2.5. Creating an InfoCube

The following steps demonstrate how to create an InfoCube, the fact table and associated dimension tables, for the sales data shown in Table 1.4.

Work Instructions

Step 1.	Select Data targets under Modelling in the left panel. In the right panel, right-click InfoArea – demo and then select Create InfoCube…. SCREEN 2.22
Step 2.	Enter a name and a description, select the option Basic Cube in block InfoCube type, and then click  to create the InfoCube. Note An InfoCube can be a basic cube, a multi-cube, an SAP remote cube, or a general remote cube. A basic cube has a fact table and associated dimension tables, and it contains data. We are building a basic cube. A multi-cube is a union of multiple basic cubes and/or remote cubes to allow cross-subject analysis. It does not contain data. See Chapter 8, Aggregates and Multi-Cubes, for an example. SCREEN 2.23 A remote cube does not contain data; instead, the data reside in the source system. A remote cube is analogous to a channel, allowing users to access the data using BEx. As a consequence, querying the data leads to poor performance. If the source system is an SAP system, we need to select the option SAP RemoteCube. Otherwise, we need to select the option Gen. Remote Cube. This book will not discuss remote cubes.
Step 3.	Select IO_CUST, IO_MAT, and IO_SREP from the Template table, and move them to the Structure table by clicking . Next, click the Dimensions… button to create dimensions and assign these characteristics to the dimensions. SCREEN 2.24
Step 4.	Click ,  and then enter a description for the dimension. Note BW automatically assigns technical names to each dimension with the format <InfoCube name><Number starting from 1>. Fixed dimension <InfoCube name><P|T|U> is reserved for Data Packet, Time, and Unit. Section 12.2.3, “Data Load Requests,” discusses the Data Packet dimension. A dimension uses a key column in the fact table. In most databases, a table can have a maximum of 16 key columns. Therefore, BW mandates that an InfoCube can have a maximum of 16 dimensions: three are reserved for Data Packet, Time, and Unit; the remaining 13 are left for us to use. Repeat the same procedure to create two other dimensions. Next, click the Assign tab to assign the characteristics to the dimensions. SCREEN 2.25
Step 5.	Select a characteristic in the Characteristics and assigned dimension block, select a dimension to which the characteristic will be assigned in the Dimensions block, and then click  to assign the characteristic to the dimension. SCREEN 2.26
Step 6.	After assigning all three characteristics to their dimensions, click  to continue. SCREEN 2.27
Step 7.	Select the Time characteristics tab, select 0CALDAY from the Template table, and move it to the Structure table by clicking . SCREEN 2.28
Step 8.	Select the Key figures tab, select IO_PRC, IO_QUAN, and IO_REV from the Template table and move them to the Structure table by clicking . Next, click  to check the InfoCube. If it is valid, click  to activate the InfoCube. SCREEN 2.29