Editing Hierarchies

You can edit the hierarchies of a dimension in a cube diagram by creating new hierarchy levels via the context menu. A hierarchy level then acts as a substitute for the underlying dimension level. You can create display attributes, identification attributes and sort attributes of the dimension level using the mini toolbar for a corresponding hierarchy level. You can generate dimension precedences between the dimension levels with the help of the carousel for the corresponding subhierarchy level. The linking of a hierarchy level with the ER model corresponds to the linkage of its dimension level.

Creating New Hierarchy Levels in Complete Dimensions

How to proceed

  1. Position the mouse pointer at your chosen position in the hierarchy's container node and click on the hierarchy level template in the context menu's mini toolbar.

    The dialog for selecting the corresponding dimension level appears.

  2. Select the dimension level and confirm with OK.

    The hierarchy level is created in the container node. The edges of the precedences for existing nodes in the sub and super dimension level are inserted automatically. The name of the hierarchy level is prefilled with the name of the dimension level and is automatically selected for editing

  3. Confirm with the [Enter] key.

    If you change the name beforehand in the specified cases, this name is retained even if you change the name of the dimension level later on.

Creating a First Hierarchy Level in Empty Dimensions

Prerequisites

Start with the bottommost level of the hierarchy so that you can create further higher levels directly together with the dimension precedences with the help of the carousel for the hierarchy levels.

Example: If you want to model a hierarchy and dimension "Time" with the levels "Day", "Month" and "Year", you start with the level "Day".

How to proceed

  1. Position the mouse pointer at your chosen position in the hierarchy's container node and click on the hierarchy level template in the context menu's mini toolbar.

    The dialog for entering a name for the new dimension level appears.

  2. Enter the name for the dimension level and confirm with the [OK] key.

    The new dimension level is created in the background. The corresponding hierarchy level is created in the hierarchy's container node. The name of the hierarchy level is prefilled with the name of the dimension level and is automatically selected for editing

  3. Confirm with the [Enter] key.

    If you change the name beforehand in the specified cases, this name is retained even if you change the name of the dimension level later on.

Creating New Superordinate Hierarchy Levels in Incomplete Dimensions

How to proceed

  1. Select the subhierarchy level in the diagram.

    The carousel appears next to the hierarchy level.

  2. Drag the dimension precedence you want with the mouse button pressed and release the mouse button at a free point within the container node.

    The dialog for entering a name for the new dimension level appears.

  3. Enter the name for the super dimension level and confirm with the [OK] key.

    The new dimension level is created in the background. The corresponding superordinate hierarchy level is created in the hierarchy's container node. The precedence is created as an edge between the two hierarchy levels.

Creating Attributes in Dimension Levels

Prerequisites

There are three types of attributes in a dimension level: identification attributes , sort attributes and display attributes . The hierarchy level is a substitute for its dimension level and displays its attributes redundantly within its node.

In a complete model, the dimension levels are linked with an attribute set of the ER model. In this case, the attributes of the dimension level are linked with attributes of this attribute set and the name is derived from the ER model.

The following steps describe the procedure if the dimension is still developed without an ER link.

How to proceed

  1. Select a hierarchy level and click on the desired attribute template in the mini toolbar of the context menu.

    A new attribute is created in the corresponding dimension level and is displayed in the selected hierarchy level. The name of the attribute is automatically selected to be edited.

  2. Enter the name for the attribute and confirm with the [Enter] key.

Duplicating Hierarchies

How to proceed

  1. Select the hierarchy in the diagram and select Duplicate from the context menu.

    An exact copy of the selected hierarchy is created along with its hierarchy levels and is placed into the diagram next to the original. The name of the copy is made unique by means of a suffix and is automatically selected for editing.

  2. Enter the name for the new hierarchy and confirm with the [Enter] key.

    You can make the desired changes in the duplicate.