The Difference Between Dimensional Model and Relational Model in Cognos

In Cognos, the difference between a dimensional model and a relational model lies in their structure and approach to organizing data.

Dimensional Model:

The dimensional model focuses on grouping data into dimensions and facts. Dimensions are the descriptive attributes or parameters by which data can be analyzed, while facts are the numerical data points that are being analyzed. This model is optimized for querying and analyzing data for reporting purposes. It simplifies complex data structures and allows for faster query performance.

Relational Model:

The relational model organizes data into tables with relationships defined by keys. It represents data in a tabular format with primary and foreign keys establishing relationships between tables. This model is suited for transactional systems and online transaction processing (OLTP) environments, where data integrity and normalization are key considerations. However, it may require complex joins for data analysis.

Overall, the choice between a dimensional model and a relational model in Cognos depends on the specific requirements of the data analysis and reporting tasks at hand.