Customizing Blackboard Intelligence Adding columns to fact tables

Transcription

1 Customizing Blackboard Intelligence Adding columns to fact tables There are different types of columns that could be added to a Fact table. You might add a dimension to a Fact table which will be a foreign key relationship to a dimension table; or you might add a measure to a Fact table which will be a numerical value used to perform calculations. Code Template(s): Common.Add Column to Fact Table.sql Add a measure column to a Fact table, create the stored procedure to calculate the measure. Common.Add Dimension to Fact Table.sql Add a dimension key column to a Fact table, create the stored procedure to determine the dimension key value. HEA Metadata Tables: Add Custom Measure to Fact HEA.EntityHelper Add Dimension to Fact HEA.EntityHelper HEA.Fact (optional) Update to data quality firewall configuration for dimension mismatch. New Database Objects and Changes to Existing Objects: Add Custom Measure to Fact New column <MeasureName> on Stage.Fact<FactName> New column <MeasureName> on Final.Fact<FactName> New stored procedure, CustomStage.HelperFact<FactName> Stage_<MeasureName> Add Dimension to Fact table New column <DimensionName>Key on Stage.Fact<FactName> New column <DimensionName>Key on Final.Fact<FactName> New Foreign Key on Stage.Fact<FactName> to <DimensionName> New Foreign Key on Final.Fact<FactName> to <DimensionName> New Default constraint for <DimensionName>Key on Stage.Fact<FactName> setting <DimensionName>Key to -1 (unknown member of the dimension) New Default constraint for <DimensionName>Key on Final.Fact<FactName> setting <DimensionName>Key to -1 (unknown member of the dimension) New stored procedure, CustomStage.HelperFact<FactName> Stage_<MeasureName>

2 Additional Considerations: Ensure any new stored procedure is uniquely named and is not unintentionally replacing an existing stored procedure. Most Common SSAS Steps: These are the most common steps that will need to occur when adding a dimension to an SSAS solution. It is possible that the dimension being added will require additional steps to make it function as desired. 1. Open the SSAS Solution in Business Development Studio (BIDS) or SQL Data Tools (SQL Server 2012.) 2. Open the data source view by double clicking the data source view in the Solution Explorer window. 3. Refresh the data source view. You should see your added column in the Refresh Data Source report. If not, you may need to modify the named query for the fact table. If you added a measure column to the Fact table, go to step 10. Otherwise continue with the following steps.

3 4. If you added a Dimension Key column to the fact table, ensure you setup the relationship between the dimension and fact table (if the relationship does not already exist.) The Fact table should be identified as the Source (foreign key) table when setting up the relationships. 5. Open the cube that contains the Fact table. If you added a dimension to the fact table, the dimension may need to be added to the cube if it is not already added to the cube. 6. a. If the dimension is not already included in the cube, add it to the cube. Select the Dimension Usage tab, and press the button for Add Cube Dimension

4 b. Select the dimension from the list and press OK. 7. Confirm, correct, or add the dimension / measure group usage for the added dimension. If you did not need to add the dimension to the cube, you will need to setup the dimension usage where the Fact (Measure group) intersects the dimension. 8. Enable the dimension (and hierarchies) in the appropriate Perspectives so the dimension is visible to users. a. Select the Perspectives tab b. Find the dimension, and check the box under the appropriate perspective. 9. Deploy the SSAS Solution and test the dimension. The following steps are specific to measure columns.

5 10. Open the cube where you want to display the new measure. 11. Select the appropriate measure group related to the fact table. 12. Either right click the Measure Group and select New Measure or press the New Measure button to add a new measure to the Measure Group. 13. Select the new measure from the list of columns. 14. Set the properties for the measure, such as, the FormatString, DataType, and the Name.

6 15. If the measure needs to be displayed to the user, enable the measure in the correct Cube Perspective. a. Select the Perspectives tab b. Find the measure, and check the box under the appropriate perspective 16. Save and Deploy the SSAS Solution, test the measure. Blackboard.com Copyright Blackboard Inc. All rights reserved. Blackboard, the Blackboard logo, BbWorld, Blackboard Learn, Blackboard Transact, Blackboard Connect, Blackboard Mobile, Blackboard Collaborate, Blackboard Analytics, Blackboard Engage, Edline, the Edline logo, the Blackboard Outcomes System, Behind the Blackboard, and Connect-ED are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackboard Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Blackboard products and services may be covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 8,265,968, 7,493,396; 7,558,853; 6,816,878; 8,150,925