How to: Add a Role-Playing Dimension to a Cube

You can add a role-playing dimension to a cube by using the Dimension Usage view in Cube Designer, which you can access from Business Intelligence Development Studio. A role-playing dimension is a dimension that is used in a cube more than one time, each time for a different purpose. For example, you might add a Time dimension to a cube three times to track the times that products are ordered, shipped, and received. Each role-playing dimension is joined to a fact table on a different foreign key.

To add a role-playing dimension to a cube

  1. In Solution Explorer, right-click the cube, and then click View Designer.

  2. In Cube Designer, click the Dimension Usage tab.

  3. Either click the Add Cube Dimension button, or right-click anywhere on the work surface and then click Add Cube Dimension.

  4. In the Add Cube Dimension dialog box, select the dimension that you want to add, and then click OK.

  5. In the Dimension Usage view, under Dimensions, right-click the dimension that you added in the previous step, click Rename, and then type a new name for the role-playing dimension. This name should describe the purpose of the dimension and should distinguish it from the other dimensions of the same type. For example, if you have added a Time dimension multiple times, you might name the instances Order Time, Ship Time, and Delivery Time.

  6. Define the relationship between the fact table or tables and the role-playing dimension.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Specify Dimension Usage for a Cube Dimension

Other Resources

Working with Cubes and Cube Properties How-to Topics

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance