Master CUBEKPIMEMBER: Extract KPI Data from OLAP Cubes in Excel
=CUBEKPIMEMBER(connection, kpi_name, kpi_property, [caption])The CUBEKPIMEMBER function is a powerful tool for business intelligence professionals working with OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) cubes in Excel. This advanced formula allows you to retrieve specific KPI (Key Performance Indicator) properties from a cube connection, enabling dynamic reporting and real-time performance monitoring without manual data entry. Whether you're building executive dashboards, financial reports, or operational scorecards, CUBEKPIMEMBER provides the bridge between your cube data sources and Excel's analytical capabilities. Understanding CUBEKPIMEMBER is essential for anyone managing complex data environments where KPIs need to be tracked across multiple dimensions. This formula works seamlessly with Excel's pivot table features and cube functions, allowing you to create sophisticated data models that automatically update when source data changes. By mastering this function, you'll significantly enhance your ability to deliver timely, accurate insights to decision-makers while reducing manual reporting overhead and potential data errors.
Syntax & Parameters
The CUBEKPIMEMBER formula retrieves KPI properties from OLAP cube connections using four parameters. The connection parameter specifies which cube data source to query, and it must match exactly the connection name defined in your Excel workbook's data connections. The kpi_name parameter identifies the specific KPI within that cube—for example, 'Revenue Growth' or 'Customer Satisfaction Score'. The kpi_property parameter determines which aspect of the KPI you want to retrieve, such as the KPI value, goal, status indicator, or trend. Valid kpi_property values include 0 (KPI value), 1 (KPI goal), 2 (KPI status), and 3 (KPI trend), each serving different analytical purposes. The optional caption parameter allows you to display custom text in the cell instead of the actual KPI value, useful for creating user-friendly reports. When working with CUBEKPIMEMBER, ensure your cube connection is active and properly configured; otherwise, Excel will return a #NAME? error. The formula requires that your KPI exists in the cube and that the property code is valid for that specific KPI.
connectionkpi_namekpi_propertycaptionPractical Examples
Retrieving Sales Revenue KPI Value
=CUBEKPIMEMBER("SalesDataCube","Total Revenue",0)This formula connects to the 'SalesDataCube' connection and retrieves the value (property 0) of the 'Total Revenue' KPI. The result displays the actual KPI value without custom caption text.
Displaying KPI Goal with Custom Caption
=CUBEKPIMEMBER("SalesDataCube","Total Revenue",1,"Q4 Revenue Target")Property 1 retrieves the goal value for the 'Total Revenue' KPI, and the caption parameter displays 'Q4 Revenue Target' instead of the raw goal number in the cell, making the report more readable.
Monitoring KPI Status Indicator
=CUBEKPIMEMBER("OperationsCube","Customer Satisfaction",2)Property 2 retrieves the status indicator (typically -1 for bad, 0 for neutral, 1 for good) of the 'Customer Satisfaction' KPI. This value can be used with conditional formatting to create visual performance dashboards.
Key Takeaways
- CUBEKPIMEMBER retrieves specific KPI properties from OLAP cube connections, enabling dynamic performance monitoring without manual updates
- The formula supports four property types: 0 (KPI value), 1 (KPI goal), 2 (KPI status), and 3 (KPI trend), each serving different analytical purposes
- Proper error handling with IFERROR and connection management are critical for production dashboards to maintain reliability
- CUBEKPIMEMBER works best in combination with other functions like IF, TEXT, and CUBEMEMBER to create sophisticated business intelligence reports
- Understanding your cube structure and available KPI properties is essential before implementing CUBEKPIMEMBER formulas in workbooks
Pro Tips
Use named ranges for connection names to avoid hardcoding connection strings. Create a cell with the connection name and reference it using INDIRECT() for easier maintenance when connection names change.
Impact : Significantly improves formula maintainability and reduces errors when managing multiple cube connections across large workbooks.
Combine CUBEKPIMEMBER with CUBEMEMBER in the same report to show both KPI properties and dimensional context (like region or product). This creates more meaningful business insights.
Impact : Enables creation of sophisticated analytical reports that provide both performance metrics and contextual information in a single view.
Test your CUBEKPIMEMBER formulas during off-peak hours and verify cube connection stability before deploying to production dashboards. Use IFERROR wrappers to prevent dashboard breakage.
Impact : Prevents business interruptions and ensures your reports remain reliable even when cube servers experience temporary connectivity issues.
Document which KPI properties (0, 1, 2, 3) are actually defined in your cube, as not all KPIs have all properties. Create a reference table in a hidden sheet for your team.
Impact : Saves troubleshooting time and helps team members quickly understand which formulas will work for specific KPIs without trial and error.
Useful Combinations
CUBEKPIMEMBER with IF for Performance Alerts
=IF(CUBEKPIMEMBER("SalesCube","Revenue",2)=1,"On Target","Below Target")Combines CUBEKPIMEMBER status property (2) with IF logic to create conditional alerts. When the KPI status equals 1 (good), it displays 'On Target'; otherwise shows 'Below Target'. Perfect for executive dashboards.
CUBEKPIMEMBER with TEXT for Formatting
=TEXT(CUBEKPIMEMBER("SalesCube","Revenue",0),"$#,##0")Wraps CUBEKPIMEMBER with TEXT function to format the KPI value as currency with thousands separators. Improves report readability and ensures consistent formatting across different data values.
CUBEKPIMEMBER with IFERROR for Error Handling
=IFERROR(CUBEKPIMEMBER("SalesCube","Revenue",1),"Data Unavailable")Uses IFERROR to gracefully handle connection or data issues. If the KPI goal retrieval fails, displays 'Data Unavailable' instead of an error code, maintaining dashboard appearance during temporary data issues.
Common Errors
Cause: The cube connection name specified in the formula doesn't exist or is misspelled. Excel cannot recognize the connection reference.
Solution: Verify the exact connection name by checking Data > Connections and ensure the spelling matches exactly, including capitalization. Test the connection before using it in the formula.
Cause: The kpi_property parameter contains an invalid value (must be 0, 1, 2, or 3) or the KPI name doesn't exist in the cube.
Solution: Confirm that kpi_property is one of the four valid integers: 0 (value), 1 (goal), 2 (status), or 3 (trend). Verify the KPI name exists in your cube by checking the cube structure.
Cause: The cube connection is broken, offline, or has been deleted from the workbook's connection list.
Solution: Re-establish the cube connection through Data > Connections > Properties, refresh the connection, and ensure your network access to the cube server is active.
Troubleshooting Checklist
- 1.Verify the cube connection exists and is active by checking Data > Connections and attempting a manual refresh
- 2.Confirm the KPI name matches exactly (case-sensitive) with the KPI defined in the cube; use CUBEMEMBER to list available KPIs if uncertain
- 3.Validate that kpi_property is one of four valid values: 0 (value), 1 (goal), 2 (status), or 3 (trend)
- 4.Check network connectivity and cube server availability; test the connection with a simple CUBEVALUE formula first
- 5.Review Excel version compatibility; ensure you're using Excel 2007 or later with cube function support enabled
- 6.Examine error messages carefully: #NAME? indicates connection issues, #VALUE? indicates invalid parameters, #REF! indicates broken connection
Edge Cases
KPI contains special characters or spaces in its name
Behavior: CUBEKPIMEMBER may fail with #VALUE! if the KPI name isn't properly escaped or quoted in the connection metadata
Solution: Verify the exact KPI name in the cube structure and use it exactly as defined, including any special characters. Contact your cube administrator if uncertain.
Some cube implementations require KPI names to be enclosed in brackets [KPI Name]
Multiple cube connections exist with similar names
Behavior: Excel may reference the wrong connection if names are ambiguous, causing incorrect data retrieval
Solution: Use fully qualified connection names and avoid similar naming conventions. Test each connection separately before combining in reports.
Implement a naming convention like 'SalesCube_Production' vs 'SalesCube_Dev' to prevent confusion
KPI property doesn't exist for a specific KPI
Behavior: CUBEKPIMEMBER returns #VALUE! error when requesting a property that wasn't defined for that KPI in the cube
Solution: Verify which properties are available for each KPI by consulting cube documentation or using IFERROR to handle missing properties gracefully
Not all KPIs have all four properties; some may only have values without goals or status indicators
Limitations
- •CUBEKPIMEMBER only works with OLAP cube connections; it cannot retrieve data from relational databases, flat files, or other data sources without first converting them to cube format
- •The formula retrieves only one KPI property per cell; complex multi-property analyses require multiple formulas and manual consolidation
- •Performance may degrade with very large cubes or slow network connections, as each formula call queries the cube server; consider caching results for frequently used KPIs
- •CUBEKPIMEMBER requires active cube server connectivity; if the server is offline or inaccessible, all formulas using this function will return errors, potentially breaking dependent reports
Alternatives
More flexible for retrieving specific cell values from cube intersections without KPI-specific properties. Works with any cube measure or dimension combination.
When: When you need general cube data retrieval rather than specifically KPI properties, or when working with measures that aren't part of a KPI structure.
Compatibility
✓ Excel
Since 2007
=CUBEKPIMEMBER(connection, kpi_name, kpi_property, [caption]) - Fully supported in Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 365✗Google Sheets
Not available
✗LibreOffice
Not available