Definition of dimensions

Dimensions are defined together with measures in the client-specific measure configuration. The PPM system makes a distinction between the following dimension types:

Dimension

XML element

Description

One-level

oneleveldim

One-level dimensions are used if the number of dimension values is low and no meaningful grouping of the values is possible.

Example: Name of the source system, input channel for a call center (e.g., call, fax, e-mail) 

Attribute data type: All. Numerical attribute values are converted to text.

Two-level

twoleveldim

Two-level dimensions are used if meaningful grouping of the dimension values is possible.

Example: Process type group/Process type, Material type/Material

Attribute data type: All. Numerical attribute values are converted to text. Dimension values are saved as the TEXTPAIR data type.

N-level

nleveldim

For text dimensions with more than two levels.

Floating
point number

floatingdim

Dimension is based on floating point values. The dimension values represent particular intervals. Example: Order volume

Attribute data type: DOUBLE, TIMESPAN, PERCENTAGE and all user-defined types derived from them

Time

timedim

Indicates the change of a measure over time.

Attribute data types:
DAY, TIME

Time of day

hourdim

Indicates the change of a measure over time.

Attribute data type: TIMEOFDAY

Period

timerange

Indicates the change of a measure within a specific period.

Search dimension

searchdim

Search for process instances using attribute values

Attribute data type: TEXT

Search dimensions cannot be displayed as dimensions in the analysis.

The attributes required for creating text and floating point number dimensions are specified in a corresponding dimitem XML element. If the referenced attribute is an attribute to be calculated, this must be specified (calculated="TRUE"), so that the attribute can be calculated before creation of the dimension. In addition, you need to specify whether it is a process or function dimension.

When defining dimensions, ensure that the data type of the referenced attributes is compatible with the selected dimension type.