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JackTJr
November 9, 2023

Attribute Dimensions and Value Dimensions

  • November 9, 2023
  • 1 reply
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Outside if BI Blend, is there a use for the Attribute Dimensions and Attribute Value Dimensions?

All of the documentation that I am reading, the search for Attribute Dimension only shows up in the BI Blend Section.

1 reply

J
JackLacava
November 10, 2023

Typically, Attribute and Attribute Value dimensions are used to store data in Stage that will not make it to the Cube; stuff like transaction IDs, SKUs, etc, which would be too cumbersome or inefficient to have in UDs. You then look up the data when necessary, in reports or dashboards, using relational blending (which is not BiBlend), either through those APIs or directly with SQL queries over Stage tables. Attributes store text and Attribute Values store numbers.  This is the traditional use for them.

BiBlend augments that feature because it allows you to aggregate on Attribute dimensions, creating custom hierarchies. Suddenly you can get 28 UDs (!), and the world is your oyster. BiBlend also can leverage Attribute Values to speed up calculations, when the input source is already pivoted on Time (i.e. periods are in columns) and you have less than 13 periods.

I believe this is covered in the Foundation Handbook.

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