Links

The multidimensional concept allows tables to contain many dimensions manageably. This enables fast queries and flexible data views. Sometimes, tables need to be linked together. Links do not merge data during queries, but instead update data in advance.

With each input or import, the system checks for dependent tables or links. If dependencies exist, the target value is updated and fixed. This ensures high speed, as links and references are not needed to be computed at query time.

For example, changes in a central exchange rate table immediately affect conversions of foreign currency values. Users experience no delay when querying data.

Name and Captions

Each link has a unique name in the database. Up to 10 captions may be added; these do not need to be unique.

Source and Destination Table

A link connects a source table and a destination table. When a record is changed in the source table (insert or update), the corresponding records in the destination table are updated with the new value. Also, when the destination table is changed, the corresponding values from the source table are used to update the destination value.

In this example, the source table contains the Month and Product dimensions and the CostsPerUnit field.

The destination table also contains Month and Product dimensions and the CostsPerUnit field. It contains also other dimensions (such as region, key-accounter) and a CostsTotal field, which is calculated from the CostsPerUnit field using a visual script.

The link definition appears as follows:

Sums

In links, sums can also be used. This is useful when the source table has more dimensions than the destination table.

In this example, the source table contains Month and Product dimensions.

The destination table contains only the Month dimension. The link creates a sum per month, consolidating products.

The definition of the sums link appears as follows:

Fixed Item

A link can use only one item from the source table. In the example, only product A002 is used by the link.

The destination table contains only the values for product A002.

The fixed link definition appears as follows:

Derivations

Derivations are a special type of link. A table is linked directly to a second table, which contains sums formed from the first table for certain dimensions. The destination table usually has fewer dimensions, reducing data volume and speeding up queries.

Any change in the source table is mirrored in the destination table. The totals in both tables match. The destination table cannot be changed manually or by API commands.

In this example, the source table contains 107 records.

The destination table contains only some dimensions and fields of the source table, and only 46 records. The field sums are equal.

The derivation link definition appears as follows: