BusinessObjects Board

Context or Alias

building semantic layer
#1

I love to use Contexts and I hate to use Alias. Is there any scenario where you can say that Alias is the ONLY solution and not Context?

dillagi (BOB member since 2006-01-04)

loops
#2

Rule of thumb:

  • Use one context for each fact table
  • Alias any dimension table that plays multiple roles, for example: Address dimension aliased as Ship To Address and Ship From Address.

Andreas :de: (BOB member since 2002-06-20)

#3

Thanks for the reply, Andreas. I am very comfortable in using both Alias and Context. What I want to know is, is there any scenario where the only option you have is to use Alias and not context?

Its just a general question.

dillagi (BOB member since 2006-01-04)

#4

Yes, of course. Each is used to solve a specific issue. If you have a lookup table that has, as Andreas explained, more than one purpose, you should use an alias. Otherwise you would never be able to report a ship-to address and a ship-from address on the same report, you would always get one or the other if you tried to solve the issue with contexts.

Dave Rathbun :us: (BOB member since 2002-06-06)