How to Work with Dimensions

Business Central makes it possible for you to analyze your data in numerous ways. One tool that provides flexibility and the ability to look at your data from different perspectives is Dimensions. Dimensions allow you to categorize entries in different ways so that they can be tracked and analyzed. 

Dimensions Overview 

Dimensions are a core financial tool and can be used for analysis and design of financial reports, but they can also be used as KPIs and indicators. Using Dimensions, you can tag purchase orders, invoices, sales orders, journal entries for payroll or other routine expenses, or you can track departments, geographic locations, or whatever other method of classifying transactions you’d like to see in your chart of accounts.

We don’t recommend that you change Dimensions during the fiscal year. You can add new Dimensions throughout the year, but only make core changes to analyzers at the end of a fiscal period.

Dimensions are treated as a one-layer relationship, set up as a mother and child. You can have eight dimensions at a time, so eight mothers with an unlimited amount of children. For example, you might have one Dimension set up as “area,” then within that category, have Europe, North America, South America, and so on, adding as many areas as you need.

Uses of Dimensions 

Perhaps you need to track your sales in various ways. You can track the salesperson, what campaign the sale was part of, what business group owns the sale, or what customer group made the purchase.

Another potential use of Dimensions is to track purchases. You could track where a product or service was purchased, or you may use tags to show what department or individual made a purchase. Dimensions can be modified to suit your purposes and provide flexibility in how you can analyze your data.

Dimensions can be used in a wide variety of ways, such as for general entries, check writing, banking, payments, deposits, ACHS, or even for certain manufacturing or warehousing activities. The list is nearly endlessly customizable.

An example 

Imagine that you want to track transactions based on the geographic area where they take place and the departments involved. You would set up two Dimensions: Area and Department.  

Within those two Dimensions, you may then choose to add an unlimited number of dimension values. For your department Dimension you may choose to add values for administration, sales, procurement, production, and so on.

Reporting  

Once you have the Dimensions and their associated values set up, you can use them as filters in the General Ledger. This means you can run reports that include Area and Department.  

 You can generate reports based on Dimensions as PDFs or Excel spreadsheets or whatever other format fits your needs. However, you should be aware that there’s no way to drill down within those formats.

For more information 

If you prefer a video walk-through of how to use Dimensions you can see Velosio’s Hani Qadri demonstrating here.

 You’re also always welcome to call our sales team with specific questions about your situation.