Abstract: Creating and maintaining cell data records in a multidimensional database is disclosed. The systems and methods of the invention define an efficient mechanism to specify a cell's location within the multidimensional database where there are hierarchies of levels within a dimension. The format used lends itself well to indexing, and also to creating aggregations of the cell data.

Abstract: Designing aggregations according to a weighted benefit/cost ratio is disclosed. Usage statistics including frequency counts are maintained for queries issued to the system. The usage statistics determine the domain of potentially useful aggregations. The system maintains benefit and cost data for aggregations in terms of row scans saved and number of rows required to store an aggregation. In addition, query frequency counts are used to scale the aggregation benefit/cost for a set of aggregations. The weighted benefit/cost ration determines the aggregations to instantiate, thereby providing an optimal combination of performance and cost.

Abstract: Compressing system paths in a database is disclosed. The systems and methods of the invention define an efficient mechanism to specify a cell's location within the database where there are hierarchies of levels within a dimension. The compressed system paths allow random access of the data without decompressing the data. The format used lends itself well to indexing, and also to creating aggregations of the cell data.