Cube View Fundamentals
Cube Views are pre-defined, reusable report layouts that query cube data through a fixed combination of POV dimensions, rows, and columns. They serve as the primary reporting and data-entry surface in OneStream â distinct from Quick Views (ad-hoc analysis) and dashboards (interactive UI containers). This guide covers the fundamental concepts, object hierarchy, and rendering locations.
Cube Views vs Quick Views vs Dashboards
Each surface serves a different purpose. Choose based on who needs the report, how structured it should be, and how it will be consumed.
| Criteria | Quick View | Cube View | Dashboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Ad-hoc, one-off analysis | Pre-formatted, sharable reports and data entry | Interactive applications with multiple components |
| Row/Column complexity | One row dimension, one column dimension | Multiple row and column dimensions, nested expansions | N/A (hosts CubeView or BI Viewer components) |
| Formatting | Minimal â default grid | Full control â headers, conditional formatting, suppression | Component-level styling |
| Calculations | None | GetDataCell, CVC/CVR math, dynamic member formulas | Via hosted CubeView or Business Rules |
| Data entry | Yes (simple) | Yes (full control with security, formulas, suppression) | Yes (via CubeView components or custom forms) |
| Sharing | User-specific | Shared via Groups and Profiles | Shared via Maintenance Units |
| Rendering | Data Explorer only | Data Explorer, Report view, Excel/Spreadsheet | Dashboard Viewer |
| Best for | Quick answers, ad-hoc drill-down | Standardized reports, formatted output, controlled input | Multi-component applications, interactive workflows |
Object Hierarchy
Cube Views are organized in a two-level hierarchy that controls organization and visibility.
Cube View Groups
A Cube View Group is a container for related Cube Views. Each group has:
- Name â Unique identifier
- Description â Purpose of the group
- AccessGroup â Controls which users can see and use the Cube Views in the group
- MaintenanceGroup â Controls which users can modify the Cube Views in the group
Groups are the primary unit of security. A user who does not belong to the AccessGroup cannot see any Cube Views in that group.
Cube View Profiles
A Cube View Profile controls which groups (and therefore which Cube Views) are visible in specific contexts. Its Visibility targets are OnePlace, Dashboards, Excel, Forms, and Workflow:
- OnePlace â Whether the Cube Views appear in the reporting tree
- Dashboards â Whether the groups are available to dashboard components
- Excel/Spreadsheet add-in â Whether the Cube Views appear in the CubeView Connection dialog
- Forms / Workflow â Whether the Cube Views are available in Forms and Workflow contexts
Profiles reference one or more groups. A single group can appear in multiple profiles. (The Cube Views page in the Application tab always lists every group regardless of a profile's visibility setting.)
The POV Bar
Every Cube View has a Point of View (POV) that defines the fixed dimension context for the report. The POV bar appears at the top of the Cube View and shows the current selection for each dimension.
Cube View POV vs Cube POV
- Cube View POV â The dimension members set in the Cube View definition. These are the starting selections when the report opens.
- Cube POV â The user's own point of view in the POV pane, selected at runtime. Where the Cube View POV inherits from the user's Cube POV, the member shows in gray; an explicit override in the definition shows in black.
The POV contains all dimensions that are not placed in rows or columns. For example, if Account is in rows and Time is in columns, then Entity, Scenario, Consolidation, and any custom dimensions remain in the POV bar.
What Goes in the POV
The POV holds every dimension you do not place in the Rows and Columns section of the designer. There is no slider that "moves" dimensions in and out of the POV â a dimension leaves the POV only when you add it to rows or columns, and returns to the POV when you remove it. (In the designer, "slider" refers to the collapsible section panels, e.g. the POV panel and the Rows and Columns panel.)
Rendering Locations
Cube Views can be rendered in three contexts, each with different capabilities:
| Context | Description | Data Entry | Formatting | Linked Views |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Explorer | Interactive grid in the OneStream client | Yes | Partial (no report headers/footers) | Yes |
| Report View | PDF-style rendered output | No | Full (headers, footers, page breaks) | No |
| Excel/Spreadsheet | Rendered in the Excel or Spreadsheet add-in | Yes | Excel-native formatting | Limited |
- Data Explorer is the most common context for day-to-day work â users interact with the grid, enter data, drill down via linked views, and toggle suppression.
- Report View is used for formatted output â CubeView Extender rules can add dynamic headers, logos, and page numbering.
- Excel/Spreadsheet renders the Cube View in a familiar spreadsheet environment and supports the Retain Formulas feature for preserving Excel formulas during data submission.
Related Content
- Rows, Columns, and Member Filters â Next guide in the series: configuring the row and column structure
- CubeView and BI Viewer Components â Embedding Cube Views in dashboards via CubeView components and adapters
- Data Input with Cube Views â Configuring Cube Views for data entry
- Report Books â Compiling Cube Views into distributable PDF, Excel, or ZIP packages