Once the dimension has been defined in the metadata we need to physically create the table in the database. This is achieved by using the right mouse button when positioned over the dimension name and selecting Create (ReCreate) from the popup menu.

A results dialog box will appear to show the results of the creation.

The contents of this dialog are a message to the effect that the dimension table was created. A copy of the actual database create statement, the sequence create statement (Oracle only), and if defined the results of any index create statements will be listed. For the initial create no indexes will be defined.

If the table was not created then ascertain and fix the problem. A common problem is 'Duplicate column' where a column has the same name in two of the source tables. The best way of finding such a column is to double click on the list heading 'Col name'. This will sort the column names into alphabetic order. Another double click on the heading will sort the columns back into their create order.

For Oracle data warehouses the sequence created as part of the table create is normally called table_name_seq unless the default has been overridden. If this sequence already exists a warning is issued. This sequence is used in the assigning of a unique artificial key to the dimension. SQL Server makes use of an identity attribute on the artificial key column.

The next section covers the Generating the Dimension Update Procedure (on page 293).

Once a dimension has been defined in the metadata and created in the database an update procedure can be generated to handle the joining of any tables and the update of the dimension records.