Degenerate dimension with non-numeric data in SSAS

Dear,

I have the following problem/question:

I have a fact table that contains for example all orderline data, with next to that all skey's to my dimension tables (product, customer, date, ...). Next to the measures that are included in my fact table, I was planning to also include a degenerate dimension that contains my ordernumber. So far no problem creating the star schema in a relational database. But trying to set this up in SSAS, the problem comes up that my order number is not a real number but a string (eg 'ABC12345') and as far as I know, the fact table in SSAS cannot contain any string data (or am I wrong?).

Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Kind regards,

Jürgen

You are wrong :)

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OK, great! Can you also let me know how to add data formatted as string in my relational fact table to my SSAS cube (without creating an additional dimension)? I already tried a lot of things, but without any positive result...

Thx in advance,

Jürgen

|||I am not sure what you mean by "add data formatted as string". Are you talking about adding a varchar measure? I can't see any scenario where you would want to do that.|||

The notion of degenerate dimension in Analysis Services is modeled by using Fact dimension. Not sure why but legal guys didn't let us use "Degenerate" in the product . Must be the case of political correctness:)

You create a new dimension and you include all additional information you would like to see. You define a relationship between your dimension and the measure group as Fact. Then using Drillthrough functionatlity you should be able to provide your users access to this additional information.

Books online should have more information for you on the Fact dimensions and on the Drillthough.

Hope that helps.

Edward.
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|||Thanks for the useful information, Edward!