Adding star schemas and dimensions

A data mart can contain any number of star schemas and dimensions. You can either add dimensions when you create a new star schema or you can add them later and attach them to star schemas as needed. Regardless of how they are added, dimensions can be reused across several star schemas as necessary.

To add a star schema:

1. Either click the New Star Schema toolbar button.

   OR

   Right-click the Star Schemas or Dimensions items and select New Star Schema.

   The New Star Schema wizard opens.

2. Perform steps 4 to 13 in Adding data marts and star schemas. The star schema is added to the Star Schemas list.

3. If you already created the data mart tables (as described in Adding data marts and star schemas), you need to create the new star schema tables in the data mart. To do this, perform the validation process described in Validating and adjusting the data mart.

   Otherwise, perform steps 4 to 13 in Adding data marts and star schemas. If you also want to run a data mart task, perform step 16 as well.

To add a dimension:

1. Select the dimension(s) you want to add to the data mart. Then click OK. The dimension(s) are added to the Dimensions list.

2. If you already created the data mart tables (as described in Adding data marts and star schemas), you need to create the new dimension table(s) in the data mart. To do this, perform the validation process described in Validating and adjusting the data mart.

   Otherwise, perform steps 14 and 15 in Adding data marts and star schemas. If you also want to run a data mart task, perform step 16 as well.

3. Select the dimension(s) you want to add to the data mart. Then click OK. The dimension(s) are added to the Dimensions list.

4. If you already created the data mart tables (as described in Adding data marts and star schemas), you need to create the new dimension table(s) in the data mart. To do this, perform the validation process described in Validating and adjusting the data mart.

   Otherwise, perform steps 14 and 15 in Adding data marts and star schemas. If you also want to run a data mart task, perform step 16 as well.

To attach a newly added dimension to a star schema:

1. Perform Steps 1-2 described in To add a dimension: above.

2. Select the dimension(s) you want to add to the star schema and then click the Add Dimension to Star Schema toolbar button. The Add Dimension <Name> to Star Schema window opens.

3. Select which star schema(s) you want to add the dimension to and then click OK. The dimension is attached to the selected star schema(s).

4. If you already created the data mart tables (as described in Adding data marts and star schemas), you need to create the new dimension table(s) in the data mart. To do this, perform the validation process described in Validating and adjusting the data mart.

   Otherwise, perform steps 14 and 15 in Adding data marts and star schemas. If you also want to run a data mart task, perform step 16 as well.