Attribute Discretization: Using the “Equal Areas” Method

This article continues my exploration of 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 “Equal Areas” 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.

This article continues the overview of Attribute Discretization in Analysis Services begun in Introduction to Attribute Discretization, and continued in Attribute Discretization: Using the Automatic Method. 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, Values and Relationships within several subsequent articles.