Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 9-34.
Starting the Dimension Wizard
Select Creation Method
When the wizard starts, you are presented with a welcome screen. Click Next to navigate to the Select Creation
Method page. On this page, the default choice is to use an existing table in your data source view (Figure
9-35
).
The second option is to generate a timetable in the data source. Selecting this option allows SSAS to generate
and fill a new date table in your SQL Server data warehouse, much as we did during the ETL process. This option
has some distinct advantages, the foremost of which is that you do not have to write any SQL code yourself. The
downside is that the format the table is created in may not be to your liking.
Considering that this is an easy way to create a date-time table within the data warehouse, some developers
create a disposable SSAS project solely for this purpose. For example, create a new SSAS project and add a New
Date Time dimension using the “Generate a time table in the data source” option. Once the table is created in the
data warehouse, delete the project.
