Edit multidimensional data source models

For multidimensional models, Data Source Model Editor lets you add custom properties to levels.

These properties improve Analyzer behavior, such as geography maps and relative date filters.

Assign geographic properties

Analyzer can visualize data on a map.

For common geography types (country, state, city, postal code), the Data Source Wizard can populate geography levels automatically.

If your model uses custom fields, set a Geography Type on each relevant level.

1. In Data Source Model Editor, select the Analysis tab.

2. Select a geographic level.

3. In Properties, set Geography Type.

Repeat for each geographic level you want available for map visualizations.

Assign time dimension properties

Designating a time dimension enables relative date filters, such as previous period and next period.

To enable these filters, define time properties for the relevant levels in your time hierarchy.

1. In Data Source Model Editor, select the Analysis tab.

2. Select the dimension you want to treat as a time dimension.

3. In Properties, select Time Dimension.

4. Expand the hierarchy, then select the level you want to configure.

5. Set Time Level Type and Source Column Format to match the format stored in your data source.

Time Level Type and Source Column Format do not display for a child level if Time Dimension is not set for its parent dimension.

Understand time level settings

The Time Level Type and Source Column Format lists in Properties describe how your time data is stored in the source.

Analyzer uses these settings for time-period functions and relative date filters.

Time Level Type specifies the role of a level and the increment it represents.

Source Column Format specifies how the source column value is formatted for that increment.

Setting Source Column Format does not change how values display.

It describes your data format so filtering works as expected.

Common formats

Here are commonly used formats for time measurements:

• Years: yy, yyyy

• Quarters: Q, QQ, QQQ

• Months: M, MM, MMM

• Weeks: w, ww, W

• Days: d, dd, D, DDD, yyyy-MM-dd

• Hours: k, kk, H, HH, K, KK

• Minutes: m, mm

• Seconds: s, ss

If the formats in the list do not match your data, enter a custom value in Source Column Format.

Your format must follow the ICU SimpleDateFormat specification.

Examples

If a level has Time Level Type set to Quarters, the level corresponds to quarter increments.

If the source values are numeric (1 through 4), set Source Column Format to Q.

If the source values are strings (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), set Source Column Format to 'Q'Q.

If the source values include the year (2001-Q1, 2001-Q2, ...), set Source Column Format to yyyy-'Q'Q.

Set an ordinal column (optional)

Ordinal columns change the default sort order of a level when members are fetched from a database.

For example, month_name sorts alphabetically by default.

If you sort month_name by an ordinal column such as month_id, months can sort chronologically instead.

1. Select the level you want to update.

2. In Properties, under Ordinal Column, select Edit.

3. In Select Ordinal Column, select the column to use, then select OK.