Analyze Data by Dimensions
- Majvina Lekaj
Analyze Data by Dimensions
In this article
In financial analysis, a dimension is data you add to an entry as a kind of marker. This data is used to group entries with similar characteristics, such as customers, regions, products, and salesperson, and easily retrieve these groups for analysis. Dimensions can be used on entries in journals, documents, and budgets.
Each "dimension" describes the focus of analysis. So, a two-dimensional analysis, for example, would be sales per area. By using more than two dimensions when creating an entry, you can carry out a more complex analysis, such as sales per sales campaign per customer group per area. That gives you greater insight into your business, such as how well your business is operating, where it is thriving and where it is not, and where more resources should be allocated, so you can make more informed decisions as you move forward. Learn more at Work with Dimensions.
Tip
As a quick way to analyze transactional data by dimensions, you can filter totals in the chart of accounts (COA) and entries in all Entries pages by dimensions. Look for the Set Dimension Filter action.
Note
If you discover an incorrect dimension value has been used on posted general ledger entries, you can correct it and update your analysis views. Learn more in the Troubleshooting and Correcting Dimensions section.
Set up an analysis view
An analysis by dimensions uses a selected combination of dimensions. You store, retrieve, and update that dimension set by creating an Analysis View card.
Choose the icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
On the Analysis View List page, choose the New action.
Fill in the fields as necessary. Hover over a field to read a short description.
To add other dimension codes in addition to the four on the Dimensions FastTab, choose the Filter action, fill in the fields, then choose the OK button.
To update the view, choose the Update action.
Analyze by dimensions
Use analysis views you've already set up with the Analysis by Dimensions matrix to view the amounts in your general ledger.
Choose the icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
Select the relevant analysis view, then choose the Analysis by Dimensions action.
On the Analysis by Dimensions page, fill in the fields to define which data is shown and how.
Choose the Show Matrix action to open the respective matrix page for the defined analysis view.
To see a specification of an amount shown in the matrix page, choose the amount to drill down.
The leftmost columns contain information based on what you've selected in the Show as Lines field in the header.
The rightmost columns contain information based on what you've selected in the Show as Columns field in the header.
Important
You cannot select a period length shorter than the period specified for the date compression on the Analysis View card. The Next Set and Previous Set commands are inactive if you've selected Period in either the Show as Lines or Show as Columns field.
Update an analysis view
The amounts displayed on the Analysis by Dimensions page give you a picture of the company's state at the time of the last update. To get a picture of the current state, you must update the analysis view by running the update function.
Use the following procedure to update an analysis view from the Analysis by Dimensions page. The steps are similar to those for updating the Analysis View Card and Analysis View List pages.
Choose the icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
Select the relevant analysis view, then choose the Analysis by Dimensions action.
On the Analysis by Dimensions page, choose the Analysis View Code field.
Select the line with the relevant analysis view.
On the Analysis Views page, select the analysis view, then choose the Update action.