Defining a Dimension
Defining a dimension consists of the following steps:
To define a dimension:
1. Ensure that the table that you will base the dimension on exists in the database. You can do this by navigating to the Dimensions window and selecting the list of values in the Base Table field.
By default, choose Dimensions from the Setup menu to open the Dimensions window.
If the table does not appear in the list of values for the Base Table field, then that means that either a dimension is already defined for it, or the table does not exist in the database. If the table does not exist, you must create the table using SQL*Plus.
Warning: You can define user tables, but Oracle Corporation warns you against using SQL*Plus to modify Oracle Sales Compensation system tables.
2. Define the dimension table in Oracle Sales Compensation using the Tables and Columns form.
To define a dimension base table, navigate to the Tables and Columns window (Setup->Tables and Columns) and enter the table in the Table Name field. Select Columns to go to the Columns window and enter the names of the columns. The dimension table must have a Primary Key and a column that stores the actual dimension values.
Note: You create a table definition for a dimension in the Tables and Columns window, not an actual table that resides physically in the database. You must create database tables in SQL*Plus.
The use of the Tables and Columns form is described in several tasks that describe how to map transaction information from Oracle Receivables.
3. Open the Dimensions window again.
4. In the Name field, enter the name of the new dimension.
The Salespeople and Revenue Class dimensions have been defined for you, as Oracle Sales Compensation requires these dimensions.
5. In the Base Table field, enter the name of the table for the new dimension.
You can also select the table name from a list of values. All tables defined in the Oracle Sales Compensation database schema appear in the list of values. If a table has a dimension based on it already, it will not appear in the list of values for this field.
6. In the Primary Key field, enter the name of the column defined as the Primary Key in this table.
The Primary Key for a table is defined in the Tables and Columns form.
7. In the Dimension Values field, enter the name of the column that stores the values that will appear in the hierarchies.
For example, for the Salespeople dimension, which stores the names of the salespeople, the Dimension Value is Name.
8. Define one or more hierarchies for this dimension.
