Working with Attributes

Use attributes to group members using the same criterion. You can assign attributes to sparse dimensions only. You can't assign attributes to label-only members. Attribute dimensions don't have aggregation properties because parents are dynamically calculated.

The Account dimension is usually defined as dense, so you can't assign attributes to it unless it's changed to sparse for all cubes. If you change a dimension from sparse to dense, all attributes and attribute values for that dimension are automatically deleted.

Attributes can have data types of text, date, Boolean, and numeric, as described in Understanding Attribute Data Types. Attribute names must conform to guidelines listed in Naming Restrictions. When attributes are defined, you can use the Member Selection dialog box to select attribute functions, such as Equal and GreaterOrEqual.

Note:

This topic documents how to work with attributes using the Classic Dimension Editor. For information about using the Simplified Dimension Editor to work with attributes, see Working with Attributes.

To create and change attributes, attribute values, and aliases:

1. From the Home page, click Navigator , and then under Create and Manage, click Dimensions.
2. Select a sparse dimension for which to define an attribute, attribute value, or alias.

   Note:

   Only sparse dimensions can contain attributes.

3. Click .

   Note:

   If the dimension isn't sparse, Custom Attributes isn't available.

4. Select options.

   • To create attributes, click . Type an attribute name, and select a data type: Text, Date, Boolean, or Numeric.

     Note:

     • You can't modify the type after the attribute is created.

     • Before working with date attributes, you must select the Attribute Dimension Date Format in Application Settings and save it.

     See Understanding Attribute Data Types.

   • To modify attributes, click , and update the attribute name.

   • To set aliases for attributes, select an attribute and an attribute value, click . Select an alias table, type an alias name, and click Save.

5. Click Close.

   When you click Close, the hierarchy is validated and an error displays if issues are detected. For example, date attribute values must be entered in the correct format, and numeric and date attribute dimensions must have at least one attribute value defined.

6. Update and validate business rules and reports.

Related topics:

• Understanding Attribute Data Types

• Deleting Attributes

Note:

Instead of explicitly filtering by an attribute (like Red, for instance), you can create a user variable for the attribute dimension, and then use the user variable as the filter. Then you can enable the user variable as a dynamic user variable which would allow users to change the value of the filter at runtime. This is a useful technique that allows for dynamic filtering. See Managing User Variables.

Table 24-6 Tutorials

Your Goal	Learn How
Learn how to report on data with attribute hierarchies. You can view and report on data organized by attribute on the web on forms and dashboards, with MR reports, or in Oracle Smart View for Office with ad hoc analysis.	Reporting on Data with Attribute Hierarchies