Creating or modifying custom columns in dimensions

Some dimension tables allow you to add additional custom columns. These "grouping" columns allow you to customize the data you want to query into reports. You can add up to five grouping columns to the following dimensions:

  • Accounts
  • Age
  • Cost Categories
  • CPT Codes
  • Departments
  • Revenue Codes

NOTE: At this time, this utility is only available from the DSS Admin task pane, accessible from the Windows or Excel Client. Only users assigned the DSS Admin role can access this task pane (assuming your organization has a license for Axiom Decision Support).

To create or modify custom columns in dimensions:

  1. In the Cost Accounting Admin task pane, in the Costing Data Maintenance section, double-click Configure Variable Columns.

  2. In the Configure Variable Columns page, in the Enabled column, click the check box next to the column to use.

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  3. In the Preferred Name field, type a name for the column that makes sense for reporting purposes.

    NOTE: The column name must start with a letter. The name can only include letters A-Z, 0-9, and/or an underscore (_), and can only include up to 200 characters. The system displays a check mark next to the name if it is allowed by the system; otherwise, it displays an x. The system will not allow you to save your changes until the check mark displays.

  4. When you are done making changes, click Save.

After you save the changes, the system updates the appropriate dimension tables with the new columns. You then update the columns with the appropriate records.