In this section, we will expand upon points introduced in the Creating a Cube via OLAP Exchange® section—particularly concerning the options available in the Define Members dialog box, a detail figure of which is below.
.png)
Notes
Bear in mind that selections/options discussed under this section are available
when you initially build a Cube. We are demonstrating them here in
the context of how to "Modify Relational Dimension"—i.e, how to use OLAP Exchange®
component to modify the composition of an already-built PowerOLAP dimension
that has been created via OLAP Exchange®.
Note also that a change to the Define Drill-Through feature, which was
discussed in the previous section, will not be shown—this will be intuitive in the
context of the changes shown following.
OLAP Exchange® allows you—even after you have initially built a Cube—to customize its dimensional make-up so that it is better suited to your needs. However, keep in mind that modifying a Dimension will affect the structure of the Cube(s) that uses the Dimension. Modifying a Dimension can have a serious bearing on your work if you do so after having used the Cube in a production environment. Sometimes it may be more appropriate to create a new Cube that uses the (same) Dimension, but with the modifications you require. [The ramifications of Modify Relational Dimension are discussed at the end of the section.]
Important
Once a Cube is created, a user is only allowed to modify an existing Dimension
of a Cube. User is limited to changing the configuration of the options
of the Dimensions. Addition or deletion of new Dimensions is not allowed
nor can there be changes made to the defined table link of an existing
Dimension.
In the following steps we proceed under the hypothetical assumption that we have not yet settled on our final Cube design—so we will modify Dimensions created previously, in the example Order Information cube.
We will begin by making several global changes to these Dimensions, re-tracing some steps we followed before, but making new selections. The topic, entitled Re-defining a Dimension, includes the familiar dialog boxes like Define Members, Define Aliases, Define Properties, etc.
Then we will examine the specific options in the Define Members dialog box; in the topic entitled Define Member Options. Some of these features will be demonstrated by making actual changes/selections; others will be explained, since their effect will not be immediately apparent in the example file, but are no less important.
Please see the following topics: