This document defines common terminology used in data warehousing, including table types, components, and the star schema. It describes dimensions as reference tables and fact tables as transactional tables containing keys that connect to dimensions and measurements. It provides examples of dimension tables like accounts, departments, and periods, and fact tables like account transactions, sales transactions, and purchasing transactions. It also breaks down a general journal entry into its dimensional components.

1. DATA WAREHOUSE
TERMINOLOGY

2. DATA WAREHOUSE
TERMINOLOGY
Table Types
Table Components
Star Schema

3. TABLE TYPES
 Dimensions
 Accounts
 Departments
 Companies
 Periods
 Source Documents
 Currencies
 Fact Tables
 Account Transactions
 Sales Transactions
 Purchasing Transactions

4. TABLE COMPONENTS
 Dimensions
 Codes – Account Number
 Attributes – Account Description, Account Category
 Keys – Behind the scenes value for the account number
 Fact Tables
 Keys – Connectors to the Dimensions
 Attributes – Additional values like Journal Entry No and Reference
 Measurements – Debit, Credit

5. CLASSIC
STAR
SCHEMA
General
Journal Entry
Accounts
Departments
Companies
Periods
Source
Documents
Currencies

6. A GL JOURNAL ENTRY BREAKDOWN
Dimensions – Posting Date, Department Code, Account No
Values – Debit Amount, Credit Amount
Attributes – Document No, Transaction Information, External Document No
Other fields are being displayed from the Account dimension

7. CHARLES ALLEN
Senior Managing Consultant
BKD Technologies
callen@bkd.com