Status Code vs Status Description

Hello,

In dimensional modeling do we store Status code or Status description in the dimension. (e.g. Policy Status code 'POL', Description 'Policy').

Do we use mapping tables as separate tables?

Thank you

Hi,

you can store them in a dimension table, you can create a common dimn table (junk dimension) to store this type of information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension_(data_warehouse)


thanks

Himanshu

Sorry, my question was
In the policy dimension should I store the 'Policy Status ID' (with a separate status table that contains status id and status description) OR should I store the 'Policy Status Description'

You should always store all attributes of an object in the dimension that models that object - so the answer to your question is you store the ID and the description in the Dimension
This is one of the key differences between a transactional model and a dimensional model. What you are describing is essentially a transactional model in 3NF - where the object is to reduce/eliminate redundant data, by putting descriptions in a separate table and referencing them with codes. However in a Dimensional model it is expected that data is heavily duplicated.

Thank you...I got my answer.