Use case: Report with alternate hierarchies

Alternate hierarchies offer yet another strategy for customizing reports.

The business problem

A common requirement in financial reporting is the ability to roll up input-level data along multiple consolidation paths. This normally requires that a model allow for multiple hierarchy structures for a particular dimension. Frequently these are dimensions representing Organization, Geography, Product, and Customer.

The solution

You can create alternate hierarchies within a single model. Dimensions always contain at least one main hierarchy called Default. Member definitions are managed using the default hierarchy within Model Manager.

Where to use it

Specific situations that require alternate hierarchies include the following:

• Multiple Reporting Requirements

  A common scenario is where a model contains a default organization hierarchy structure (for example, Entity) however for reporting purposes, it is required that the main dimension members be rolled up differently (for example, by Region).

• Report Layouts

  Additional Ad Hoc Analysis and template report layouts are easily accomplished because multiple hierarchies for the same dimension (that is, Time Down, Time Months Across) can be placed on different axes.

• Report Filtering

  The Region hierarchy can be placed in a header as a drop-down selector with values such as Asia, Europe, Eastern, Western, and so on. Selecting a particular Region filters the resulting Entity dimension members in rows.

How it's done

An alternate hierarchy (and each level within it) is based on a dimension member property and is always level-based.

For example, Color is a member property of the Products dimension, and Red is the member property value assigned to Product P1. Thus, Product P1 rolls up into Red, which rolls up into All Products.

You create alternate hierarchies in Model Manager inside the Edit Alternate Hierarchies dialog.