Analyze data by dimensions

In financial analysis, a dimension is data you add to an entry as a kind of marker to group entries with similar characteristics. For example, dimensions often group entries for customers, regions, products, and salespeople. The groups let you easily retrieve data about them for analysis. You can use dimensions 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 you create an entry, you can carry out a more complex analysis. An example of a complex analysis is exploring 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 or isn't thriving, and where you should allocate more resources. That insight helps you make more informed business decisions. Learn more at Work with Dimensions.

Tip

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

Note:
If you discover that an incorrect dimension value was used on posted general ledger entries, you can correct it and update your analysis views. To learn more, go to Troubleshooting and Correcting Dimensions.

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.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
  2. On the Analysis View List page, choose the New action.
  3. Fill in the fields as necessary. Hover over a field to read a short description.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
  2. Select the relevant analysis view, then choose the Analysis by Dimensions action.
  3. On the Analysis by Dimensions page, fill in the fields to define what data to show, and how.
  4. Choose the Show Matrix action to open the matrix page for the analysis view.
  5. To access details of an amount in the matrix page, choose the amount.
  • The columns on the left contain information based on what you've selected in the Show as Lines field in the header.
  • The columns on the right contain information based on what you've selected in the Show as Columns field in the header.
Important

Important:
You can't select a period length that's shorter than the period specified for the date compression on the Analysis View card. The Next Set and Previous Set actions aren't available if you've selected Period in either the Show as Lines or Show as Columns fields.

Note

Note:
You can use the Dimensions - Detail report to display a detailed classification of how dimensions have been used on entries over a selected period. You can use the Dimensions - Total report to display only the total amounts.

Tip

Tip:
You can also change the view by changing the contents of the Show as Lines and Show as Columns fields. To reverse a view setting, choose the Reverse Lines and Columns action.

Update an analysis view

The amounts on the Analysis by Dimensions page give you a picture of the company's state at the time of the last update. To get the current state, run the update action to update the analysis view.

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.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Analysis Views, then choose the related link.
  2. Select the relevant analysis view, then choose the Analysis by Dimensions action.
  3. On the Analysis by Dimensions page, choose the Analysis View Code field.
  4. Select the line with the relevant analysis view.
  5. On the Analysis Views page, select the analysis view, then choose the Update action.
Tip

Tip:
If you select the Update on Posting checkbox on an analysis view card, the view automatically updates when someone posts an associated transaction.

Note

Note:
To update some or all analysis views at the same time, use the Update Analysis Views batch job.

See also

Financial Business Intelligence
Finance
Setting Up Finance
The General Ledger and the Chart of Accounts
Work with Dimensions
Work with Business Central

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