In a model that consists of several D-Cubes, data must be able to flow from one D-Cube to another. With a D-Link, you can move data from one D-Cube to another. You can also import data from a text file, a spreadsheet, or a database by using a File Map or an ODBC connection. When you create a D-Link, you pair the dimensions in the source to dimensions in the target. Then you allocate items in the source dimensions to their corresponding target items. Because data is stored in the intersection of multiple dimensions, how you map source and target dimensions determines how the data flows.
Before creating a D-Link you must know where you will be getting the data and where it will go. Creating a D-Link is pretty straightforward. However, it is the process of figuring out your source and target dimensions, and then allocating the dimension items that requires some thought, especially if the source and target are not structurally consistent. Analyst provides...