Attribute Discretization: Using the Automatic Method

This article continues the overview of Attribute Discretization in Analysis Services begun in Introduction to Attribute Discretization. Both this article and its predecessor extend the examination of the dimensional model that we began in Dimensional Model Components: Dimensions Parts I and II. After taking up various additional components of the dimensional model in subsequent articles, we performed hands-on exploration of the general characteristics and purposes of attributes in Dimensional Attributes: Introduction and Overview Parts I through V. We then fixed our focus upon the properties underlying attributes, extending our overview into attribute member Keys, Names and Values within several subsequent articles.

This article continues the focus upon attribute discretization, a capability in Analysis Services that allows us to group members of an attribute into a number of member groups. Our concentration here will be to get some exposure to the pre-defined “Automatic” discretization method, one of three such pre-defined methods supported by Analysis Services, through hands-on application of the method to a representative dimension attribute within our sample UDM.