---
title: "Using Dimensions"
description: "Dimensions are Lucanet xP&A’s most powerful concept. This topic conceptually explains dimensions so that you can use them in your models."
source_url: https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions
language: en
last_updated: 2023-08-16
---
# Using Dimensions

## Overview

Dimensions are xP&A’s most powerful concept. This topic conceptually explains dimensions so that you can use them in your models.

## A Dimension is Basically a List

Suppose you are building a financial model for your online coffee business. You sell 10 different products (**SKU**), each with a different price.

In xP&A, you can create a dimension called **SKU** with each product as its own item:

Dimension 'SKU' with dimension items

## Dimensions Let You Break Your Variables Down

In a spreadsheet you would create a row for each **product**, and a column for **Price**:

Products with prices in a spreadsheet

In xP&A, you can create a single **Price** variable, broken down by your **SKU** dimension:

Variable 'Price' with dimension 'SKU'

## Dimensions Flow Through Your Formulas

Suppose that you have to pay 20% in taxes on each sale, and you want to calculate your post-tax revenue for each product.

In a spreadsheet, you would have to create 10 new rows and do a separate calculation for each product.

In xP&A, you can simply do the calculation once, and xP&A will automatically calculate it for each dimension item separately.

Calculated dimension items

## Dimensions Can be Modified On-The-Fly

Suppose that you add a new product to your offering.

In a spreadsheet you would have to find every instance of your product list in your model, insert a new row in the right place, and then fill in the correct formula for it.

In xP&A, you can simply add your new product to your **SKU** dimension, and xP&A will automatically include it wherever the SKU dimension is used.

## Dimensions Can Have Hierarchies (Levels)

If your dimension has an inherent hierarchy, e.g. your dimension is **Group** and contains **Divisions**, **Branches**, and **Shops** that are rolled up, you can build your dimension in order to display and aggregate data at the corresponding level.

To create this hierarchy in the **dimension settings**, simply grab a dimension item on the left and drop it under the dimension it belongs. This automatically assigns levels (top items are level 1, their children level 2, and so on). For more information, see [Creating and Editing Dimensions](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions/create-edit-dimensions.md).

In the following example, **Division 1** is level 1, **Branch A** is level 2 and **Shop 1, 2 and 3** are level 3:

Hierarchy of a dimension

## Dimensions Can Have Attributed Types

In addition to levels, dimensions may also have **types**, which are classifications you can assign to items.

Types may align with levels, but don’t have to.

For example, you could have a **Shop** type where **Shop 5** and **Shop 6** are grouped under **Shop 4**.

In models, you can group the dimensions either by **types** or **levels**. For more information, see [Creating and Editing Dimensions](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions/create-edit-dimensions.md).

Group by types

## Dimensions Can be Linked to Each Other

You think about your products falling into two different groups: **Coffee beans** and **Coffee equipment**.

In xP&A, you can create a dimension called **Product Group**, link it to the **SKU** dimension, and then assign each **SKU** to a **Product Group.** (For more information, see [Creating and Editing Dimensions](https://support.lucanet.cloud/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/modeling-your-data/using-dimensions/create-edit-dimensions.md).)

Linked dimension

## Dimensions Facilitate “Lookup” Operations

Suppose that your taxes are not just 20% across all products, but that there is a different tax payable on food (e.g. coffee beans) versus coffee equipment.

In a spreadsheet, you would do the following:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Set up a lookup table between **SKU** and **Product Group**
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Break your tax assumption out into separate values for each **Product Group**
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Replace your tax calculation formulas with VLOOKUPs (or similar) to use the correct tax amount for each product

In xP&A, you can simply apply the **Product Group** breakdown to your **Tax** variable, and xP&A will automatically use the correct tax amount for each product in your downstream calculations.

Applying the 'Product Group' breakdown to the tax variable

**Price** is broken down by **Product** while **Tax percentage** is broken down by **Product Group**, but xP&A lets you multiply them directly without any manual lookups.

{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}
## Dimensions Let You Slice and Dice Easily in Charts and Tables

Suppose that you have your monthly revenue broken down by **SKU** and want to create a stacked bar chart showing your monthly revenue broken down by **Product Group**.

In a spreadsheet, you would have to first “pivot” your data (using formulas and copy&pasting) and then chart the pivoted version of the data.

In xP&A, you can simply create a chart of your **Revenue** variable, and then pivot the data directly on the chart without any setup.

Chart to the variable 'Revenue'

## Dimension Values Can be Overridden

Every business is messy, and sometimes you will need to hardcode certain values or set different formulas for different periods.

You can override any dimension value by simply clicking and typing into the relevant cell. This is a useful 'escape hatch', but should be used sparingly!