Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part II - Page 2April 18, 2008 Overview of the Attribute Properties As we noted in previous articles of this subseries, Analysis Services exposes many properties that determine how dimensions and dimension attributes function. We will continue what we began in Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part I, and further examine the properties for our selected attribute, Geography Key, within our sample UDM, by taking the following steps. 1. Within the Attributes pane of the Dimension Structure tab, right-click the Geography Key attribute. 2. Click Properties on the context menu that appears, as depicted in Illustration 5.
The Properties pane appears for the Geography Key attribute. (The Properties pane likely appeared when we selected the Product dimension within the Dimensions pane, by default, below the Solution Explorer. The design environment can, of course, be customized in many ways to accommodate your local environment and development needs.) We can, at this stage, see the thirty DimensionAttribute properties for the Geography Key attribute within the Properties pane. We examined the first eleven properties, the members of the Advanced properties group, in Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part I. We noted that these properties include the following:
The five Basic properties, appearing underneath the Advanced properties group, include the following:
The Misc group comes next, and includes the following four properties:
Beneath the Misc group in the Properties pane lies the Parent-Child group, which includes the following five properties:
Finally, the five Source properties, appearing underneath the Parent-Child properties group, include the following:
The Properties pane for the Geography Key attribute, with the Basic properties group (which we will examine in the practice session that follows) expanded, appears as shown in Illustration 6.
Let's take a look at each of the individual attribute properties in the sections that follow. Examine Attribute Properties: Basic Properties We will continue the examination of attribute properties that we began in Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part I, with the Basic properties group. As we did with the members of the Advanced properties group in the previous article, we will discuss the purpose of each property, and examine or discuss, in most cases, possible settings with which we can come into contact within the context of the property. Basic Property: Description The Description property affords us a place to place a free-text description of the attribute. Basic Property: ID The ID property specifies the unique identifier of the dimension. Basic Property: Name The Name property contains the user-friendly name of the attribute. Basic Property: Type The value of the Type property for an attribute determines the attribute type – and specifies the type of information contained by - that attribute. Within Analysis Services 2005, attribute types help to classify an attribute based upon its business utility or functionality. Analysis Services offers many attribute types within the property’s dropdown selector, a portion of which (including the default selection, Regular) are depicted in Illustration 7.
Many of the available options represent types which are used by client applications to display or support an attribute. However, some attribute types also have specific meaning to Analysis Services. As in illustration, some attribute types identify attributes that represent time periods in various calendars for time dimensions. Many attribute types for dimensions or attributes are set via the associated wizard that we use when defining these objects. Attribute types can also be set when we employ wizards, such as the Business Intelligence Wizard, to add functionality to dimensions within Analysis Services. A good example is the application of various attribute types to attributes in a dimension when we use the Business Intelligence Wizard to add Account Intelligence to a given dimension: the wizard applies several attribute types to attributes in the affected dimension, for example, to identify attributes that contain the names, codes, numbers, and structure of accounts within the dimension. Attribute types in Analysis Services fall in into five categorized groups. These attribute type groups include:
· Time Dimension: These values identify an attribute that belongs to a time dimension. Associated with each of the attribute type category groups listed above are multiple possible attribute type values. (These are the values partially represented in Illustration 7 above). We will examine many of these values within other articles of my Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services series, where they will arise within an examination of respective objects and related subject matter in general. Basic Property: Usage Usage allows us to specify how an attribute is used. Among selection options are the default value of Regular, as well as the values Key and Parent. (The setting for the attribute we have chosen for our practice example, Geography Key, is Key.) 1. Click the downward arrow selector button that appears to the immediate right of the Usage property label, to expose the three options for selection, as shown in Illustration 8.
Having completed our review of the Basic attribute properties, we will conclude this part of our examination of attribute properties. We will extend our introductory examination of dimension attributes, specifically continuing our discussion with the Misc, Parent-Child and Source groups of properties, within subsequent parts of this article. NOTE: Please consider saving the project we have created to this point for use in subsequent related articles of this subseries, so as to avoid the need to repeat the preparation process we have undertaken initially, to provide a practice environment. 2. Select File ---> Save All to save our work, up to this point, within the originally chosen location, where it can be easily accessed for our activities within subsequent articles of this subseries. 3. Select File ---> Exit to leave the design environment, when ready, and to close the Business Intelligence Development Studio. ConclusionIn this, the second part of a multi-part article introducing dimension attributes, we continued our current subseries focusing upon dimensional model components, with an objective of discussing the associated concepts, and of providing hands-on exposure to the properties supporting each. We reviewed our initial introduction to the dimensional model and summarized its role in meeting the primary objectives of business intelligence. Next, we provided a brief overview of dimension attributes in general. We overviewed many of the general characteristics and purposes of attributes, including their names, and the names of the groups within which each is classified. We then continued our focus upon the properties underlying them, based upon the examination of a representative attribute within our sample cube. In this article, we extended our discussion beyond the Advanced group of properties, which we began in Part I, and examined the attribute properties belonging to the Basic group, including what they define and support, and how we can manage them. We will continue our examination of attribute properties, this time for those that constitute the membership of the Misc properties group, in the next part of this article. » See All Articles by Columnist William E. Pearson, III Discuss this article in the MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services and MDX Topics Forum. Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services Series
Introduction to Security in Analysis Services
Cube Storage: Planning Partitions from a SQL Server Management Studio Perspective Cube Storage: Planning Partitions (Business Intelligence Development Studio Perspective) Cube Storage: Introduction to Partitions Introduction to Cube Storage Attribute Discretization: Customize Grouping Names Attribute Discretization: Using the "Clusters" Method Attribute Discretization: Using the "Equal Areas" Method Attribute Discretization: Using the Automatic Method Introduction to Attribute Discretization More Exposure to Settings and Properties in Analysis Services Attribute Relationships Attribute Relationships: Settings and Properties Introduction to Attribute Relationships in MSSQL Server Analysis Services Attribute Member Values in Analysis Services MSSQL Analysis Services - Attribute Member Names Attribute Member Keys - Pt II: Composite Keys Attribute Member Keys - Pt 1: Introduction and Simple Keys Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part V Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part IV Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part III Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part II Dimension Attributes: Introduction and Overview, Part I Dimensional Model Components: Dimensions Part II Dimensional Model Components: Dimensions Part I Manage Unknown Members in Analysis Services 2005, Part II Manage Unknown Members in Analysis Services 2005, Part I Alternatively Sorting Attribute Members in Analysis Services 2005 Introduction to Linked Objects in Analysis Services 2005 Distinct Counts in Analysis Services 2005 Positing the Intelligence: Conditional Formatting in the Analysis Services Layer Administration and Optimization: SQL Server Profiler for Analysis Services Queries Mastering Enterprise BI: Time Intelligence Pt. II Mastering Enterprise BI: Time Intelligence Pt. I Design and Documentation: Introducing the Visio 2007 PivotDiagram Actions in Analysis Services 2005: The URL Action Actions in Analysis Services 2005: The Drillthrough Action Mastering Enterprise BI: Introducing Actions in Analysis Services 2005 Mastering Enterprise BI: Introduction to Translations Mastering Enterprise BI: Introduction to Perspectives Introduction to the Analysis Services 2005 Query Log Mastering Enterprise BI: Working with Measure Groups Mastering Enterprise BI: Introduction to Key Performance Indicators Mastering Enterprise BI: Extend the Data Source with Named Calculations, Pt. II Mastering Enterprise BI: Extend the Data Source with Named Calculations, Pt. I Process Analysis Services Objects with Integration Services Usage-Based Optimization in Analysis Services 2005 Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Named Sets Revisited Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Migrating an Analysis Services 2000 Database to Analysis Services 2005 Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Introducing Data Source Views Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: MS Excel 2003 and More ... Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Mastering Enterprise BI: Create Aging "Buckets" in a Cube Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Mastering Enterprise BI: Relative Time Periods in an Analysis Services Cube, Part II Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Mastering Enterprise BI: Relative Time Periods in an Analysis Services Cube Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Process Analysis Services Cubes with DTS Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Presentation Nuances: CrossTab View - Same Dimension Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Point-and-Click Cube Schema Simplification Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Manage Distinct Count with a Virtual Cube Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Distinct Count Basics: Two Perspectives Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Semi-Additive Measures and Periodic Balances Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Performing Incremental Cube Updates - An Introduction Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Partitioning a Cube in Analysis Services - An Introduction Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Basic Storage Design Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Derived Measures vs. Calculated Measures Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Creating a Dynamic Default Member Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Another Approach to Local Cube Design and Creation Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Introduction to Local Cubes Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Actions in Virtual Cubes Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Putting Actions to Work in Regular Cubes Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: ProClarity Part II Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: ProClarity Professional, Part I Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Using Calculated Cells in Analysis Services , Part II Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Using Calculated Cells in Analysis Services, Part I Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: MSAS Administration and Optimization: Toward More Sophisticated Analysis Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: MSAS Administration and Optimization: Simple Cube Usage Analysis Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Build a Web Site Traffic Analysis Cube: Part II Build a Web Site Traffic Analysis Cube: Part I Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: Cognos PowerPlay Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: MS FrontPage 2002 Reporting Options for Analysis Services Cubes: MS Excel 2002 Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Drilling Through to Details: From Two Perspectives Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Custom Cubes: Financial Reporting - Part II Introduction to MSSQL Server 2000 Analysis Services Custom Cubes: Financial Reporting (Part I) Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Exploring Virtual Cubes Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Working with the Cube Editor Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Parent-Child Dimensions Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Handling Time Dimensions Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Working with Dimensions Introduction to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services: Creating Our First Cube |
|
|
The Network for Technology Professionals
Legal Notices, Licensing, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | E-mail Offers
