Fact tables are the heart of your Smartload cube—they contain the quantitative data you want to analyze. This guide walks you through uploading data, configuring columns, adding calculated measures, and processing your cube for analysis.
What Are Fact Tables?
Fact tables store your core business metrics—the numbers you want to measure, track, and analyze. They typically contain transactional or event-based data with quantitative values.
📊 Examples of Fact Table Data
Uploading Data to a Fact Table
To add data to an existing fact table or create a new one, you'll use the upload functionality. Here's how:
Open the Fact Table
Click on the fact table tile you want to update, or create a new one from the Fact Tables section.
Access the Ellipsis Menu
Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner of the table view.
Choose Your Upload Method
Select either Add Data (append to existing) or Replace Data (overwrite all).
Upload Your File
Select your CSV or Excel file. The system will validate column headers against existing structure.
Add Data vs. Replace Data
Configuring Table Columns
After uploading data, you may need to configure how each column is treated. Click on the table to open its configuration view.
Column Configuration Options
Set as Text, Number, Date, or Boolean. Ensures proper sorting and calculations.
Hide columns from end users while keeping them available for calculations.
Apply number formats, currency symbols, decimal places, and percentage display.
Default summarization method: Sum, Count, Average, Min, Max, or None.
Adding Calculated Columns
Calculated columns use DAX formulas to create new values based on existing data. They're computed row-by-row during cube processing.
Profit = [Revenue] - [Cost]
To add a calculated column:
- Click the + Add Column button in the table view
- Select Calculated Column
- Enter your DAX formula
- Save and process the cube to see results
Calculated columns are computed once during processing and stored in memory. For calculations that need to respond to filter context, use Measures instead.
Adding Measures
Measures are dynamic calculations that respond to user selections and filters. Unlike calculated columns, they're computed at query time.
Measures vs. Calculated Columns
The Ellipsis Menu Options
The three-dot menu (⋯) provides quick access to common table operations:
Append rows to existing
Overwrite all data
Export current data
Build/rebuild the cube
Duplicate table structure
Remove table entirely
Processing Your Cube
After making changes to data, columns, or measures, you need to process the cube to make those changes available for analysis.
Processing Triggers
Process your cube when you:
- Upload new data (add or replace)
- Add or modify calculated columns
- Create or edit measures
- Change column configurations
- Modify relationships
To process: Click the ellipsis menu (⋯) → Select Process → Wait for completion.
Next Steps
With your fact table configured and processed, you're ready to add dimensional context through attribute tables. This enables filtering, grouping, and enriched analysis.
Fact tables are the foundation of your analytical model. Start simple with your core metrics, add calculated columns and measures as needed, and always process after making changes. For complex DAX formulas or performance optimization, refer to the Working with DAX guide.
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