Slow Changing Dimension Question

  • I think I already know the answer to this question, but I want to double check.

    We have a Suggested Retail Price (SRP). The SRP changes over time, depending on factors such as the time of the year. So there is a starting effective date and an ending effective date for an SRP.

    This sounds to me like a Type 2 SCD. However, some might consider a price to be a measure. Which is it?

  • It goes in the dimension. Sometimes prices act as a measure as well, but typically if you don't aggegrate them, they aren't measures.

  • The answer really depends on how that data is going to be used.

    A. If you are planning on doing analysis based on price, you would need it in the dimension.

    B. If you need to do aggregations on the price, then you'd want it in the fact.

    If you need both, then I see two ways to deal with it.

    1. Do both A and B. Having the price stored in the fact allows quicker aggregations when you need it.

    2. Do A and create a calculation to derive the aggregation when you need it. This can also be done on the SSAS side through a calculated measure. (QTY * Item.Price)

  • Thank you for your response. I am inclined to put the price in a dimension, specifically a type 2 SCD.

  • The project was temporarily put on hold, but now that it is back in play I have another question.

    Yes, I think the SRP (Suggested Retail Price) column should be part of a type 2 SCD. However, is it possible to create a formula in SSAS based on the SRP in the SCD?

  • For more information, the SCD might include the following attributes. This columns are from the source data.

    SKU

    Item Name

    UPC

    Adjustment Date

    Current SRP

    New SRP

    Again, I'm wondering if we can create formulas in SSAS based off of dimension attributes.

  • A similar question is in this link. scroll down to a followup question where the answer shows some MDX

    http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sqlanalysisservices/thread/3a93bff6-0e5f-4e7f-9b6c-686f08ad73fa

    Thomas LeBlanc, MVP Data Platform Consultant

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