Hi,

I've only recently started working with Analysis Services (2000) and I'm
trying to figure out how to structure the cube so that I can allow the
user to see descriptions instead of raw ID values.

My cube currently works but shows the IDs. Sometimes this is OK, but in
some cases (for example: there's a dimension called "BusinessLineGroup"
that has ID field values 1, 2, and 3 that correspond to "Main",
"Division 1" and "Division 2"). I'd rather show users these
descriptions. However, it appears that there is no way to specify the
"lookup" value that it should use for an ID. I'm reticent to substitute
the description for the ID because I'd think that may affect performance
and I'd like to be able to query by ID with MDX. However, in something
like Office 2003 etc. I'd like to be able to show the description.

Is there a way to do this? If this were regular SQL I'd simply join to
the lookup table and provide a view for the users to use that would
combine both and strip out the IDs.

Thanks,
Kevin.

When you edit your dimensions you will notice that there is a properties
window in the bottom left hand corner (If you can't see it there will be
a button at the bottom of the screen that you click to make it visible)

For each level in your dimension you can set a member key column and a
member name column. Keep the key column pointing to your ID, but point
the name column to the description.

When the users browse the cubes they will always see the member names,
when you write MDX you have the choice of using either.

the convention of [dimension].[name] will access by name, prefixing the
member with an ampersand - [dimension].&[key] will access by the ID.

HTH

--
Regards
Darren Gosbell [MCSD]
Blog: http://www.geekswithblogs.net/darrengosbell


In article <ez7GvKdIGHA.3348 (AT) tk2msftngp13 (DOT) phx.gbl>,
kevin (AT) berryN0SPAMware (DOT) com says...

wrote:
I've seen the & in MDX before and wondered what it was for....

I'll still have to look into the other stuff that you describe. I had
actually noticed the properties- I just couldn't figure out how to
change them. It wouldn't let me do it the last time I tried it- they
were read only for some reason.

Thanks,
Kevin.

wrote:
Uh, the property is grayed. I can't set it. How do I enable it? :-)

Thanks,
Kevin.

Kevin wrote:
Well, for the benefit of others here..... I've finally figured this
out. It doesn't seem to be possible to do this if you use the Cube
Wizard to create your cube and the shared dimensions. However, if you
create shared dimensions FIRST you can then set the description in the
Dimension Editor!!

Cheers,
Kevin.