Once data sets or tables have been selected in the previous stage of modeling, the user needs to choose the columns or 'attributes' that will be used to drive the analysis in Discover. These attributes are used to create member hierarchies, metrics, and measures.
Attributes can be used directly; they can be used in creating other calculated attributes; they can be used to generate measures; used in creating calculated measures; and used as sort columns for other attributes.
Note: The Pyramid modeling heuristics engine will often auto determine whether a field should be a measure or not. When it is selected as a measure, the engine normally sets the source column to hidden. These can be manually overridden.
Much of the functionality in the Columns panel is also available in the Tables panel; whether you choose to manage columns from the Tables or Columns panel will largely depend on personal preference.
Expand each table to view its attributes, and make the necessary adjustments.
Column Types
The first field (red highlight above) shows each of the columns within each table, along with its data type, which is determined heuristically:
-
'#' means an integer or whole number -
'0.9' means a decimal or 'floating' number -
'Aa' means text -
a calendar means date or time -
means boolean
Context Menus
Right-click a table header to:
- Rename the table.
- Duplicate the table.
- Add a prefix to the table name.
- Add a suffix to the table name.
- Mark it as a security table.
Right-click an attribute to:
- Rename.
- Set as a Masked column.
- Set as a Security column.
- Set as a Distribution column.
- Set as Unique identifier.
Security columns and tables don't appear in the data model in Discover, but they do appear in Member Security, where admins can use them to build custom sets.
Hidden Columns
Check a column to keep it in the data model, or hide a column by unchecking it. Hidden columns are not shown as attributes in the final model, but that can be used to configure calculated columns, measures, and user hierarchies.
Columns used for metrics are usually hidden, so Pyramid modeling heuristics automatically hide auto-set measure columns.
Important: A hidden column is not to be confused with a DELETED column. Deleted columns are removed completely from the model. This can make a model lighter and faster - but they cannot be used as a source for any other functionality. Removing unneeded columns is a useful exercise when appropriate. This should be done from the Data Flow, when selecting which tables and columns to include in the ETL.