Lesson 5: Defining Relationships Between Dimensions and Measure Groups

In the previous lessons in this tutorial, you learned that database dimensions added to a cube can be used as the basis for one or more cube dimensions. In this lesson, you learn to define different types of relationships between cube dimensions and measure groups, and to specify the properties of these relationships.

For more information, see Dimension Relationships and Defining Dimension Usage Relationships.

Note

A completed project through Lesson 4 is available by downloading and installing the samples. For more information, see Considerations for Installing SQL Server Samples and Sample Databases.

This lesson contains the following tasks:

• Defining a Referenced Relationship
  In this task, you learn to link a dimension to a fact table indirectly through a dimension that is linked directly through a primary key–foreign key relationship. Related topic:Defining a Referenced Relationship and Referenced Relationship Properties

• Defining a Fact Relationship
  In this task, you learn to define a dimension based on data in the fact table, and to define the dimension relationship as a fact relationship. Related topic: Defining a Fact Relationship and Fact Relationship Properties

• Defining a Many-to-Many Relationship
  In this task, you learn to relate a fact to multiple dimension members through the definition of a many-to-many relationship between dimension tables and fact tables. Related topic: Defining a Many-to-Many Relationship and Many-to-Many Relationship Properties

• Defining Dimension Granularity within a Measure Group
  In this task, you learn to modify the granularity of a dimension for a specific measure group. Related topic: Defining a Regular Relationship and Regular Relationship Properties

Next Lesson

Lesson 6: Defining Calculations

See Also

Concepts

Analysis Services Tutorial Scenario

SQL Server Analysis Services Tutorial

Dimension Relationships

Defining Dimension Usage Relationships