Creating an Import Model
Typically, you will begin creating your import model by choosing the + Model option and selecting the New Model. Then you will follow these basic steps:
- Add existing public dimensions.
- Create at least one measure. Currency related measures can either use a default currency or can be derived from a dimension with the currency property.
When you add a measure to the model, the aggregation type will default to sum. The exception aggregation type can be used to manipulate aggregation. For example, a headcount measure could be set to an exception aggregation type of Last and an exception aggregation dimension of Date so that the model always reflects the headcount for a specific date, rather than the sum for all time.
In the new model, you can also create calculated measures based on the existing measures in your model. Measure values are stored in the model; however, calculated and converted measures are refreshed when used and are not stored.
- Set the model preferences if needed, especially to define the model as Planning or not (Analytic). When you create a blank model, the default is the Planning model type, and Date and Version dimensions are included by the system. If you turn off the Planning preference to create an Analytic model, the Version dimension goes away, and the Date dimension becomes optional.
- Select the time range. When creating a new model, the default time range is from the current year to the current year plus one. For example, if the current year is 2024, the default time range will allow data for 2024 and 2025. But you can change the default range to meet your modeling requirements and match the data you will import into the model.
- Save the model. The model is ready for data imports.
A Completed Analytic Model
Completed model:
- Model structure workspace: where you can view the meta data
- Measures: Where the measure values are stored in the model
- Public dimensions: Represented by a globe icon
