You will now create a Dimension from a simple snowflake schema—getting to a table through another table to define a link. [See discussions on Administrator Topics, Preparing Relational Data for Use with OLAP Exchange).
1. Double-click on the first (or intermediary) table (e.g., Orders ), then double-click on the second table—the one that contains the data you need for the Dimension (e.g., Customers).
Notice that, dbo.Customers now appears in the Dimension Name text box at the top right.
2. Specify the Dimension Name by Typing in Customers in the Dimension Name text box.
Define the link between the first and the second table as in the example:
3. Drag OrderID in the Order Details table to the same table in the Orders table.
4. Drag CustomerID in the Orders table to the same table in the Customers table.
The Define Links dialog box will appear as in the following figure:
The above is an example of a snowflake schema.
Important
Note that the Dimension will be created from the rightmost table and only
from that table, so all information needed to construct the Dimension—information for Hierarchies, Aliases
and Properties—must
be contained in that table. If this information is not contained in this
table, you will have to manually define these Dimension characteristics
through PowerOLAP®.
Please continue with the following topics to complete creation of the 3rd dimension, which in this case is the Customers dimension: