How to approach this project-data model?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

How do I approach this project?

2 Data Model Scenarios

1) I have 20 clients and 20 consultants. I have two separate spreadsheets. One table has client name and all other attributes, the other has consultant name and all other attributes. How do I create data model to map which consultant works on which client? So I can visualize this on a dashboard?

2) I have another CSV file with the same data, but in this case, it's a many to many relationship between consultant and client. So it will show multiple client rows to reflect the multiple consultants working on the clients? How do I correctly data model this?

I don't know how to approach this. Please provide some advice if you have any.

[BA_Pete · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

I sounds like both of the tables that you have described are dimension tables (i.e. both have a unique client/consultant code and other descriptive information about them).

As such, you need a fact table which records information around the projects that have been completed or are in progress, with information such as [projectNumber], [clientNumber], [projectStartDate], [projectEndDate], [consultantNumber], [hoursWorked], [dateHoursWorked] and so on.

From this point, you relate your two dimension tables to the fact table and this gives you the beginnings of a basic star-schema model on which to build your report. You will also want to add a calendar table to your model and relate it to relevant date fields in your fact table.

You would use fields from your dimension/calendar tables as axes or descriptors in visuals, and you would calculate your measures and metrics from the fact table.

Pete