Set the AttributeHierarchyVisible property of the key attribute in a parent-child dimension to False

This rule analyzes each dimension that contains a parent-child hierarchy to determine whether the key attribute is hidden.

Best Practices Recommendations

To increase usability, you should typically hide the key attribute when the dimension contains a parent-child hierarchy. The key attribute displays a flat list of the members that it contains. The parent-child hierarchy also displays the members of the key attribute, but in a more organized manner. By hiding the key attribute, the end user receives the following benefits:

• The end user is less confused because there is only one way to display the members of the key attribute.

• The end user sees the members of the key attribute in a more user-friendly display instead of a flat list.

To hide a dimension attribute, set its AttributeHierarchyVisible property to False.

For More Information

For more information about how to set attribute properties, see Defining and Configuring Dimension Attributes in SQL Server Books Online.