Creating Dimensions

This chapter provides an overview of dimensions and discusses how to:

Create a new dimension.
Define dimension properties.
Attach a dimension to a data cube.
Change the order of dimensions in the part browser.

Understanding Dimensions

A dimension is a collection of people, places, events, or things for which you want to keep data. Each member of the dimension is called a dimension member.

See Understanding Dimension Members.

To keep data for each member of the dimension, attach the dimension to one or more data cubes. For example, to keep sales data for multiple products, attach a PRODUCTS dimension to a SALES data cube. To track the cost of goods for each product, attach the PRODUCTS dimension to a COST_OF_GOODS data cube.

Note. When a cube collection is mapped to either a Writable-only record or a record with the Readable and Writable attributes, all data cubes in the cube collection should share the same set of dimensions.

Because dimensions receive data from fields, it is important to correctly set the attributes of field definitions to ensure compatibility. You can map fields with the following attributes to dimensions:

Char
Number
Signed Number
Date
Date Time

Creating a New Dimension

To create a new dimension:

Select Part, New, Dimension.

The Edit Part Name dialog box appears.
Enter the dimension name.
Click OK.

Defining Dimension Properties

Select the dimension whose properties you want to define:

Total Member Name

This field performs different functions depending upon whether you have entered a value into the Total Member Name field, whether the dimension belongs to an analytic model that was converted from a BAM 8.8 model, and whether a tree is attached to the dimension.

See Interpreting the Total Member Name Field.

Aggregate Function

Select a dimension override function to calculate the dimension's aggregate fields. The analytic calculation engine uses this aggregate function to calculate all of a dimension's aggregates.

Note. This aggregate function does not apply to leaf members or detail members.

See Understanding Override Order of Precedence, Example: Creating a Hierarchy with Mixed Aggregate and Detail Members.

Interpreting the Total Member Name Field

This table describes the state of the dimension based upon whether:

A tree is attached to the dimension.
The Total Member Name field has a value.

Values for the Total Member Name field come from either the value that you entered into the Total Member Name field of the dimension's properties, a converted BAM 8.8 model, or a PeopleCode command using the Analytic Calculation Engine Metadata Classes.

Tree Attached to Dimension?	Has Value?	Resulting State of Dimension
Yes	No	If you select Calculate Aggregates, the value of hierarchy root member appears to the end user and to the analytic calculation engine.
No	Yes	PeopleSoft Analytic Calculation Engine creates a basic, one-node hierarchy for the dimension. By default, the Show Hierarchy method is used on the analytic model, and both the one-node hierarchy and the name that you enter into the Total Member Name field appear to the end user. Note. For the actual value of the hierarchy to appear to the end user, you must select Calculate Aggregate. If you do not select this check box, the value of 0 appears to the end user.
Yes	Yes	One of these resulting states applies: If you apply an aggregate function to this dimension, the value that you enter into the Total Member Name field serves as an alias to the hierarchy root member. This alias only appears to the user functions within the analytic model; the actual value of the hierarchy root member appears to the end user. If you do not apply an aggregate function to this dimension and select Calculate Aggregates, the aggregate value of the hierarchy root member appears to the end user.
No	No	PeopleSoft Analytic Calculation Engine does not create a hierarchy for the dimension.

Attaching a Dimension to a Data Cube

To be useful, a dimension must work with one or more data cubes.

To attach a dimension to a data cube:

Right-click the data cube to which you want to attach the dimension.
Select Attach Dimensions.

The Attach Dimension(s) to Selected Cube(s) dialog box appears.
Select one or more dimensions.
- Press Ctrl and click the left mouse button to select multiple dimensions.
- Click Select All to select all of the dimensions.
- Click Unselect All to clear all of the dimensions.
- Click OK.

Changing the Order of Dimensions in the Part Browser

To change the order of dimensions in the part browser:

Select one dimension that you want to move up or down in relationship to the other dimensions in the part browser.
Perform one of these steps:
- Right-click the dimension member and select Move Up or Move Down.
- Hold down the left mouse button, drag the dimension to the desired location, and release the left mouse button.
Perform steps 1 and 2 until all of the dimensions appear in the desired order in the part browser.