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 either completed all the procedures in Lesson 1 or have opened the completed project for Lesson 1 that is available by downloading and installing the updated samples. For more information, see Obtaining Updated Samples in Considerations for Installing SQL Server Samples and Sample Databases. When it is installed, the default location for this project file is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Samples\Analysis Services\Tutorials\Lesson 1 Complete.
To define a dimension
In Solution Explorer, right-click Dimensions, and then click New Dimension.
On the Welcome to the Dimension Wizard page, click Next.
On the Select Creation Method page, verify that the Use an existing table option is selected, and then click Next.
On the Specify Source Information page, verify that the Adventure Works DW data source view is selected.
In the Main table list, select Date.
Click Next.
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
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 following attributes as follows:
English Month Name to Month
Calendar Quarter to Quarter
Calendar Year to Year
Calendar Semester to Half Year
Click Next.
On the Completing the Wizard page, in the Preview pane, you can see the Date dimension and its attributes.
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.
On the File menu, click Save All.