What You'll Learn Here

If you've ever needed to pull data from an OLAP cube into Excel, you know how fiddly it can get. CUBE formulas—like CUBEVALUE, CUBEMEMBER, and CUBESET—are lifesavers once you get the hang of them. In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to use the cube formula in Excel with example data, step by step. No fluff, just what works.

What Are CUBE Functions in Excel?

CUBE functions in Excel are a set of functions that connect directly to OLAP data sources—like SQL Server Analysis Services or Power Pivot models. They let you retrieve members, values, and even sets from a cube without building a full PivotTable every time.

Understanding OLAP and CUBE Functions

OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) databases organize data into dimensions and measures. Think of dimensions as the categories (Time, Product, Geography) and measures as numbers you want to calculate (Sales Amount, Quantity). CUBE functions act as a bridge between your spreadsheet and those cube data structures.

In my experience, most analysts avoid these functions because the syntax looks intimidating. But once you break it down, they're actually pretty straightforward. I've used them for years in financial reporting, and they saved me countless hours of copying and pasting from PivotTables.

How to Use CUBEVALUE Formula in Excel with Example

CUBEVALUE is the go-to function when you need a specific number from the cube. It takes a member (or several) and returns the intersection value.

Example 1: Pulling a Single Value

Imagine you have a Sales cube and want to get the total sales amount for the month of January 2023. Here's the formula:

=CUBEVALUE("SalesCube", "[Time].[Month].[January 2023]", "[Measures].[Sales Amount]")

The first argument is the connection name, then the member expressions. The final argument is the measure. This returns the sales number directly.

Example 2: Combining with CUBEMEMBER

But what if you want to make it dynamic? Instead of hardcoding the month, you can create a CUBEMEMBER first:

=CUBEMEMBER("SalesCube", "[Time].[Month].[February 2023]")

Put that in cell A1, then use CUBEVALUE referencing the cell:

=CUBEVALUE("SalesCube", $A$1, "[Measures].[Sales Amount]")

This way, when you change A1, your value updates automatically. I usually put my members in cells to create dynamic dashboards.

How to Use CUBEMEMBER Formula in Excel

CUBEMEMBER retrieves a specific member from the cube. It validates the member and returns it in a format Excel can use as a reference.

Syntax and Arguments

The syntax is: CUBEMEMBER(connection, member_expression, [caption])

The connection is the name of the OLAP connection, and the member_expression is the full path to the member, like [Product].[Category].[Bikes].

Example: Creating a Member

Let's say you want to capture the "Bikes" product category. Use:

=CUBEMEMBER("SalesCube", "[Product].[Category].[Bikes]")

This returns a member object. You can then use this in CUBEVALUE or as a header in a report. One subtle mistake I see a lot: forgetting to include the measure in CUBEVALUE when you reference a member. That throws an error.

How to Use CUBESET Formula in Excel

CUBESET creates a set of members, which is useful when you want to return multiple items and then summarize them.

Example: Building a Set

Suppose you want to get all product categories for the current year. You can create a set:

=CUBESET("SalesCube", "[Product].[Category].Children", "All Categories")

This returns a set object. Then you can use CUBERANKEDMEMBER or CUBEVALUE to pull values for each item. I often use this to build custom reports that a standard PivotTable can't handle easily.

Practical Tips for Using CUBE Formulas Effectively

Here are some tips I've learned from real-world use:

  • Keep your member expressions in separate cells so you can easily update them.
  • Use named ranges to make formulas more readable.
  • Double-check your connection name—it's the one in Data > Connections, not the workbook name.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One mistake that's easy to make is using the wrong MDX syntax. For example, [Time].[2023] might not work if your date hierarchy is different. Always check your cube structure first.

Another thing: CUBE functions are volatile. They recalculate every time you change anything, which can slow down huge workbooks. If that's an issue, consider using a PivotTable or caching values.

Frequently Asked Questions about CUBE Formulas in Excel

Why does my CUBEVALUE formula return #N/A even though the connection works?
This usually happens when your member expression doesn't match exactly. Check for typos and make sure the member exists in the cube. Also, verify that the measure is included—an empty measure will give you #N/A. Always include a measure argument in CUBEVALUE.
Can I use CUBE formulas without a live OLAP connection?
Technically, you can reference a Power Pivot model in the same workbook. Create a Power Pivot from your data, then use the Data Model as your "connection". It works the same way, but I wouldn't recommend it for large datasets because the formulas can be slow.
What's the difference between CUBEVALUE and GETPIVOTDATA?
GETPIVOTDATA works on PivotTable caches, while CUBEVALUE works directly on OLAP cubes. CUBEVALUE is more flexible because you can manipulate members with formulas, but it requires a cube connection. GETPIVOTDATA is easier if you already have a PivotTable.