Cross Subject Area Report Authoring Tips

Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence isn’t limited to one area of information. It allows you to combine data from more than one subject area, opening a world of possibilities for analysis.

Such queries, referred to as cross-subject area analysis, are a testament to the comprehensive nature of the platform. The following section discusses different types of cross-subject area analyses and best practices for building cross-subject area analyses, giving you the confidence to explore the full potential of the platform.

There are two broad categories for building cross-subject area analyses:

Conformed, or common, dimensions have the same meaning and value across different fact tables or subject areas, meaning they're common dimensions across all subject areas. For example, HR Business Unit is a conforming dimension across all the Oracle Fusion HCM Analytics subject areas.

Non-conformed, or non-common, dimensions are dimensions that aren’t attached to all the fact tables or subject areas. These are also called local dimensions. For example, the HCM – Talent Acquisition subject area has Candidate related folders that contain information which is only specific to the HCM – Talent Acquisition subject area and isn’t relevant to other HCM subject areas.

Cross-Subject Area Analysis Using Conforming Dimensions

You can create a visualization from multiple subject areas using facts and confirming dimensions from all the subject areas. There are clear advantages to building a visualization that only uses conforming dimensions from across subject areas. You can use any metric from any subject area in your report and join on conforming dimensions. This allows you to include metrics from multiple subject areas in a single visualization.

Always follow the best practices mentioned in Common Report Authoring Tips.

General Guidelines

  • If all the required metrics and attributes for the report are available in a single subject area and fact, use that single subject area only and don’t create a cross-subject area query.
  • When you want to bring the data from more than one subject area, you must choose at least one metric from all the subject areas in the analysis.
  • Start with the necessary filters before you start building visualizations to ensure you use the best performing queries when you add the necessary metrics required in the visualization.
  • Always start by selecting all the columns in one subject area, including the facts and dimensions, and then add the facts from the second subject area.
  • Always start by adding the Time Dimensions filters first. Restrict the data for one period, and then build on to the report by adding facts and columns one-by-one from one or more subject areas.
  • When joining two subject areas in a report, use at least one attribute from a common dimension. Refer to Bus Matrix for common (conforming) dimensions.

Cross-Subject Area Analysis Using Conforming Dimensions and Non-Conforming Dimensions

You need to study the subject areas you’re using when you create cross-subject area analyses using common (conforming) and non-common (non-conforming) dimensions in a single report. Each subject area has a fact and each fact has a transactional grain, so you need to review and understand the transactional grain of each subject area you use. See Subject Areas.

After reviewing the transactional grain of the subject areas, follow these guidelines to create your report.

  • First, analyze the structure of the subject areas and the type of report that you are planning to create.
  • Start by creating separate reports for the subject areas that you want to combine by adding the necessary metrics and the dimensions in the necessary reports.
  • Add more filters to reduce the data scope to understand and analyze the transaction grain of both, or all of the reports.
  • After analyzing, you can start by choosing one report and start adding non-conforming dimensions one by one from the other reports.

Challenges with Conforming and Non-Conforming Dimensions

Creating reports with conforming and non-conforming dimension can cause two types of issues if the guidelines aren't followed:

  • Report errors
  • Unexpected results

Bus Matrix

This Bus Matrix shows the conforming dimension for Oracle Fusion HCM Analytics subject areas. Review the spreadsheet before creating a cross-subject areas analysis.