Dimensional Model

[Sep2013]

Hi I have a dimensional Data Model (form of fact and dimension tables)in the data base and I want to dimension-ally model it in FM where I can group all fact table facts in measures .
But I do not have any hierarchies in the model, I am sure howto create regular dimensions that do not have hierarchies and levels. Like DIm Crash that has Crash No., Crash Date, Crash Location etc.

Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

[MFGF]

Hi I have a dimensional Data Model (form of fact and dimension tables)in the data base and I want to dimension-ally model it in FM where I can group all fact table facts in measures .
But I do not have any hierarchies in the model, I am sure howto create regular dimensions that do not have hierarchies and levels. Like DIm Crash that has Crash No., Crash Date, Crash Location etc.

Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Hi,

In your example, wouldn't crash date and crash location be different dimensions? With the info you've given us, I'd imagine a fact table with crash no, location id, crash date (or date ID) and crash measures. This would link to a Crash dimension (crash no and crash description), crash location dimension (which could be a hierarchy), crash date dimension (which normally is a hierarchy).

There's no issue with having a single-level hierarchy if necessary. Do you need OLAP capabilities over the data, or are you just asking about a star schema model comprising dimension and fact query subjects?

MF.

[bdbits]

Sep2013 are you talking about DMR within an FM model? Or just a relational database design?

For DMR/OLAP, Cognos is pretty rigid with dimensions. They are strict hierarchies. If you are comparing it to say a Microsoft SSAS cube, it is not as flexible in what you can put in the dimensions. You might want to stick with relational reporting if you need that sort of flexibility.

Well technically, SSAS also needs hierarchies in dims but every attribute can basically be its own hierarchy, with multiple hierarchies in each dim. But I digress.