Dimension Management

Profitbase Studio defines following types of dimensions:

Wide Dimensions

Wide Dimension is a dimension where the user organize columns in attributes. These attributes can then be related and used in hierarchies. It is the most flexible and the recommended dimension type in Profitbase Studio 6. 

Parent/Child Dimensions (P/C)

Parent/Child Dimensions defines an key and parent attribute that is used to create a hierarchy. Other attributes (properties) can be added.

P/C Sub Dimensions

Parent/Child Sub Dimensions is based on a P/C dimension but allows the user to select specific items (filter). 

P/C to Wide Dimensions

P/C Dimensions and P/C Sub Dimensions can also be created as wide dimensions. Here the hierarchical levels are structured in L1,L2—Ln levels. In unbalanced structures, the lowest level is repeated to ensure the same number of levels for each entry (padding).

Versioned Dimension (PS63)

This is a copy of a P/C or Wide dimension at given time/given filter. It is a non editable dimension that can be used in modules. It does not support member scan but reduce. Useful for e.g. Slowly Changing dimensions at a given time etc. 

Time Dimensions

This is a date based dimension generated in Profitbase Studio. A table is generated with entries per day and include fields for date, day, week, month, year etc. It has options to include trade and fiscal data. The user selects hierarchies, translations etc. The generated table can be extended with user tables and properties. 

Time Dimension can use a shared holiday calendar. This is edited separately.

 

Parent/Child vs. Wide

Wide Dimensions are best for balanced structures with clearly defined levels. It is more effective on larger dimensions as well as more flexible. Typical dimensions are products, customers, employees etc.

Parent/Child Dimensions are simpler with less configuration. These can have unbalanced structures where the lowest level is uneven. Typical dimensions for this is account, departments etc. 

 

General

For Name, Description, Comments editing click here. For use of status tab click here. For shortcut keys click here.

All dimensions must have a Root/Key ID. This is what is used to bind dimensions to facts. For Time Dimensions this is a fixed DateID, P/C Sub Dimensions inherits this from the P/C Dimension.

Columns are organized in Attributes and these Attributes can be related and used as levels in hierarchies. Wide Dimensions allows the user to specify these hierarchies in details. For Time and P/C Dimensions this is more fixed and the user can only extend these with Properties.