Monday 16 December 2013

Dimension and Cube



Dimension
        A database dimension is a collection of attributes usually related objects, which can be used to provide elaborated information about fact data in cube(s). Typical example of attributes in a Employee dimension might be Employee name, Employee Designation, Employee Qualification, Joining Date etc. Dimensions are linked to one or more columns in one or more tables in a data source view. By default, these attributes are visible as attribute hierarchies and can be used to understand the fact data in a cube. Attributes can be organized into user-defined hierarchies that provide navigational paths to assist users when browsing the data in a cube.

Click here for step by step instruction to create dimension in using existing table in SSDT.
Click here for step by step instruction to create dimension in using Dimension wizard in SSDT.

Cube 
         A cube is a multidimensional object that contains information for analytical purposes; which contains dimensions and measures. Dimensions define the structure of the cube that is used to slice and dice over, and measures provide aggregated numerical values of interest to the end user. As a logical structure, a cube allows a client application to retrieve values, of measures, as if they were contained in cells in the cube; cells are defined for every possible summarized value. A cell, in the cube, is defined by the intersection of dimension members and contains the aggregated values of the measures at that specific intersection.

Click here for step by step instruction to create Cube in using Cube wizard in SSDT.

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