Tips for most efficiently adding concatenated columns to subject areas?

Caroline Blanchard

We have a need for concatenated Code and Descriptions from our GL Segments such as "Department Code Department Name". Concatenating at the DV report level is not efficient for performance as we have 7 different segments in our GL segments. We have previously tried to use the add columns step in the branch version of the semantic modeler.

The issue with the above is that we often get query errors if using multiple concatenated segments in a dashboard filter or a table. Additionally, the performance on the columns has been very slow.

We're now attempting to use the new sandbox mode of the semantic modeler and using the "modify a subject area" step after having done the concatenations at the database level. We've done this to hopefully improve performance, but we're still finding that the reports with these columns still have load time issues.

Has anyone else had a similar business need and how have you solved this issue? We need reports to perform optimally while still having the concatenated columns.

JohnW-Oracle

Hi @Caroline Blanchard,

Thank you for the question. The method you followed is fine. I assume you created a Data Augmentation to bring in the concatenated column you created. Then modified the logical star followed by modifying the subject area. Were the two columns you concatenated from the same table or at least from tables already used in the Subject Area? You may want to check the execution plan in the OAC Query Logs with and without the new column to see what the differences are.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

John