Create a shared dimension

This section describes how to create a shared dimension.

Note: Be sure to create one annotation to serve as the dimension key.

1. In the Design tab, click the Flow folder, and then double-click the Shared Dimension step icon. Alternatively, you can drag the step icon on to the transformation canvas.

   

   Shared Dimension step icon
2. Double-click the Shared Dimension icon to open the Shared Dimension dialog box.

3. Enter a name for the step in the Step name field.

4. If you are basing your new dimension on an existing shared dimension, select it from the Shared Dimension Name drop-down list of available shared dimensions, or enter a new name for it.

5. Select a source to associate your dimension from the Data Provider Step drop-down list.

   The following steps are valid sources:

   • Combination Lookup

   • Database Lookup

   • Dimension Lookup

   • Insert/Update

   • Table Output

   • Vertica Bulk Loader

6. Enter a description of the shared dimension in the Description field.

7. Select available fields for annotation.

   1. Click the Select Fields button to open the Select Fields to Annotate dialog box.

   2. Double-click the fields in the Available Fields list to add them to theSelected Fields list.

      For example, you might select Year to annotate as your dimension key and Year, Month, and Week to annotate as attributes Optionally, you can use the arrows to move one or more fields to the Selected Fields list.

   3. When finished, click OK to close the dialog box. The selected fields now display in the Annotations table featuring the following columns:

Column	Description
Field	Lists the names of the fields selected for annotation.
Model Action	Specifies which model action is being taken:- Creating attributes Create a dimension key: the selected field will be designated as the dimension key for the shared dimension.
Summary	Displays a summary of that specific annotation.

8. Now you can create [annotations](../Using%20the%20Annotate%20Stream%20step.md) for the selected fields.

1.  To annotate a field, double-click it in the **Annotations** section. Optionally, you can select the select the field in the **Annotations** table and then select the **Edit** \(Pencil icon\) in the upper-right corner.

    The Annotate dialog box appears for the selected field.

2.  In the **Actions** field, click the drop-down arrow to select one of the following actions:

    -   **Create Attribute**. See [Creating attributes](../Using%20the%20Annotate%20Stream%20step/Use%20the%20Annotate%20Stream%20step/Creating%20attributes.md).
    -   **Create Dimension Key**. See [Create a dimension key](../Using%20the%20Annotate%20Stream%20step/Use%20the%20Annotate%20Stream%20step/Creating%20Link%20Dimensions%20for%20SDR/Create%20a%20dimension%20key.md).
3.  You can use the **Previous** and **Next** buttons to navigate through the fields. When finished, click **OK** to continue or **Cancel** to close the dialog box without saving your annotations.

    **Note:** You can remove a field from the **Annotations** section by selecting it in the table and then clicking the **Delete** \(X icon\) in the upper-right corner.

9. Click Apply to save changes you made to an annotation. Click OK to continue or Cancel to close the dialog box.

This is an example of the Shared Dimensions dialog box.

Shared Dimension step