Microsoft Power BI Complete Reference

Identifying the dimensions

The dimensions to be related to the fact table are a natural byproduct of the grain chosen in step 2 and thus largely impact the decision in step 2. A single sample row from the fact table should clearly indicate the business entities (dimensions) associated with the given process such as the customer who purchased an individual product on a certain date and at a certain time via a specific promotion. Fact tables representing a lower grain will have fewer dimensions.

For example, a fact table representing the header level of a purchase order may identify the vendor but not the individual products purchased from the vendor:

• Identify and communicate the dimensions that can be used to filter (aka slice and dice) each ...