---
title: SAP BW Dimensional Modeling Tutorial
description: Use our SAP BW Dimensional Modeling Guide to analyze and improve your existing or planned SAP InfoCube Design to improve your system performance
---

[SAP BW|BOBJ|Project Management Blog ](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog)

# [SAP BW Dimensional Modeling Tutorial](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-bw-dimensional-modeling)

 Written by [Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) | Tue, Nov, 15, 2011 @ 01:41 PM

Is your [SAP datawarehouse](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-most-common-sap-data-warehousing-concepts) suffering from slow performance?  (And which ones aren't!) Have you wondered if there are better ways to [model](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/are-you-ready-to-think-grow-rich-mindmap) your [datawarehouse](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-data-migration-mistakes-to-avoid)? 

 

## What is Dimensional Modeling

 

SAP BW [Dimensional Modeling](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse) is one of the most complex and important [tasks](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-sap-certification-ought-to-work) facing the SAP BW customer and [SAP BW Consultant](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-get-the-webi-universe-data-source-connection-setup) alike.

 

The dimensions of this problem are well known, yet little understood.  That is why getting **SAP BW InfoCube Dimensions** modeled correctly is a challenging and complex task. 

## Data Warehouse Dimensional Modeling Tutorial

We have prepared a [SAP BW Dimensional Modeling Guide](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/resources/infocube-dimensional-modeling/) to help you with the challenges of [SAP BW dimensional modeling ](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/business-intelligence/what-is-sap-business-warehouse)process. 

 

In this dimensional modeling [tutorial](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/sap-training-courses), we cover key aspects of:

- Compound Keys
- Aggregates
- [Broad Dimensions](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-important-is-data-governance-to-internet-marketing)
- Line Item Dimensions
- Using Demographic Characteristics
- Categorization During Runtime
- Time Dependency as a Categorization Characteristic
- Dealing with Historical Data Changes
- Dealing with slowly changing dimensions
- Partitioning to improve performance
- Degenerated Dimensions
- And many other subjects

## Dimensional Modeling Best Practices

Of course, not all of these data warehouse [dimensional modeling tutorial](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse) techniques apply to [all modeling situations](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-most-common-sap-data-warehousing-concepts), and your particular use [case](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-value-model-and-value-case) will dictate which combination of these techniques are required.  That is why we recommend a review of your existing system when you are suffering [performance issues](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/4-ways-to-bring-digital-innovation-to-your-company).  It is also the only way to fully exploit the **SAP Business Content**, the key [competitive differentiator](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/42-essential-hubspot-integrations-b2b-marketers-need-to-start-using) of [**SAP Business Warehouse**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/understanding-sap-bw-in-5-minutes).

 

 

 

This is a follow-on to our first guide, [SAP BW Data Modeling](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/resources/data-modeling-ebook/), which introduced you to the subject of **InfoCube** design.  For those of you with some **SAP BW Data Modeling** background, these may be just a good review. 

However, as we took the original information an enhanced it with real world experience, we think you may still learn something from it. 

 

*Comments and Links are ALWAYS welcome*

 

Thanks

 

[View full post](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-bw-dimensional-modeling)

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