Analysis dimensions and data areas

Every allocation has a source and a target. The source is the database location in which the value to be allocated is stored. The target is the location to which the value is written. You can use different allocation types. For all allocation types except Fixed Amount, the source and target are each defined by a reference dimension and a data area.

If an allocation uses manual drivers, those drivers are also defined by a data area.

A data area specifies the location of a value or group of values. The location of any value in the database is specified by reference to multiple dimensions, and elements from those dimensions. For example, the value for sales by product, by year and by region is determined by reference to a product dimension, a time dimension, and a region dimension. Each dimension has a top-level element, that is typically a total value such as 'All Products', 'All Years', or 'All Regions' and several subordinate levels and elements. If you do not select an element from a dimension, the top-level element is used.

So, the precision with which you specify source locations, target locations, and manual drivers is determined by the dimensions and elements that you select. For example, you might want to allocate an amount, broadly, to a location. Or, you might want to allocate the amount to a department, team, and workstation at that location.

If analysis dimensions are enabled for a configuration set, you can use them in addition to the analysis dimensions to specify a source, a target, or a driver data area.