Constraints on Dimensions

Hi
I had a quick question on constraints on the dimensional tables. I have several column, ex active_flag (just an example ) whose valid values are Y or N. The dilemma is whether I should leave the constraints in the dimensional tables, or move it to the ETL process. I'm almost sure that I read it somewhere that the ETL should be handling the scenario, but need someone to re-assure me on this.

Thanks for you help.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'moving it to the ETL process'. If you mean, for example, to exclude inactive rows from the dimension table, then I would say no... The problem you run into is if you are loading historical facts, you may not have a dimension row to reference in the fact table. You always want facts to reference a dimension row, if it so happens that that particular dimension value is no longer used, so be it. Leave those attributes in the dimension table.

Leave them off. It slows down the load process.

If it is a constraint for your dimension table then you dont need it in you warehouse. Take it off....

Regards
Shiv