About Dimension Analysis Attributes

Dimension analysis attributes for the Ledger dimension object are 15 pre-defined attributes that administrators can configure for use on the Journal Entries, Import Journal Entries, and G/L Posted Transactions forms. SyteLine users can then specify values in these analysis attributes fields as they enter transactions. The fields may or may not be required, depending on how the administrator sets them up. The attributes store values for a specific journal transaction based on the transaction account. The values are then transferred to the posted ledger transaction and stored in association with the ledger transaction similar to the way documents or notes are stored.

Setup

There are two methods for configuring the analysis attributes: quick setup using the Ledger Dimension Analysis Attributes form and regular setup using the Dimension Attributes and Ledger Dimensions forms. Quick setup is best when you do not need to build new tables, create table joins, or assign IDO information for the analysis attributes. Regular setup allows for the more complex configurations.

These are the general steps for quick setup:

  • Administrators gather analysis requirements from the finance department.
  • Based on requirements, administrators use the Ledger Dimension Analysis Attributes form to configure one or more of the 15 available analysis attributes. For each analysis attribute, administrators can set properties, specify the attribute value, create a hard-coded values list, and assign the attribute to selected Ledger dimensions.

    See Quick Configuration - Dimension Analysis Attributes.

  • Administrators use the Chart of Accounts form to assign a Ledger dimension to specific accounts. The assigned dimension determines which analysis attributes are displayed for use on the Journal Entries, Import Journal Entries, and G/L Posted Transactions forms, for related journal/ledger transactions. It also determines what dimension attributes are associated with ledger transactions. (Both dimension attributes and dimension analysis attributes can be assigned to a Ledger dimension.)

    See Specifying Dimensions and Attributes for G/L Accounts.

These are the general steps for regular setup:

  • Administrators gather analysis requirements from the finance department.
  • If new tables are needed to meet requirements, administrators use the Dimension Table Joins form to define the base table for the Ledger object and to link the appropriate primary and secondary tables to the base table.
  • Administrators use the Dimension Attributes form to configure one or more of the 15 analysis attributes. For each analysis attribute, administrators can set properties, specify the attribute value or build a value expression, and add domain IDO information or create a hard-coded values list.

    See Regular Configuration - Dimension Analysis Attributes for more information.

  • If new Ledger dimensions are needed before assigning the analysis attributes, administrators can use the Ledger Dimensions form to create them.
  • Administrators use the Ledger Dimensions form to assign attributes, including analysis attributes, to selected dimensions.
  • Administrators use the Chart of Accounts form to assign a Ledger dimension to specific accounts.

Maintenance

To use and maintain the dimension analysis attributes, these are the general steps:

  • With analysis attributes already configured, users can enter values for analysis on journal transactions:
    • If transactions are to be imported, users must prepare the XML or CSV file and then use the Import Journal Entries form. On this form, users can import or copy and paste values for the 15 dimension analysis attributes, as defined by the Ledger dimension specified for each account. If corrections are needed after values are loaded, users can also modify values on this form.

      For requirements, see Importing Journal Entries from External Sources.

    • On the Journal Entries form, users can specify values for one or more of the analysis attributes for journal transactions within system journals, the General journal, and user-defined journals. Some analysis attributes may be required for the General journal and user-defined journals before a transaction can be saved, depending on how the administrator has configured them.
    Note: Dimension analysis attributes are not populated when system journal rows are generated, because the system journal rows are generated by SyteLine core functions. Analysis attributes cannot be populated at that time.
  • Users post journal transactions to the ledger. When a journal is posted to the ledger, all analysis attribute values are carried forward, unless the user selects Compress Journal Before Post on the Ledger Posting for Journal form. In that case, related dimension analysis attribute values are lost.
  • Users update ledger attribute values using the General Ledger Attributes Update utility. If journals are compressed before posting, attributes of related ledger transactions cannot be populated by running this utility.

    See Updating Ledger Dimension Attribute Values.

  • On the G/L Posted Transactions form, users can view and modify one or more of the analysis attribute values in the ledger transactions.  

Analysis

The Ledger Dimension Details form is used to view and export the dimension attribute values of ledger rows for a specified Ledger dimension. Users can filter ledger rows by transaction date and account. Also, users can display the details of a ledger row in addition to just the ledger dimension attributes/analysis attributes.

For more powerful data analysis, you have these options:

  • If Infor BI is installed, you can export ledger transactions to BI, along with all dimension analysis attributes. BI users can use cubes to perform their own analysis of this data.
  • If Infor Query & Analysis is installed, you can extract ledger transactions, along with all dimension analysis attributes. Data analysis can then be done with Infor Q & A or Microsoft Excel.
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