Dimension hierarchies define structural and mathematical relationships, and consolidations between members in the database. Relationships are represented graphically in a collapsible hierarchy diagram. The levels below the database name are dimensions, and the levels below each dimension are members.
The Period dimension can contain the member YearTotal, which contains members Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. Members Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 contain their own members for the corresponding months in the year. To consolidate data values in the Period dimension, roll up monthly data values to get quarterly data values, and quarterly data values to get yearly data values.
Members of the same level that belong to the same dimension or member are called siblings. For example, Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are siblings because they are at the same level in the hierarchy, and are members of the same member, YearTotal.
The members of a dimension are called children of the dimension. Members that belong to a member are called children of that member. The member YearTotal is a child of Period, the members of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are children of YearTotal, and Jan, Feb, and Mar are children of Q1. Q1 is the parent of Jan, Feb, and Mar, YearTotal is the parent of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, and Period is the parent of YearTotal.