Dimension View

The dimension view enables you to preview and edit hierarchical structures within staging tables, which can then be loaded to OLAP, using hierarchy mappings.

You can also make these adjustments to the tables:

  • Add elements by adding rows to the table.
  • Assign parent elements to create hierarchies.
  • Edit the weights of child elements in relation to their parents.
  • Change the order in which child elements are displayed. You cannot assign an order position to a parent element.
  • Change element types.
  • Edit attribute values.

The Dimension View tab for a table is enabled only if the table has a column named ID. The ID column, typically maps to element names in OLAP hierarchies. In addition, to enable the full functionality of the dimension view, the table must have columns named with these names:

  • ParentID
  • ElementType
  • Weight
  • OrderPosition

If no such columns exist in the table, the associated fields are displayed in the view but are disabled. In addition to these key columns, the dimension view displays any other columns of the table.

Note: You cannot assign a parent element if the ID or Parent ID columns of the table are primary keys.

You can split elements and their relationships between two tables. Thus, the element table stores element ID, type, and attribute values and the relationship table stores element ID, parent ID, and weight. In this scenario, to identity to the Dimension View which two tables belong together, the unique name of the two tables must be prefixed by Mod_ (case sensitive) and Elements_ or Relations_. For example, Mod_Elements_TableUniqueName and Mod_Relations_TableUniqueName. The elements table must contain an ID column and the relationship table must contain ID and ParentID columns.

Splitting elements and their relationships between tables is also possible with OLAP Modeling. In that case, the Mod_ prefix is not required.

If the dimension view is enabled for a table, the Dimension View icon is displayed on the table's tile in the Relational Modeling dashboard. Use the Show Grid and Show Tile options on the toolbar to switch between tile and grid views.