Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating Dimensions
It is probably not surprising that you use a wizard to create dimensions as well. Start the wizard by right-clicking
the Dimensions folder in Solution Explorer. Right-clicking this folder brings up a context menu, and from there
you can select the New Dimension option (Figure
2-51
).
Figure 2-51.
Using the Dimension Wizard
When the wizard launches, you are given a choice to use existing tables or create new tables within the data
warehouse. The most common option is to use the tables you created in an existing data warehouse.
The third page of the wizard allows you to select which data warehouse dimension table you would like to
base the new SSAS dimension upon. In our example, we use the DimEvents table. While choosing a table, you
also configure the Key and Name columns by using the drop-down boxes on the wizard page. We can use the
EventID, for example, as the key column and the EventName for the name column. SSAS uses the key column
internally, but it displays the name column in the reporting applications, such as Microsoft's Excel or Reporting
Services.
