Defining a Dimension

In the following task, you will use the Dimension Wizard to build a Date dimension.

Note

This lesson requires that you have completed all the procedures in Lesson 1.

To define a dimension

1. In Solution Explorer (on the right side of Microsoft Visual Studio), right-click Dimensions, and then click New Dimension. The Dimension Wizard appears.

2. On the Welcome to the Dimension Wizard page, click Next.

3. On the Select Creation Method page, verify that the Use an existing table option is selected, and then click Next.

4. On the Specify Source Information page, verify that the Adventure Works DW 2012 data source view is selected.

5. In the Main table list, select Date.

6. Click Next.

7. On the Select Dimension Attributes page, select the check boxes next to the following attributes:

   • Date Key

   • Full Date Alternate Key

   • English Month Name

   • Calendar Quarter

   • Calendar Year

   • Calendar Semester

8. Change the setting of the Full Date Alternate Key attribute's Attribute Type column from Regular to Date. To do this, click Regular in the Attribute Type column. Then click the arrow to expand the options. Next, click Date > Calendar > Date. Click OK. Repeat these steps to change the attribute type of the attributes as follows:

   • English Month Name to Month

   • Calendar Quarter to Quarter

   • Calendar Year to Year

   • Calendar Semester to Half Year

9. Click Next.

10. On the Completing the Wizard page, in the Preview pane, you can see the Date dimension and its attributes.

11. Click Finish to complete the wizard.

    In Solution Explorer, in the Analysis Services Tutorial project, the Date dimension appears in the Dimensions folder. In the center of the development environment, Dimension Designer displays the Date dimension.

12. On the File menu, click Save All.

Next Task in Lesson

Defining a Cube

See Also

Dimensions in Multidimensional Models
Create a Dimension by Using an Existing Table
Create a Dimension Using the Dimension Wizard