Dimensions

This code identifies the current record in a unique way.

It corresponds to the name of the table that will be created in the datamart database.

The table abbreviation must be composed of 1 to 4 characters (letters or numbers but must start with a letter). It is the unique identifier for all the table abbreviations of the data dictionary. The Adonix reserved words are prohibited.

An activity code is used to:

• Make an element optional in the dictionary if the value associated with the activity code is null
• Identify the specific/custom elements if they are marked with a code starting with X, Y, or Z
• Size a maximum number of lines when the activity code marks elements from a grid

If the activity code is disabled:

• The marked element will not be useable
• The associated code will not be generated nor activated

Define the source table that will run through (with the records in the linked tables) on each time that an update of the dimension table will be triggered. This run through will be complete, if the update type is Delete and replace; if not, it will incremental, based on the modified records in the principal table.

This condition is applied to the records in the source table during the update processes for the dimensions table. If is is not carried out, the record is not retained to be used in the update.

It is important to note that the complex expressions can be applied here, including the conditions used to intervene in the functions defined by the programmer (syntax func PRG.FONCTION...)

This field is used to define if the loading logic for the dimensions table must be :

• of the type Incremental (on each triggering, the modifications are copied from the source table). Unlike the facts table, where a database trigger is used, in the case of the dimensions, the date of the last modification or creations is used, which must therefore must exist for the dimension tables.
• or of the type Delete and replace (all the lines in the table are deleted prior to completely recreating them).

This option is used to add (or not) an empty line in the dimension table during synchronization.

This parameter is used to specify if this dimension is multi-folder or not.

Used to define the code for an optional process.

If it is entered, this process is called during the update, in order to carryout particular processes.

In this process, a label $ACTION is found and two variables that are used to define the call context :

• The variable named ACTION is used to define the call context. The possible values are:
• "DEB_DIM" at the start of the update.
• "FIN_DIM" at the end of the update.
• The variable named TABLE is used to identify the name of the dimension table being updated.

Thus it is possible to take control when the update of the dimension does not take place by a simple recopy of the table.

Used to define the tables linked to the source table or to one of the tables that precede it in the links grid.

It corresponds to the abbreviation under which the linked table is open.

If this field is not populated, the default abbreviation of the table is used. It is particularly useful to enter an abbreviation if the table appears several times in the grid, since several linked lines in the same table need to be on line simultaneously.

It defines the table key code used to read the linked lines. By default, the first key of the table is used.

This field is defined as one or more calculated expressions separated by a semi colon. Each expression is evaluated, and the result used to identify the value of the key used to perform the join. When multiple joins are authorized, only the first elements of the key can be given.

In the expressions, constants can be used, as well as fields coming from the tables previously defined in the link list.

This field is used for the setup of the table that contains the fields CREDAT and UPDDAT so as to generate the synchronization of the dimensions.

Defines the code for the field in the facts table or the table describing dimensions. This code is that under which the field is known in the database (it is automatically suffixed with the characters "_0"). It is not visible when in the management reports (it is the title that is displayed) but can be viewed if looking at the SQL syntax that extract the data from the datamart.

The field type is defined here, which characterize the entry format (numeric, any characters, date...) and the coherence controls (reference to a table for example).

The principal generic types that exist :

A : Alphanumeric
C : Short integer
L : Long integer
DCB : Decimal
D : Date
M : Local menu
MM : Local menu with filter
ACB : clob
ABB : blob

But many other predefined types exist. They often make reference to an annex table (currency, country...). A dedicated dictionary is used to described them and they can be selected using the key that is used to obtain the list.

Used to define the length of a field when this field uses a generic data type where the length is not fixed. This is notably the case for the types A and DCB.

When a field from the facts or dimensions table is of the type date and is defined as dimension, it is automatically associated with a dimensions table named AX3DAT, which is automatically managed.

It is then possible to specify here what are the time characteristics linked to the date that will be accessed in the analyses. A list of characters to be defined is given, not forgetting there are the following correspondences :

• Y=year
• S=half year
• Q=quarter
• M=month
• F=fortnight
• T=decade
• W=week
• D=day

Thus, for example, YMW signifies that a direct access is available for the year, the month and the week defined by the date.

Defines the local menu number associated with the field defined on the line.

When a field is of the type local menu (from 1 to 255) corresponding to the rank of a title in a table named local menu, stored in the messages table APLSTD.

On entry or on display, the following are displayed according to the choices made in the user interface :

• either a title can be chosen in a scrolling list commonly called a combo box
• or a list of buttons.

The interest of this type of entry is that the list of choices is displayed in the user connection language.

Each local menu number characterises the list of available titles. For example, the local menu 1 corresponds to the choice No / Yes in this order. In this particular case, the user interface can also be a check box.

If the field is associated with a miscellaneous table, the number that identifies it is defined here.

Used to characterize the data in the dimensions table. The following values are possible:

• Dimension signifies that the field is considered to be an analysis criterion stored in the dimensions table.
• Dimension signifies that the field is considered to be an analysis criterion linked to another dimensions table. In certain cases (the fields of the type date, local menu, miscellaneous table) the dimension table is implicitly manage by the software package.
• Information corresponds to a field that will be presented in the reports, but it is not considered as being descriminant from the point of view of the analysis and the data aggregation.
• Technique corresponds to the fields that are used in the data structure (for example to define the links), but which do not need to be visible when constructing the reports.

When a field is of the type Information in a dimensions table, it must be attached to a field of the type Dimension. Therefore one of the fields of the type Dimension present in the dimensions table is entered here.

When the field is of the type Parent dimension, the dimension code is entered here to which it is attached.

This adonix calculation formula is used to define the fashion in which the field is loaded in the dimensions table when the datamart is updated from a folder in the software package.

Such a formula can include constants, the fields coming from the tables declared in lines, the standard functions, but also the functions defined by a developer (by the syntax func PRG.FONCTION).

An activity code is used to:

• Make an element optional in the dictionary if the value associated with the activity code is null
• Identify the specific/custom elements if they are marked with a code starting with X, Y, or Z
• Size a maximum number of lines when the activity code marks elements from a grid

If the activity code is disabled:

• The marked element will not be useable
• The associated code will not be generated nor activated

A dimension table must have available an index where the key values that are used to establish a join between the facts tables or other linked dimensions. This field is used to define these characteristics.

This is where the list of fields that make up the index are entered. The fields are separated by a '+' if there are several fields (for example, in the sites table FACILITY there is a key whose definition is LEGCPY+FCY).

A descending sort field is preceded with the sign "-" (warning, it is used in the left list).

The first field that makes up the index is without a sign and is therefore ascending.

When this box is ticked, an object Number is added in the created universe, this is used to directly access the number of lines in the dimensions table(globally or on given criteria).