns in a different data type and format corresponding to the second one of the columns, wherein the calculation references the first value and the second value.