Overview of Documenting a Dimensional Model

In the data warehouse environment, it is important to track the following information:

• Source of the data.
• The method by which the source data is extracted and cleansed before it is imported into the data warehouse.
• The frequency and timing of data warehouse updates.

You may have a data warehouse that combines information from several online transaction processing (OLTP) systems, as well as archive data, into a single decision support system. Your data may also come from relational and non-relational sources. To support regular updates and data quality checks, you need to know the source for each column in your data warehouse. You also need to know when and how the data is updated. You can document all of this information using the following:

• Use the Data Warehouse Sources dialog to define sources of data for your data warehouse.
• Use the Column Editor to document data warehouse source assignments and link information for each column in your dimensional model in the Data Source tab.
• Use the Data Movement Rules Editor to document the data warehouse maintenance processes required to regularly update each table in your dimensional model.

You can also track the dimensional modeling role of each table in your model and include flags for slowly changing dimensions in the Dimensional tab of the Table Editor.

Note: Dimensional modeling features are only available when you select the Dimensional check box on the General tab in the Model Editor, and select DM (Dimensional Modeling) on the Notation tab in the Model Editor. Data movement features are only available when you select the Data Movement check box in the Model Editor.

More information:

Data Movement Rules