Creating Dimensions with Hierarchies

You can create new dimensions in a dimension diagram using the context menu and new hierarchies using the mini toolbar for the dimension. You can create new dimension levels and hierarchy levels using the context menu and the dimension attributes contained within them using the mini toolbar. You can create precedences using the carousel for the sub dimension level.

Creating a New Dimension

How to proceed

  1. Position the mouse pointer at your chosen position in the diagram and click on the dimension template in the context menu's mini toolbar.

    A new dimension is created as a container node in the diagram. The name of the dimension is automatically selected to be edited.

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

Creating a First Dimension Level

Context

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

Example: If you want to model a 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 dimension's container node and click on the dimension level's template in the context menu's mini toolbar.

    A new dimension level is created in the container node. The name of the dimension level is automatically selected for editing.

  2. Enter a name for the dimension level and confirm using the [Enter] key.

Creating Another Super Dimension Level

How to proceed

  1. Select the sub dimension level in the diagram.

    The carousel appears next to the dimension level.

  2. Drag the dimension precedence with the mouse button pressed to the target position and drop it there.

    The dialog for the selection of the create template for the new dimension level appears.

  3. Select the create template and confirm with OK.

    A dimension precedence and a new dimension level are created in the diagram. The name of the dimension level is automatically selected to be edited.

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

Creating a New Dimension Precedence

Context

A dimension is a quasi hierarchy. A level can have multiple higher levels. If a higher level already exists, then you can assign it to a further lower level by creating a new dimension precedence.

How to proceed

  1. Select a sub dimension level in the diagram.

    The carousel appears next to the dimension level.

  2. Drag the dimension precedence with the mouse button pressed to the super dimension level and drop it there.

    The new precedence is created in the diagram.

Creating a New Hierarchy

How to proceed

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

    The new hierarchy is created next to the dimension and is connected by means of an edge. The name of the hierarchy is automatically selected to be edited.

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

Creating a New Hierarchy Level

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 Dimension Attribute

Context

There are three types of dimension attributes: identification attribute , sort attribute and display attribute . The dimension attributes are located in the dimension level. 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 a dimensions attribute set of the ER model. In this case, the dimensions attribute 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 dimension level and click on the desired attribute template in the mini toolbar of the context menu.

    The new attribute is created in the dimension 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.

    The new attribute is also displayed in all hierarchy levels of the dimension level if the corresponding compartment is open.