The "Select the
Columns that Define the Parent-Child Data Hierarchy"dialog appears. We
will "fill in" the selector boxes in the following steps:
18.
Select account_id as the member
key.
We will use account_id
as the index that uniquely defines our member accounts.
19.
Select account_parent as the
parent key.
The account parent is
the account to which the account "rolls" in summary fashion, and is identified
in the account table to provide for hierarchical design just such as this. The
parent key acts as the "pointer" to guide rollups of data, as we shall see
later.
20.
Select account_description as
the member name.
The dialog appears with
our selections below.
Illustration 37:
The Completed Select the Columns that Define the Parent-Child Data Hierarchy
Dialog
21.
Click Next.
22.
Click Next again to skip the Select
Advanced Options dialog.
The Finish the
Dimension Wizard dialog appears.
23.
Type the word Account
into the Dimension Name box.
24.
Uncheck the checkbox (click it
once) for Share This Dimension with Other Cubes.
The dialog appears
(with expanded Preview), with our selections as shown below.
Illustration 38:
The Completed Finish the Dimension Wizard Dialog
The Preview
provides a scrollable view of the hierarchy that our selections will generate.
25.
Click Finish to close
the Dimension Wizard.
The dialog disappears,
leaving the schema view as depicted below, after arrangement:
Illustration 39:
The (Arranged) Schema View with Added Dimension Tables
Note that joins between
the fact table and the dimension tables are already in place, using the id keys
in each. This will often not be the case in a real world design effort, where
the appropriate joins (perhaps not as straightforward as those found in our
model) would need to be created.
For a practical
discussion surrounding, and an examination of the uses of, parent-child dimensions,
see Article Four of our series, Parent-Child Dimensions.
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