OAC/Essbase: Installing the Cube Designer Extension in Smartview.

** This is a blog I originally posted on the RedStack blog site in Jan-18. This blog site has now been taken down, so I've re-posted it here. **

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to installing the Essbase Cube Designer in Excel from an Oracle Analytics Cloud Essbase service.

If you already have an old version of Smartview installed you must replace it with the latest version from technet  (http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/epm/downloads/smart-view-1112x-2412371.html)

I had an earlier 11.1.2.6x version but with this the ‘Check for Updates, New Installs and Uninstalls’ in the Extension screen just timed out and froze Excel, not at all helpful!

I’ve now got version 11.1.2.5.720 installed.

Open Excel with a new workbook. From the SmartView ribbon click on the Options icon:

Then click on the Extensions screen:

In here click the ‘Check for Updates, New Installs and Uninstalls’ link

The next screen asks for the location to look for Extension updates.  The number of options here will vary, but you need to locate your Essbase Cloud Service, which in my case is the last location listed here. 

This does of course mean you must have connected to your Essbase Cloud Service at least once using the normal connection panel for SmartView to be aware of it. If you have not done that, then close this window and do that before re-trying.

So, select your Essbase location and click Get Updates.

You will then get the standard login screen to connect to your Essbase cloud service. Enter your details and sign-in.

The previous screen will then update. Reporting that the Extension list has been updated:

Close this window to return to the Extension list screen, which will now have the Cube Designer listed. Click on the Install icon against it:

Confirm you want to apply the extension update:

The extension is then download and installed, it takes only a few seconds. Afterwards shutdown and restart Excel.

You’ll then have a new Ribbon for Cube Designer:

Pretty simple really, just wish the Oracle documentation was a little clearer!

Enjoy!