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How to: Analyze Data by Dimensions

  • Article

In financial analysis, a dimension is data that you can add to an entry as a kind of marker. This data is used to group entries with similar characteristics, such as customers, regions, products, and salesperson, and easily retrieve these groups for analysis. Dimensions can be used on entries in journals, documents, and budgets. The term dimension describes how analysis occurs. A two-dimensional analysis, for example, would be sales per area. However, by using more than two dimensions when creating an entry, you can carry out a more complex analysis, such as sales per sales campaign per customer group per area. For more information, see Working with Dimensions.

Analyzing data by dimensions gives you greater insight into your business, so you can evaluate information, such as how well your business is operating, where it is thriving and where it is not, and where more resources should be allocated.

Tip

As a quick way to analyze transactional data by dimensions, you can filter totals in the chart of accounts and entries in all Entries windows by dimensions. Look for the Set Dimension Filter action.

To set up an analysis view

An analysis by dimensions displays a selected combination of dimensions. You can store and retrieve each analysis you have set up. The information for setting up an analysis is stored on an Analysis View card to simplify future analysis.

  1. Choose the Search for Page or Report icon, enter Analysis Views, and then choose the related link.
  2. In the Analysis View List window, choose the New action.
  3. Fill in the fields as necessary. Choose a field to read a short description of the field or link to more information.
  4. To add other dimension codes in addition to the four on the Dimensions FastTab, choose the Filter action, fill in the fields, and then choose the OK button.
  5. To update the view, choose the Update action.

To analyze by dimensions

You can use the Analysis by Dimensions matrix to view the amounts in your general ledger by using the analysis views that you have already set up. You fill in the Analysis by Dimensions window to define what will be shown in the matrix, and then you choose the Show Matrix action to view the matrix.

  • The leftmost columns contain information based on what you have selected in the Show as Lines field in the header.
  • The rightmost columns contain information based on to what you have selected in the Show as Columns field in the header.
  1. Choose the Search for Page or Report icon, enter Analysis by Dimensions, and then choose the related link.
  2. Select the relevant analysis view, and then choose the Edit Analysis View action.
  3. At the top of the Analysis by Dimensions window, fill in the fields to define what is shown.
    1. To see a specification of an amount shown in the matrix window, choose the amount.

Important

You cannot select a period length shorter than the period specified for the date compression on the Analysis View card. The Next Set and Previous Set commands are inactive if you have selected Period in either the Show as Lines or the Show as Columns field.

Note

You can use the Dimensions - Detail report to display a detailed classification of how dimensions have been used on entries over a selected period. You can use the Dimensions - Total report to display only the total amounts.

Tip

You can also change the view by changing the contents of the Show as Lines field and Show as Columns field. To reverse a view setting, choose the Reverse Lines and Columns action.

To update an analysis view

The amounts that are displayed in the Analysis by Dimensions window give you a picture of the company’s state at the time of the last update. To get a picture of the current state, you must update the analysis view by running the update function.

The following procedure is for updating an analysis view from the Analysis by Dimensions window. The steps are similar from the Analysis View Card and the Analysis View List windows.

  1. Choose the Search for Page or Report icon, enter Analysis by Dimensions, and then choose the related link.
  2. In the Analysis by Dimensions window, choose the Analysis View Code field.
  3. Select the line with the relevant analysis view.
  4. Choose the Update action.

Tip

If you select the Update on Posting check box on an analysis view card, the view is automatically updated when an involved transaction is posted.

Note

To update some or all analysis views at the same time, you must use the Update Analysis Views batch job.

See Also

Dynamics 365 Business Central
Business Intelligence
Finance
Setting Up Finance
The General Ledger and the Chart of Accounts
Working with Dimensions
Working with Dynamics NAV