Concept: Custom Dimensions
Custom dimensions are groupings with lists of values. Example: A custom dimension, called Product, has these values:
- Jackets
- Tank Tops
- T-Shirts
Custom dimensions are metadata. Along with levels, time, and accounts, custom dimensions create a specific data point. Custom dimensions tag actual data, so it's harder to delete dimension values and dimensions. To delete a dimension value or make it unavailable in a version, you must remove it from data, even in locked and archived versions. Instead of deleting an in-use dimension value, consider making it unavailable for new versions to maintain historical data.
The
View Dependencies
link is in the dimension value settings. The link can help you locate and resolve the areas in the model that use the dimension value.Use Cases for Custom Dimensions
- Categorize splits on standard sheets.
- Match elimination entries in Consolidation.
- Add necessary depth to the data of your model.
- Filter cube sheets for detailed data entry.
- Create alternate level hierarchies.
- Store values that are accessible to other parts of the model.
- Return values in modeled sheet rows based on the rules of dimension mappings.
List versus Hierarchical Dimensions
There are hierarchical dimensions and list dimensions. A hierarchical dimension has values that roll up to other values. A list has 1 level of values. All custom dimensions have the
List dimension
option enabled by default. You can clear the option in the settings. Example: List Dimension | Example: Hierarchical Dimension |
|---|---|
Product (All)
| Product (All)
|
Types of Custom Dimensions
Various settings that you select indicate the type of custom dimensions.
- List dimensions are most performant.
- Hierarchical dimensions work well for tagging hierarchical accounts or levels.
- Level dimensions create alternate level hierarchies for reporting.
- Derived dimensions use a set of mapping criteria to determine a starting dimension value.
Data and Custom Dimensions
All data in your model is associated with a custom dimension value.
In addition to the values you create for each custom dimension, every custom dimension also has these values:
Uncategorized
and All
. When you don't tag the data with dimension values, Adaptive Planning automatically assigns the Uncategorized
values of all your custom dimensions to the data. Example: Any data that isn't associated with 1 of the Product dimension values has the Product Uncategorized
value. Adaptive Planning assigns the
All
value of the custom dimension to rollup data for levels, accounts, and custom dimensions.Access Rules and Custom Dimensions
You can secure custom dimensions and add them to access rules. You can then give people access to different dimension values.