Automating your Essbase Cube - Oracle Essbase 9 Implementation Guide - page 310

Substitution variables
Substitution variables can also be updated by using MaxL statements and
commands. The following commands adding, updating, and dropping the
substitution variables can be at the application, database, or the server level.
• add variable : This is used to create a new Substitution Variable .
Syntax:
Adding variables at Application level—these can be accessed by only
the application specified.
alter application <App-Name> add variable <variable-Name>
<variable-value>;
Adding variables at Database level—these can be accessed by only
the database specified.
alter database <App-Name>.<db-name> add variable
<variable-Name> <variable-value>;
Adding variables at the System level - these can be accessed by all of
the applications that reside on the Essbase server
alter system add variable <variable-Name> <variable-value>;
Code Samples:
alter application 'ESSCAR' add variable 'sCurrMonth' '200902';
alter database 'ESSCAR'. 'ESSCAR' add variable 'sCurrMonth'
'200902';
alter system add variable 'sCurrMonth' '200902';
• set variable : This is used to update the value of an existing Substitution
Variable . If the variable is not defined, then use add variable first to create
a new Substitution Variable .
Syntax:
Setting variables at the application level
alter application <App-Name> set variable <variable-Name>
<variable-value>;
Setting variables at the database level
alter database <App-Name>.<db-name> set variable <variable-Name>
<variable-value> ;