1. Administering Planning
  2. Using Smart View to Manage Applications
  3. Working with Artifacts in the Application Template
  4. Attribute Dimension Definition

Attribute Dimension Definition

In the template workbook, create a new worksheet for each attribute dimension in your application. You can use the attribute dimension worksheet provided in the template for the Vision application as your guideline.

Follow this workflow for setting up an attribute dimension worksheet in your application template workbook:

  1. Define the Worksheet Name

  2. Define the Worksheet Type

  3. Define the Attribute Dimension Name

  4. Define the Attribute Dimension Type

  5. Define the Base Dimension

  6. Define Attribute Members

Define the Worksheet Name

Define the worksheet name in the Excel worksheet tab. For the worksheet name, use the dimension name prefixed with "Attribute.". For example, for the Location attribute dimension, you would name the worksheet Attribute.Location. For example:

Worksheet tabs from an Excel application template working showing the naming convention for attribute dimensions, "Attribute.<attribute_name>". Focus is on the tab for the Location attribute dimension, Attribute.Location

Define the Worksheet Type

In cell A1 in the attribute dimension worksheet, type Attribute for the worksheet type. In Figure E-5, cell A1 contains the worksheet type, Attribute.

Figure E-5 Worksheet Type and Attribute Dimension Properties Shown in an Attribute Dimension Worksheet of Application Template


Portion of Excel application template worksheet showing "Attribute" as the type of sheet in cell A1, the label, Name, in cell A3, and the attribute dimension name, Location, in cell B3; the label, Type, in cell A4, and the attribute type, Text, in cell B4; and the label Base Dimension in cell A5, and the base dimension name, Entity, in cell B5.

Define the Attribute Dimension Name

In the attribute dimension worksheet, type the dimension name. In Figure E-5, cell B3 contains the attribute dimension name, Location.

Define the Attribute Dimension Type

In the attribute dimension worksheet, type the attribute dimension type. In Figure E-5, cell B4 contains the attribute dimension type, Text.

Valid attribute dimension types are:

  • Text

  • Numeric

  • Boolean

  • Date

Define the Base Dimension

In the attribute dimension worksheet, type the base dimension for the attribute dimension. In Figure E-5, cell B5 contains the base dimension, Entity.

Define Attribute Members

In the dimension worksheet, under the Members heading in cell A5, add attribute members and their properties. Your list of attribute members should conform to the format described in Importing and Exporting Data and Metadata. You may add columns only for required properties. Any missing properties will be added based on application, cube, and dimension defaults.