Regularly reviewing and updating your dimensions is key to maintaining accurate and user-friendly data in Cube. Consider these best practices:

• Ensure each dimension name clearly represents the data it holds.
• Verify that your dimension hierarchy aligns with your processes.
• Remove dimensions that are no longer in use.
• Map new dimensions to ensure correct data ingestion into Cube.

Dimension changes often necessitate formula updates. We advise reviewing your formulas after modifying dimensions to maintain accuracy.

Learn more about dimensions or Cube's data model. 

Update dimension names and descriptions

Dimensions should be named clearly for easy fetching and publishing via the Spreadsheet add-on. Regular reviews can help identify dimensions needing updates. Edit dimensions in the Web portal by clicking their name or the Edit icon.

Here, you can:

• Change the name.
• Move child dimensions to a new parent.
• Update the Time Rollup Type.
• Scenario dimensions only - edit the write protection settings. 
• Add an account number or description.
• Manage tags or formulas.
• Check the dimension's data source.

Modify dimension hierarchy

You can make changes to your dimension hierarchy in a few ways:

1. To add a new top-level dimension (such as Account, Time, Scenario, Department, etc.), contact your CSM. 
2. Change the order of child dimensions beneath a parent dimension.
3. Move child dimensions to a different parent.

See a step-by-step guide to moving child and parent dimensions. 

Change the order of child dimensions

Quickly make updates to the dimension hierarchy by enabling drag-and-drop reordering. 

From the Dimensions page of your Web portal, click on the Options icon and check the box next to Enable reordering. 

Drag and drop the desired dimension to the new location. This method moves the entire group, including any child dimensions, which can be particularly helpful for rearranging entire sections of your hierarchy.

Because child dimension values roll up to parents, children cannot be moved to another parent using drag-and-drop. This prevents changes from triggering major recalculations across your cube. 

Move a dimension to a different parent

To assign a child dimension to a new parent, also known as re-parenting the dimension, open the dimension settings by clicking the Edit icon to the right of the dimension name. 

Choose a new parent dimension from the dropdown menu in the dimension settings.

Moving a dimension that has child dimensions will re-parent the entire section.

Note: This re-parenting action is crucial when restructuring your dimensional hierarchy and can significantly impact how data rolls up in your Cube.

Disable unused dimensions

You can disable dimensions you no longer need and clear their values using the Disable icon to the right of the dimension name.

Cube may require actions before you can disable the dimension, which means you may see an alert for the following dimension types:

• Dimension is mapped to a source system: this dimension can't be disabled until the source system is mapped to a different dimension. This prevents data from flowing from your source system to an inactive dimension. 
• Dimension is a parent: parent dimensions can't be disabled until the children are reassigned or disabled. This prevents active values from not having a place to roll up to.  
• Dimension is used in a formula: will trigger a warning that lists the formulas that use this dimension because they will also be disabled. Selecting Disable will disable this dimension and the formulas listed. 

Disabled dimensions will become inactive and hidden but can be reactivated again if necessary by displaying disabled dimensions and clicking the Enable icon. If you enable them, you'll need to remap, import, or update formulas so Cube can recalculate the values. 

Map new dimensions

Properly mapping new dimensions is crucial for accurate data processing. After resyncing with your source system or uploading a flat file, use Cube's quick add feature for mapping. Unmapped dimensions will be flagged during import.

Click the map button and filter to see the unmapped dimensions by selecting Hide mapped. 

You can map these to an existing dimension by typing and selecting from the dropdown. To add a new dimension, use the plus icon to the right to add a dimension. Note: you must click into the field to see the plus icon.

Be sure to save your mapping, and then you're all ready to import your data! 

Learn more about dimension mapping. 

Review formulas

After you have updated your dimensions, hierarchy, or mapping, conducting a thorough review of your formulas is crucial. This step ensures that your formulas reference the appropriate dimensions and remain functional. It's particularly important to verify that none of your formulas have been inadvertently disabled or disrupted due to your recent changes. Regular checks will help maintain the integrity and accuracy of your data processing within Cube.

Learn more about adding formulas to Cube.