SAC - Link Dimension to Dataset field

To link a Master Data Dimension to a field in your Dataset in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), especially when you want to keep the master data updated regularly, follow these steps:

Step-by-Step Process to Link a Master Data Dimension to a Field in Dataset:

1. Create the Master Data Dimension:

If you haven't already created the master data dimension, follow these steps:

• Go to Modeler in SAC.
• Choose Create New Dimension.
• Define the key fields (e.g., ID, Description, or any other relevant attributes) for the dimension.
• Load the initial master data (this can be done via CSV, Excel, or live connection to a data source).
• Save the dimension.

Make sure to structure the dimension according to the master data field that you want to link to your dataset (e.g., product categories, employee IDs, etc.).

2. Load Master Data Updates:

Since your master data changes regularly, schedule regular updates for the master data. You can do this using the following methods:

• Manual Updates: Upload a new version of the master data as a file.
• Automated Updates: Use a live connection to a data source like SAP BW, HANA, or OData Services that provides delta records.

3. Open Your Dataset:

• Navigate to your Dataset where you originally loaded the Excel data.
• Identify the field that corresponds to your master data dimension (e.g., product ID, employee code).

4. Link Dataset Field to the Master Data Dimension:

• Go to Modeler and open the Model where the dataset resides.
• Identify the field in the dataset that matches the key of your master data dimension (e.g., Product ID in the dataset matches the Product ID in your master data dimension).
• Select this field, and in the Settings for that field, look for an option to Link Dimension or Assign Dimension.

Here's how to do it:

• In the field settings, you'll see the option to Convert or Map to Dimension.
• Choose the dimension that represents your master data (the one you created earlier).
• The dataset field will now be mapped to the master data dimension.

5. Validate the Link:

• Once the field is linked to the master data dimension, validate the relationship. The dimension will now enrich the dataset with additional attributes from the master data (e.g., linking product IDs to product descriptions, categories, etc.).
• Test the linkage by viewing the dataset or creating a story based on the dataset and checking if the correct master data attributes appear.

6. Maintain Regular Updates for Master Data:

• Since your master data may change regularly, set up a routine to load the updated master data either via a scheduled Data Import Job or through a Live Connection (if available).
• Regularly load the updated master data to ensure the link stays consistent, and any new records or attribute changes are reflected in the dataset.

Example:

If you loaded an Excel dataset with a field like Product ID and realized that it has corresponding master data (e.g., with attributes like Product Description, Category, and Price), linking the Product ID field in the dataset to the Product Master Data Dimension will allow you to automatically pull in these attributes. This is especially useful for keeping your dataset up-to-date as the master data changes over time.

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Key Terms:

Dataset, Master Data Dimension, SAC Modeler, Link Dimension, Attribute Mapping, Data Import Job, Live Connection, Regular Updates, Field Mapping.