Conformed Dimensions

Dimensions are conformed when the data values that come from the original data sources use the same business keys, or source data, that is used in other packages or models in your IBM® Cognos® environment. Conformed dimensions allow your users to combine or cross data sources successfully when their business needs require that they do so.

For example, consider that your goal is to drill through to product line information between two reports. The first report is based on a PowerCube package, and the second report is based on a relational package. Each product line in the relational package should include a business key, or unique identifier. In the PowerCube model, the Source value for each category in the Product Line dimension should reference the same data value as the business key in the relational package.

When the same business keys and source values are used throughout your IBM Cognos application data, end user success with reporting and analysis will increase substantially.

Conformed dimensions are also key in successful data analysis using multiple PowerCubes. When two cubes are to be used together, as with drill through, ensure that the dimensional structure and the category source values are the same in each cube model. Changes in the structure of a dimension in one cube, for example, by adding another level, will impact both the reports and drill-through applications that use the two cubes.