Avoid Surrogate keys in cube model as last unique column

[cognos_dev]

Hello Gurus,

I have a requirement where I have to build a cube with multiple source. I have huge set of dimensions and a fact table. These dimension tables have surrogate keys and these are linked to the fact table.

For e.g., Product Dimension has 'Product_SK' which is a combination of Prod_Id, Prod_Line_Id, Prod_Type_Id, Prod_Grp_Id and Region Dimension has 'Region_SK' which is a combination of Reg_Id, Country_Id, State_Id, Cty_Id.

The Fact table 'Sales' has columns - Region_SK, Product_SK, Sales_Amount. If I am bringing them into my transformer for cube model, then my last level of diemnsion in dimension map will be Prod_SK for Products and Region_SK for Region.

Since they dont really have any meaningful detail, how do I avoid this SK's in my dimension. How do I go about constructing this cube. Please guide me with some useful tips.

Regards,
S

[a027309]

Add the surrogate key column as the lowest level of the dimension. Open the dimension in the dimension viewer, select the level with the surrogate keys, and press the exclude button on the toolbar (alternatively right-click on the level name and select "Exclude" from the context menu).

[rockytopmark]

This thread is Deja Vu

Why not keep the _SK as the lowest level source attribute and simply use the caption and other attributes within that level to hold the meaningful information?

Those _SK columns are your best friend!!!!