The update includes a newly-optimized MOLAP (Multidimensional OnLine Analytical Processing) engine and intelligent local data cache, which offer faster read and write-back performance. Other improvements include faster multi-dimensional data processing, an enhanced multidimensional formula editor, and an advanced query capability.

Palo is a multi-user data server application that allows workers throughout an enterprise to access, change, and collaborate on multiple spreadsheets in real-time. The free product -- also available in professional, enterprise and government versions -- uses a MOLAP (In-Memory OLAP data server) architecture.

As a “commercial open source” solution, Palo combines the flexibility and freedom of the GPL open source license with a business-grade software development staff, full technical support, quality control, code maintenance and more, says Kristian Raue, founder and CEO of Jedox AG. The company also offers additional server applications that extend Palo’s capabilities for web reporting and data entry, establishment of workflow and process rules, and ETL (Extract/Transform/Load) from heterogeneous data sources.

Raue says that other new features in Palo 2.5 include:

° Zero suppression: by allowing users to suppress the zeros in empty cells when preparing reports, Palo 2.5 addresses only those cells that contain real data, making reports and planning documents more compact, meaningful and readable.

° Advanced query: Palo 2.5 lets users pose more sophisticated questions such as “What are the 20 percent of products that are responsible for 80 percent of revenue?” The capability also makes ABC Analysis, a technique for discriminating influence of certain classes of inventory on operating costs, easier and faster.

° Drill-through: this allows users to quickly reach back through aggregated data held in RAM to source data when needed. The capability optimizes performance, ensuring access to all data sets without sacrificing operational speed.

An online demo is available for download. Contact Jedox for pricing options.