Adding an Attribute to a Dimension

A very common practice is to add properties to existing repository items, for instance by extending the product catalog. The example in this section describes in detail the changes you would need to make if you had added a new attribute, weight, to the SKUs in your catalog. The example assumes that you have already made this change to your repository, and now want to include weight information in your reports.

To add an attribute to a dimension:

  1. Alter the ARF_SKU table by adding a new column to represent weight. This column will contain a numeric attribute in your standard measurement system (for instance, pounds or kilograms). The table then contains the following columns:

    ID
    NSKU_ID
    ...
    WEIGHT

  2. Extend the /atg/reporting/datawarehouse/dataWarehouseRepository.xml file to expose the weight property as in this simplified sample:

<item-descriptor name="sku">
  <table name="ARF_SKU">
    <property name="weight" column-name="WEIGHT" type="double"/>
  </table>

  1. Map the weight property in the product catalog to the weight property in the data warehouse. This mapping is crucial for loading the product catalog dimension. The /atg/reporting/datawarehouse/process/Definition/DimensionProperties.xml file contains a data-warehouse-repository-item element, which has a property-mappings child element. For this example, we’ll add a new warehouse-property element under that, identifying how to map the data.

    <data-warehouse-repository-item item="sku">
       <property-mappings>
          <warehouse-property name="weight">
              <production-property name="catalog.sku.weight"/>
          </warehouse-property>
       </property-mappings>
    </data-warehouse-repository-item>

    This XML snippet maps the SKU’s weight property in the product catalog to the weight property in the data warehouse.

  2. Modify the metadata model to include the new attribute.

    The model is located in the <ATG10dir>/DCS/DW/cpf directory. Modify the [ARF_SKU] query subject in the Database View, the [Sku] query subject in the Model View, and the [Catalog] regular dimension in the dimensional view.

  3. Republish the metadata model with your changes.

  4. Copy and modify the provided reports, or create new reports that use the new attribute.