Entity/New Entity Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to create or modify entities, which are semantic objects, for your model.

Options

Words

Enter the words, phrases, or synonyms that identify the entity.

For example, for an entity represented by the Employee table, you can type: employee, then worker, and then associate. Each time you click Words:, you enter a synonym on a separate line at the bottom of the list. When you press ENTER, the synonyms are displayed in the Words: box with a comma separating each entry.

Note  The words appear in their singular forms, not in the plural.

Click the browse (...) button to display a list of synonyms for all the words in the Words box.

Entity type

Select a type from the drop-down list:

None

Default. Enable no additional language capabilities.

Who

Refer to the entity as "who" in a question. For example, indicating that customers are people lets "Who bought a lawnmower?" be interpreted as "Which customer bought a lawnmower?"

Where

Refer to the entity as "where" or as a "location." For example, using this option allows you to ask questions like "Show the buildings and their locations?".

When

Refer to the entity as "when" and allow it to be used in the When, Start, and End options of the Semantics tab of the Relationship/New Relationship dialog boxes.

Measure

Indicate that the entity is a measure quantifying something else. Using this option allows the entity to be used in the How many and How much options of the <Role name>Role dialog boxes.

Name Type

Specify the type of name for the entity.

Available only if you select Field(s), OLAP levels, or OLAP properties.

No name type

Default. Indicate that this data does not represent a name or unique ID. Disables the Add values of entity to model option.

Proper Name

Indicate the proper name of something. Proper names are capitalized and are not preceded by an article (a, an, or the) (for example, Mary Smith).

Common Name

Specify a general term for something. Common names are not capitalized and typically include an article: a, an, or the (for example, a wrench). An exception to the requirement for an article is "an e-mail name."

Classifier Name

Select a name of something commonly preceded by a, an, or the, and the entity word is included in the name. For example, the Finance department includes the name of the entity, department.

Model Name

Select a name that is capitalized and preceded by the word a, an, or the (for example, brand names such as a Mustang).

Note  Do not include the name of the entity. For example, an entity is not typically phrased a Mustang car.

Unique ID

Specify that the entity is represented by a special type of name in the database that makes each entry unique (for example, Employee 37541).

Add values of entity to model

Add data in the selected table or field to the model so references to instances of the entity can be recognized out of context. Depending on the number of distinct instances of the entity stored in the database, the process of loading these values can take several minutes.

Available with all Name Type options except None.

Attribute of

Indicate that the selected entity is an attribute of another entity. For example, name, phone number, and age are attributes of an employee.

The list contains all of the entities that are not already an attribute of another entity. The list is unavailable if the entity is associated with a table, dimension, or fact because such entities cannot be attributes of other entities. The selection is blank if the entity cannot be considered an attribute of another entity.

Help Text

Specify Help about this entity.

Users view this information in the Question Builder or by asking questions such as "What do you know about customers?".

Entity associated with

Specify that the entity is associated with:

Table

Show that the entity is represented by the rows in the table. Table and Field(s) are available when Table is selected.

Field(s)

Indicate that the entity is represented by one or more fields. Table and Field(s) are available when Field(s) is selected.

OLAP

Indicate the entity is associated with an OLAP object Level (default), Dimension, Measure, Property, or Fact.

The OLAP object list is unavailable until OLAP is selected. If the model is not OLAP enabled, these options are unavailable.

None

Indicate the entity is not associated with any database properties.

Table

Select the table you want associated with the entity. Available only if you select Table or Field(s).

Fields/Display Field(s)

Select the fields from the selected table that you want displayed. Available only you select Table or Field(s).

The list is displayed in two columns, Available Fields and Selected Fields. To display a field, place the cursor over the field you want displayed and click. The field moves from the Available Fields list to the Selected Fields list.

To remove a field from the Selected Fields list, place your cursor over it and click. The field moves to the Available Fields list.

Note  The cursor changes to a right- or left-pointing arrow depending on the column over which it is placed.

OLAP Cube

Display all of the OLAP cubes in the Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Analysis Services database and select the OLAP cube to which you want to associate the entity.

Available only when you select an OLAP object.

Dimension

Display all of the dimensions in the selected cube and select the one for which you want to associate the entity.

Available only when you select an OLAP object (for example, Level, Dimension, or Property).

Level

Display all of the levels in the selected dimension, and select the one to which to associate the entity. 

Available only when you select an OLAP object (for example, Level or Property).

Property

Display all of the properties associated with the level and select the one to which to associate the entity.

Available only when you select the OLAP object, Property.

Show Relationships

Display the Show Relationships dialog box with a list of relationships that involve this entity.

Create Relationships

Display the Relationship wizard, which you use to add entities and create relationships.

Advanced

Display the Advanced Entity Properties dialog box, where you set semantic properties, defaults, and synonyms for the entity.

See Also

Advanced Entity Properties Dialog Box

Associating Entities

Buttons Used in English Query

Defining Entities in an English Query Model

Icons and Cursors Used in English Query

<Role Name>Role Dialog Box

<Role Name> Role in Command Dialog Box

Semantics Tab (Relationship/New Relationship Dialog Box)