Define Attribute Relationships for Attributes in the Product Model Lines Hierarchy
We
will next continue our practice with attribute relationships within the Product
Model Lines hierarchy of the Product dimension.
1.
Within the Solution
Explorer, right-click the Product dimension.
2.
Click Open
on the context menu that appears, once again.
The
tabs of the Dimension Designer open.
3.
Click the Dimension
Structure tab, if we have not already arrived there by default.
The attributes belonging to the Product dimension appear as shown in
Illustration 7.
Illustration
7: The Member Attributes, Product Dimension
We
note that eighteen attributes appear within the Attributes pane.
We will gain further exposure to attribute relationships, by adding / examining representative relationships
among the attributes we see here.
We can also see, within the Hierarchies and Levels pane, three levels in the Product
Model Lines user hierarchy. This hierarchy currently exists, again, simply
as a drill down path for information consumers, and appears as depicted in Illustration 8.
Illustration
8: Hierarchies and Levels Pane, Customer Dimension
4.
In the Attributes
pane, expand the Model Name attribute and the Product Name
attribute.
Once these attributes are expanded, we see seventeen attribute
relationships established within the Product Name attribute and
no attribute relationships established within the Model Name attribute,
as shown in
Illustration 9.
Illustration
9: Original Attribute Relationships Established in the Product Dimension
5.
Drag the Product
Line attribute relationship from the Product Name attribute
to the <new attribute relationship> placeholder for the Model
Name attribute.
Once we have made our modification, the established attribute
relationships appear as depicted in Illustration 10.
Illustration 10:
Attribute Relationships after Our Modification
Product Line is now related to Model Name.
The RelationshipType property for this relationship should be set to Flexible
(the default) because the relationship between a product line and a model
name might change over time.
Next, we will move to the
Fiscal Time hierarchy, where we will define further attribute
relationships.
Define Attribute Relationships for Attributes in the Fiscal Time Hierarchy
We
will next continue our practice with attribute relationships within the Fiscal
Time hierarchy of the Time dimension.
1.
Within the Solution
Explorer, right-click the Time dimension.
2.
Click Open
on the context menu that appears, once again.
The
tabs of the Dimension Designer open.
3.
Click the Dimension
Structure tab, if we have not already arrived there by default.
The attributes belonging to the Time dimension appear as shown in
Illustration 11.
Illustration
11: The Member Attributes, Product Dimension
We
note that eight attributes appear within the Attributes pane. We
will gain further exposure to attribute relationships, by adding / examining representative relationships
among the attributes we see here.
We can also see, within the Hierarchies and Levels pane, two hierarchies,
named Calendar Time and Fiscal Time, as depicted in Illustration 12.
Illustration
12: Hierarchies and Levels Pane, Time Dimension
We will be concerned with the Fiscal Time hierarchy in
this section (we focus on the Calendar Time hierarchy in our next
section). There are five levels in the Fiscal Time user hierarchy. This
hierarchy currently exists, once again, as a drill down path for information
consumers.
4.
In the Attributes
pane, expand the following attributes:
-
Date
-
Fiscal
Quarter
-
Fiscal
Semester
-
EnglishMonthName
Once these attributes are expanded, we see seven attribute
relationships established within the Date
attribute and no attribute relationships established within the Fiscal
Quarter, Fiscal Semester, and Month Name attributes, as shown in Illustration 13.
Illustration
13: Original Attribute Relationships Established in the Time Dimension –
Fiscal Time Hierarchy
5.
Drag the Fiscal
Quarter attribute relationship from the Date attribute
to the <new attribute relationship> placeholder for the Month
Name attribute.
6.
Within the Properties
window, set the value for the RelationshipType property for the
relocated Fiscal Quarter attribute relationship to Rigid,
as depicted in Illustration 14.
Illustration 14: Set the
RelationshipType for the Relationship to Rigid ...
7.
Drag the Fiscal
Semester attribute relationship from the Date attribute
to the <new attribute relationship> placeholder for the Fiscal
Quarter attribute.
8.
Within the Properties
window, set the value for the RelationshipType property for the
relocated Fiscal Semester attribute relationship to Rigid.
9.
Drag the Fiscal
Year attribute relationship from the Date attribute to
the <new attribute relationship> placeholder for the Fiscal
Semester attribute.
10.
Within the Properties
window, set the value for the RelationshipType property for the
relocated Fiscal Year attribute relationship to Rigid.
Once we have made our modifications, the attribute
relationships established appear as shown in Illustration 15.
Illustration 15:
Attribute Relationships after Our Modifications
Fiscal Quarter is now related to Month Name,
Fiscal Semester is now related to Fiscal Quarter, and Fiscal
Year is now related to Fiscal Semester. The Rigid RelationshipType
property is appropriate for these attribute relationships, because they
will not change over time.
Next, we will move to the
Calendar Time hierarchy, where we will define a similar set of attribute
relationships.
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