Description

The OLAP_TABLE function extracts data from the LOBs in which workspace data has been stored and presents the result set in the format of a relational table. OLAP_TABLE is an implementation of the PL/SQL table functions.

The OLAP_TABLE function can be used in a SQL SELECT statement instead of, or in addition to, the names of relational tables and views. It presents fully solved data that is either stored or calculated in an analytic workspace. OLAP_TABLE accepts parameters that are passed to the OLAP engine, which selects, manipulates, and returns the data. The WHERE clause of a SELECT statement that includes a call to OLAP_TABLE only needs to identify the result set; it does not need to perform any calculations. If it does include calculations, they will be performed by the SQL engine, not the OLAP engine.

SELECT statements that use OLAP_TABLE can be used during database maintenance to create relational views, and they can be used interactively to fetch data directly into an application.