Member Names and Member Keys
The member names of a level can be derived from a column different from the keys of the members. Thus, a level can be derived from two columns.
Member names are displayed to end users when they browse cubes that contain the dimension. The column that supplies the member names of a level is selected in the Member Name Column property of the level.
In Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Analysis Services, member keys identify members within a level. The column that supplies the member keys of a level is selected in the Member Key Column property of the level.
When you create a dimension, the column that you select to define a level is recorded in both the Member Name Column property and the Member Key Column property. (If you create a virtual dimension based on member properties, the column is selected indirectly. The source column of the member property is used for the value of both properties.) You can later change one of these properties so that they reference different columns. Both of these properties can be set when you create a dimension with Dimension Wizard. Later, the values of these properties can be changed in the properties pane of Dimension Editor (if the dimension is shared) or Cube Editor (if the dimension is private).