DVD or DVCS - data sources as dims or facts

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Folks,

Two questions:

1.   In the documentation/tutorials for both DVCS and DVD (DV desktop) when adding an excel spreadsheet as a data source it often says:

"A data source either extends a dimension by adding attributes or extends facts by adding measures and optional attributes."

What is it really saying ? and can it be simply said  "a data source either contains dimension data or it contains fact data" ?

2. Since DVCS and DVD are designed for the power users and end users.  do they need to understand dimensional modeling ?  i.e. what are dims and facts ?

Regards

M. Jamal

Gianni Ceresa · Answer

Hi,

Not sure of which exact part of the doc you are talking but it's probably related to the mashup part.

So you have already some data (can be any kind of source) and you add a new source next to it to "extend" it.

This extension is generally, as the doc says, extra attributes or extra measures.

DVD / DV users do not need to know dimensional modelling, no need to talk about dimensions or facts, but they will naturally add an Excel as mashup doing extensions of facts (adding extra measures) or just attributes. It will be done in a natural way by user as that's generally how they work (like adding VLOOKUP in their excel to bring in extra info).