Create a Simple Dimension

This article outlines the process used to create a Dimension, values of which are populated automatically based on a data fetch command.  While SQL is used here to fetch the Dimension values, the process described below can be used for any automated fetch method.

Metric Insights supports a number of more complex Dimension relationships, see Chapters below for more details:

1. Access Content > Dimensions

Access Content > Dimensions

Click [+ New Dimension] at the bottom of the page.

2. Enter Dimension Information

Enter Dimension Information

Provide the basic Dimension definition information, paying close attention to:

  1. A unique descriptive Name for your Dimension
  2. Whether the Key Value for your Dimension is an 'integer' or 'text'.  Set this based on how the Dimension key value is defined in your source system
  3. How is to be collected for the new Dimension. The following fields depend on the value selected in this field.  In this example, we use SQL database
  4. This field is displayed if SQL is selected as Value Source. Specify a Bind parameter name for your new Dimension. Setting this to match the column name for the data in the source system makes writing fetch commands for Dimensioned element easier
  5. Save your input to open the full Dimension Editor

Use caution when using special characters for Dimension Value Names as not all 'special characters' will display correctly in Metric Insights :

  • The  '&' will not display correctly for a Dimension Value when used as  an Axis name on a Chart, nor will it download correctly to a Excel file
  • Neither '<' nor  '>' will display correctly when used in a Dimension Value name

3. Complete Dimension Information using a fetch command

Complete Dimension Information using a fetch command

To define Dimension values using SQL:

  1. Select a Value Source.  If the required database connection is not in the drop-down list, see Establishing a JDBC Connection
  2. Select the Data collection trigger that will continue to fetch new/changed values
  3. Write the data fetch command that should be used to collect the Dimension value data in the SQL statement field using the Hint to the right of the statement box. This command should return one Key Value and one Display Value columns.  If your Dimension does not have a key value, select the display value for both columns. In the shown example, channel_id and channel_name return the same value.
  4. Validate your SQL Statement

4. Review Sample Dimension Values

Review Sample Dimension Values
  1. Upon successful validation, Sample dimension values will appear below the data fetch command field
  2. If sample dimension values are what was expected, click Collect Values

5. Review the collected Dimension Value List

Review the collected Dimension Value List

The full list of Dimension values appears in the Dimension Values grid

6. Applying advanced criteria

Applying advanced criteria

Provide additional Dimension configurations in the Advanced tab of the Dimension Editor. For example, you can specify how the element name is going to be displayed (for example, 'Email Marketing Sales' or 'Sales via Email Marketing'). For a detailed instruction on using / creating Element Name Template, refer to Use a Naming Template to Specify Dimensioned Elements Name Format.