Dimension Load

Description

Loads or updates a dimension from data in a PlaidCloud table. Handles both initial loads (creating the hierarchy from scratch) and incremental updates (adding members, changing parents, updating properties without rebuilding from zero).

Supports two source data shapes: Parent-Child (one row per edge in the tree) and Levels (one column per hierarchy level, one full path per row). Values, aliases, and properties can be loaded alongside the structural data.

Dimension Selection

Specify Dimension Dynamically

To specify a dimension dynamically you include project and or local variables in the name.

Variables are useful when dimensions are updated on a periodic basis and retaining the historical view is desired.

An example that uses the current_month variable to dynamically load the dimension:

dimension_name_{current_month}

Use Specific Dimension

To use a specific dimension select the dimension using the drop down menu.

Load to Alternate Hierarchy

To load an Alternate Hierarchy fist select the dimension either dynamically or specifically, click the Load to Alternate Hierarchy checkbox and enter the name of the alternate hierarchy to be loaded.

Note

It is often useful to have alternate views / rollups of the main dimension. For instance, cost centers usually have an accounting rollup but an alternate view based on organizational structure might be desired.

Source Table

Dynamic

To specify the source table dynamically click the Dynamic Checkbox and enter the table name including the project and or local variables in the name.

Static

To use a specific source table select the table using the drop down menu.

Dimension Properties and Table Layout

Default Consolidation Type

There are three options for consolidation types:

• ”+”: Aggregates values in the dimension.
• ”-”: Subtracts values in the dimension.
• ”~”: No aggregation is performed in the dimension.

Note

In the source data table you can include Consolidation Type as a column so multiple consolidation types can be used within a dimension. The Consolidation Type column is then used in the Column Mapping section below.

Table Column Format

There are two options for fomatting the Source Table when loading a dimension.

Parent Child

In a Parent Child table there are two columns that represent the dimensions structure, Parent and Child.

EXAMPLE PARENT CHILD

PARENT	CHILD	Consolidation Type
Parent All	Parent 1	~
Parnet All	Parent 2	~
Parent 1	Child 1	+
Parent 2	Child 2	+
Child 1	Child 3	+
Child 1	Child 4	+
Child 2	Child 5	+

Note

In the Parent Child table format you can also include a Consolidation Type column in the table. The Consolidation Type is associated with the child.

Flattened Levels

In a Flattend Level table there are an infinte number of columns with each column representing a level of the dimension.

EXAMPLE FLATTENED LEVELS

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Parent All	Parent 1	Child 1	Child 3
Parent All	Parent 1	Child 1	Child 4
Parent All	Parent 2	Child 2	Child 5

Column Mapping

Using the Inspect Source menu button populates the Source Column in the data mapper. Once the Source Column has been populated use the Kind drop down menu to map the Source Columns to the appropriate column type.