While you have total flexibility defining a structure using any fields from your data source, when you issue a report request
against the synonym, the retrieval path for the data must conform to any constraints imposed by your DBMS entity diagrams
and by the rules of WebFOCUS retrieval.
By default, a Dimension View structure is defined within folders in the Business View pane. You can add either additional
Dimension View nodes or folders to this structure.
You can assign a DV role to a folder or field by right-clicking the folder or field and assigning a DV role. The following
image shows the context menu and options for a folder.
You can explicitly assign a DV role to a folder or field, or have it automatically inherit its role from its parent. If you
explicitly assign a DV role, that role moves with the object if you drag it to another location within the BV+ structure.
If you do not explicitly assign a DV role, the role changes as you move the object under a new parent, except if you drop
it onto a field with the Drill Level role. If dropped onto a Drill Level field, the moved field inherits the Drill Level role.
You can assign the following DV roles.
- Dimension. A dimension field, when double-clicked or dragged onto the report or chart canvas in the WebFOCUS tools, is automatically
added to the request as a vertical (BY) sort field.
A folder can be assigned the role Dimension.
A field can be assigned the role Dimension (Standalone) or Dimension (Drill Level). When it is assigned the role Dimension
(Drill Level), it becomes part of a hierarchy, where the levels depend on the order of the fields in the folder. Then, when
AUTODRILL is turned on, automatic drilldowns are created in the report or chart output.
A folder can contain only one drill level hierarchy. However, you can use the same fields in multiple hierarchies by placing
each hierarchy in a separate folder. A folder with a drill level hierarchy is not limited to just the hierarchy. It can contain
other fields with different DV_ROLEs.
- Measure. A measure field, when double-clicked or dragged onto the report or chart canvas in the WebFOCUS tools, will automatically
be added to the request as an aggregated value (SUM), if it is numeric. If it is alphanumeric, it will be added as a vertical
(BY) sort field. A folder or field can be assigned the role Measure.
- Attribute. An attribute field, when double-clicked or dragged onto the report or chart canvas in the WebFOCUS tools, will automatically
be added to the request as an aggregated value (SUM), if it is numeric, or as a vertical sort field (BY), if it is alphanumeric.
- Folder. A folder is a virtual segment in a BV+. It can be assigned the roles Dimension, Measure, or Attribute.
Note: When a folder is inserted as a child of a field, the attribute PARENT_FIELD describes this relationship. By default, such
a folder and its fields will be assumed to have the Attribute role.
