1. Data Catalog
  2. Catalog Extension
  3. Manage Dimension Entity
  4. Create a Dimension Entity

6.3.1 Create a Dimension Entity

To create a Dimension Entity for an Action, do the following:
  1. Go to the Inbox by clicking the Inbox Button on the Home Page. The Inbox Page is displayed.
  2. To create an Entity for an Action, do the following:
    1. Select the required Action for which you need to create a Dimension. The Action Details Page is displayed.
    2. On the Extension Tab, click Create Dimension. The Create Dimension Entity Page is displayed.
    3. On the Definition Tab, set the following values.

      Table 6-5 Dimension Entity Field Names and Description on the Definition Tab

      Field Name Description
      Entity Name

      Type a unique name for the Entity.

      • Entity logical name must be in Camel case.
      • It must have A to Z and 0 to 9 characters only.
      • It must be alphanumeric with maximum length 120 characters.
      Entity Description

      Enter a description for the Entity.

      • It must be a complete sentence with possible indication of data domain and list of values it contains along with business context.
      • It must be alphanumeric with maximum length 4000 characters.
      Is data sourced to this entity from an external system

      Select if the Dimension Entity has data sourced from external system. The value can be a Yes or No (Enable the Toggle Switch for Yes and disable for No).

      It is recommended to always enable this switch to source data from external systems as seeded dimension data flow is not supported.
      Should this Entity contain hierarchical data

      Select if the Dimension Entity contains hierarchical data. The value can be a Yes or No (Enable the Toggle Switch for Yes and disable for No).

      Keep this switch enabled if not absolutely sure if the new dimension will not contain hierarchical data as modification to published dimensions are not supported and required physical structure and data flow for hierarchical data cannot be enabled later.
      Available Business Terms

      Based on the Logical Data Type selected during Business Term creation, select the required Business Term to be added to the Dimension entity.

      Note:

      You must add a minimum of two business terms such that at least one is a business key (i.e., natural key of the dimension) with an alphanumeric code column, and one is a numerical identifier (its unique numerical value for the corresponding business key).
      • A Business Term is displayed in the Business Terms selection column only after it is published. You can then add the relevant Business Term while creating the Dimension Entity.
      • Add only slowly changing attributes to dimension entity, don’t add numerical measures, surrogate key(s).
      • Only add functional business terms, standard technical business terms required for a dimension entity e.g. Start Date, End Date, Latest Record Indicator and surrogate key will be added by extension service by default.
      • Flag the BTs which are nullable, by default all new additions and Not Null.
      • Avoid adding alphanumeric business terms to fact entity(s) which does not have an associated dimension.

      It is recommended to add a Business Term with logical name that contains the key word name, which defines the business key of the dimension. This will be used to define the child name in hierarchical data.
      Add Attribute Click this button to add the Attribute (Business Term) in the Business Terms List.
      Remove Attribute Click this button to remove the Attribute (Business Term) from the Business Terms List.
    4. Click Save. A confirmation message is displayed. Click OK. On the Extension Tab, in the Entity Extensions Section, the new Dimension Entity is listed.

      Logical dimension entity definition creates all the required physical structures. The Data flow(SCD) is created by the extension service along with entity definition. You must create a pipeline to add the SCDs created by the extension service.

      When the Hierarchical data toggle button is enabled, a data Flow (Connector) is created by the extension service along with Stage Hierarchy and Dimension Hierarchy. You must create a pipeline to add the Connectors created by the extension service.

      Create a new pipeline and the Data Quality group created for new entity (if any). A single pipeline can be created to add all the newly created Data Quality groups for catalog extensions.

      Note:

      Once a Dimension Entity has been Approved it cannot be modified or removed from the Extension.
  3. If you want to update a draft Entity for an Action, do the following:
    1. Click the required Action for which you need to update a Dimension Entity.
      The Action Details Page is displayed.
    2. On the Extension Tab, click the Dimension Entity that you need to update which is in Draft Status.
    3. The Entity Details Page is displayed. You can update any Field.
    4. Click Save. A confirmation message is displayed. Click OK. On the Extension Tab, in the Entity Extensions Section, the new Dimension Entities are listed. Click outside the Action Details page to close it.