Configurable Dimensions

Configurable dimension types include entity, scenario, account, flow, user defined, parent, intercompany, time, and consolidation.

Dimension Library Navigation

The Dimension Library enables all the customizable dimensions to be defined for your business needs. Dimensions can be shared across multiple cubes. Defining dimensions is important for sharing between cubes.

The entity, scenario, account, flow, and user defined dimensions are created and maintained in the Dimension Library in Application > Cube > Dimensions.

The Dimension Library screen has a toolbar row on the top with icons and a list of different dimension types that are created and maintained in the dimension library on the left side of the screen. Each dimension type has an arrow to the left that can be expanded. Entity Dimensions is selected to show the Members, Dimension Properties, and Grid View tabs. The Members tab is selected to show the next level of tabs for Member Properties and Relationship Properties.

The following icons are in the Dimension Library toolbar.

The following icon displays in all dimension security properties.

Members Tab

To view the Members tab, go to Application > Cube > Dimensions and select a dimension member. Then, click the Members tab.

In the Members tab, dimensions can be viewed by members, orphans, or in a hierarchy.

The Members tab has a blue background with white text and a list on the left side with options to view dimensions. Each option an arrow to the left that can be expanded.

Every dimension hierarchy has a None member. The None member is used when no selection for the dimension is needed or applicable.

The None member is referenced in the POV pane if the dimension is not needed in the analysis or data load.

The Members tab has a blue background with white text and a list on the left side with options to view dimensions. Each option an arrow to the left that can be expanded. In this example, Hierarchy is expanded to show None and Models. None is selected.

Member Properties and Relationship Properties Tabs

Dimensions contain members that can be inherited and extended through Extensible Dimensionality. Use the Add Relationship for Selected Member icon to move a member to another hierarchy or place it in more than one hierarchy.

Dimension members have Member Properties and Relationship Properties tabs. The properties on these tabs vary by dimension type. Depending on the field, you can edit the properties using the following methods:

Member Properties Tab

Member Properties are settings specific to the individual member. These properties apply to the member regardless of its relationship to a particular parent member in the hierarchy. If a member is part of multiple hierarchies, updates to the Member Properties apply to the member as it displays in all hierarchies regardless of which relationship is selected when the Member Properties are updated.

Member Properties are grouped into categories (for example, General, Descriptions, and Security). Various property fields are included in each category. Both the categories and their property fields vary across the dimension types. The plus and minus icons next to each category can be used to expand or collapse it.

To view the Member Properties tab, go to Application > Cube > Dimensions and select a dimension member. Click the Members tab and then the Member Properties tab. For example, this image shows the entity dimension.

The Member Properties tab has a blue background with white text and a list of the types of properties on a light blue background with blue text: General, Descriptions, Security, Settings, Vary By Cube Type, Vary By Scenario Type, and Vary By Scenario Type and Time. Each item has a plus sign that can be expanded.

These properties are standard across the entity, scenario, account, flow, and user defined dimensions: 

General

The following properties only display for a Dynamic Dimension:

Descriptions

Default Description: A description of the member in the dimension. See Report Alias.

If the Application Server Configuration File has been updated to include additional cultures, other language description fields may display under the Default Description field.

Relationship Properties Tab

Relationship Properties are settings associated with the relationship between members in the hierarchy. Relationship Properties can vary by each parent-child relationship, so different behaviors can occur based on the selected relationship.

To view the Relationship Properties tab, go to Application > Cube > Dimensions and select a dimension member. Click the Members tab and then the Relationship Properties tab. For example, this image shows the entity dimension.

The Relationship Properties tab has a blue background with white text and a list of the types of properties on a light blue background with blue text: General, Position Within Parent, Default Parent, and Vary By Scenario Type and Time. Each item has a plus sign that can be expanded.

These properties are standard across the entity, scenario, account, flow, and user defined dimensions: 

General

Position Within Parent

When a new member is created, it is added to the bottom of the list of its siblings.

Dimension Properties Tab

To view the Dimension Properties tab, go to Application > Cube > Dimensions and select a dimension member. Then click the Dimension Properties tab.

The Dimension Properties tab has a blue background with white text and a list of the types of properties on a light blue background with blue text: General, Security, and Dimension Member Source. Each item has a plus sign that can be expanded.

These properties are standard across the entity, scenario, account, flow, and user defined dimensions:

Grid View Tab

Select the Grid View tab to view a complete list of members from a selected dimension. You can view and edit properties of multiple members in the same screen without navigating to one member at a time. The following icons are in the Grid View toolbar: 

To change the metadata settings of multiple members in this view, double-click a data cell.

The Grid View tab has a gray background with white text and gray and white grid.

Grid Settings

Members displayed can change based on cube type, scenario type, and the time member chosen. Grid Columns to Display lists all the member properties available. Select the ones to display and edit in the grid.

The Grid Settings dialog box includes check boxes, drop-down menus, and fields to select to update what displays on the grid. There are two rectangular blue buttons in the lower right for OK and Cancel.

  1. Click Grid Settings to change the data displayed.

  2. In Grid Settings: 

    1. Select Cube Type to view members in a specific cube.
    2. Select Scenario Type to view members from a certain scenario type. 
    3. Select Time to view members using a specific time member. Settings can be turned on or off, and the formulas will change to look at a specific time frame.
    4. Select Show Derived Values for Varying Properties Not Stored Values to display metadata that varies by scenario and time.

    5. In Grid Columns to Display, select the member properties to view and edit in the grid. 

Build a Dimension

To create a new dimension:

  1. In the Dimension Library, select a dimension type.

  2. Click the Create Dimension icon.

  3. Enter a name.

  4. Click the OK button.

Create a Member

To create a new member in the dimension:

  1. Select the dimension.

  2. Click the Create Member icon.

  3. In the Member Properties tab, enter a name and default description. Add and update any additional properties as needed.

  4. In the Relationship Properties tab, add and update as needed.

  5. Click the Save Member icon.

Clone a Member

To create a new member using the same settings as the selected member.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member and then right-click.

  2. Hover over Clone Member to display the menu of options.

  3. Select the option to clone the new member as: As First Child, As Last Child, As Previous Sibling, or As Next Sibling.

    Formula types and formulas do not copy to the new member.

  4. In the Member Properties tab, enter a name and default description. Add and update any additional properties as needed.

  5. In the Relationship Properties tab, add and update as needed.

  6. Click the Save Member icon.

Change the Position of a Member

This option alters the position of a member in the hierarchy in relation to a sibling.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member.

  2. Click the Relationships Properties tab.

  3. Click the Position drop-down menu.

  4. Select the new position for the member: Retain Current Position, Before Sibling Member, After Sibling Member, First Sibling, or Last Sibling.

  5. Click the Sibling Member drop-down menu.

  6. Select the sibling member.

  7. Click the Save Member icon.

Expand All Descendants

This option expands all the descendants for the selected member.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member that has children and then right-click.

  2. Click Expand All Descendants.

Copy and Paste Relationships

This option adds or moves copied members to a new hierarchy.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member and then right-click.

    Press Ctrl + click to select multiple items.

  2. Click Copy Selected Members.

  3. Right-click the name of another member.

  4. Select the paste option:

  5. Select the location to paste the copied member: As First Child, As Last Child, As Previous Sibling, or As Next Sibling.

Add Relationship for Selected Member

This creates a relationship between two members.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member.

  2. Click the Add Relationship For Selected Member icon.

  3. Click the ellipsis next to Child Member to select the child member.

  4. Click the OK button.

Remove Relationships

This option removes members from their current relationship without moving them to a new one. If the member is no longer part of the dimension structure, it will be placed under Orphans. This option will not delete the member.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member.

  2. Click the Remove Relationships icon.

    You can also select a member and then right-click to see an option for Remove Relationships.

Delete a Member

This option deletes the selected member from the Dimension Library. A member can only be deleted if it does not have data stored.

  1. In the Members tab, select a member.

  2. Click the Delete Selected Member icon.

    You can also select a member and then right-click to see an option for Delete Member.

Dimension Member Names

Dimension Member Names

Use the following guidelines when creating dimension member names:

Restricted Characters

Restricted characters should not be used in dimension member names:

Character

Name and Description

&

Ampersand

The ampersand character can be used in member names, but it may affect platform functionality. So, it is recommended to not use it.

*

Asterisk

@

At sign

\

Back slash

{ }

Brace (left and right)

[ ]

Bracket (left and right)

^

Caret

,

Comma

=

Equal sign

!

Exclamation point

>

Greater than sign

<

Less than sign

-

Minus sign

#

Number sign

%

Percent

The percent character can be used in member names, but it may affect platform functionality. So, it is recommended to not use it. The percent character cannot be used in an alias name.

|

Pipe or vertical bar

+

Plus sign

?

Question mark

"

Quotation marks

;

Semicolon

/

Slash

Reserved Words

Reserved words cannot be used in dimensions or other structural application components, such as cubes.