SAC : Manage Dimension - Create, Change and Display

In SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), creating a dimension and loading data into it can be done in a few steps. SAC supports different types of dimensions (e.g., generic, organization, account, time) that you can define for your models. Here's a guide on how to create a dimension and load data into it:

Step 1: Creating a Dimension

1. Log into SAC:

   • Open your SAC tenant and log in.

2. Navigate to the Modeling Section:

   • From the main menu, go to Modeler.
   • Click on Dimensions.

3. Create a New Dimension:

   • Click on the + Create button and select Dimension.
   • Choose the type of dimension:
     • Generic Dimension: Can be used for custom data like products, regions, etc.
     • Organization Dimension: If you want hierarchical structures for organization reporting.
     • Account Dimension: For financial modeling.
   • Name your dimension appropriately.

4. Define Dimension Structure:

   • In the dimension editor, define the structure of your dimension by adding properties (e.g., ID, Description, Hierarchies, etc.).
   • You can also define additional attributes or custom properties for your dimension as per your needs.

Step 2: Loading Data into the Dimension

There are multiple ways to load data into the dimension, such as manually entering the data or uploading from a file.

Method 1: Manual Data Entry

1. Add Dimension Members Manually:
   • After creating the dimension, go to the Members tab.
   • You can add members by clicking on the + Add Member button.
   • Enter values for ID, Description, and other attributes defined in your dimension structure.
2. Save the Dimension:
   • Once the members are added, click on Save.

Method 2: Import Data from a File

1. Import Data via a File:

   • You can import dimension members from an external data source like Excel or CSV.
   • Click on the Import option within the dimension editor.
   • Choose the File option to upload your data.

2. Map Data:

   • SAC will guide you through the data mapping process. You need to map the columns in your file to the fields of the dimension (ID, Description, etc.).
   • Ensure the data types match correctly (e.g., text, numbers).

3. Validate Data:

   • After mapping, you can validate your data before loading it. Check if all rows are correctly mapped and if there are any errors.

4. Confirm and Load Data:

   • Once everything looks good, confirm and load the data into the dimension.

5. Save the Dimension:

   • After loading the data, click Save to store your dimension with the newly added members.

Step 3: Using the Dimension in a Model

1. Create or Open a Model:

   • To use the dimension in your model, either create a new model or open an existing one.

2. Add Dimension to the Model:

   • In the model, navigate to the Dimension section and click + Add Dimension.
   • Search for the dimension you just created and add it to your model.

3. Link Data to Dimension:

   • Ensure the data you load into the model links correctly to the dimension (e.g., through ID matching).

Additional Options:

• Maintaining Hierarchies:
  • If needed, you can create hierarchies for the dimension (especially for organization or location-based dimensions).
• Scheduling Data Refresh:
  • You can schedule data imports for dynamic dimensions where data needs to be refreshed periodically.

By following these steps, you can easily create a dimension in SAC and load data into it, making it available for use in your analytic models and stories