Hi,
I know the standard advice is to flatten a snowflake structure to subsume the outer 'limbs' of the snowflake into the first dimension that joins to the fact, in the logical layer, where no better alternative exists.
i.e. In the physical layer
Fact table to table B
Table B to table C
Solution in Business Model
Model fact as normal
Model Table B as normal and join to fact as normal
Drag table C onto the logical table source for table B
But what is best practise with multi-branch snowflakes, is it the same.
i.e. in the physical layer
Fact table to table B
Table B to Table C
Table C to Tables D, E, F
Table D to Table G
Do I still follow the simple example
i.e.
Model fact as normal
Model table B as normal
Logical join Fact to Table B
Drag tables onto logical table source to create a single LTS based on multiple tables
If so how best to handle null data in tables C to G?
Would you do this in practise or would you create a view with outer joins in the DB to cope with this?
Thanks for your input,
Robert.