Metric management overview
Metric Management is a complete capability under Data Standards for atomic, calculated, and qualified metrics, dimensions, lifecycle, mappings, preview, authorization, monitoring, and queries. Its license is Data Metrics. Metric Standards is a separate entry point.
Usable metrics require definitions, component preparation, approval, mapping, result verification, and authorization.
Choose a task
| Stage | Task | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Folders, hierarchy, mappings, values | Dimensions |
| Definitions | Atomic/calculated metrics, qualifiers, time periods, qualified metrics | Definitions |
| Governance | Import/export, publication, change, deprecation, review, authorization | Governance |
| Data access | Sources, tables, metric/dimension columns, preview | Mapping and preview |
| Ongoing use | Alerts, monitoring, subject folders, self-service queries | Monitoring |
Understand the main objects
| Object | Purpose | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension Definitions | Analytical perspectives, levels, values | Defined folder and meaning |
| Atomic/Calculated Metrics | Basic measures and calculations | Definition, unit, owner |
| Qualified Metrics | Existing metrics plus periods/qualifiers | Consistent components |
| Qualifier Management | Scope, state, or type constraints | Distinct, unambiguous names |
| Time Period Management | Statistical range/grain | Alignment with extraction logic |
| Subject Folders | Group sources and metrics | Verified mappings |
| Metric Applications | Self-service queries by subject | Query permissions and mappings |
Atomic metrics are indivisible business measures. Calculated metrics apply formulas/business rules to atomic metrics. Qualified metrics add time periods or qualifiers to existing measures. These relationships define meaning; queries still require mappings.
Follow the complete workflow
- Define business question, owner, object, calculation, unit, and refresh frequency.
- Prepare dimensions and hierarchy and identify required physical mappings.
- Create atomic/calculated metrics, then qualified variants if needed.
- Approve publication and verify editing, viewing, and querying scopes.
- Map metrics/dimensions to sources, tables, and columns; verify known samples.
- Configure alerts, monitoring, subjects, and queries; inspect execution history.
Publication does not enable queries by itself; saved mappings do not prove correct definitions; saved alerts do not establish execution.
Understand the Metric Standards boundary
Metric Standards provides basic definitions and dimensions. Metric Management adds composition, data access, monitoring, and permissions. Parameters may control visibility/editability. Published metrics and dimensions can synchronize to Metric Standards. Avoid conflicting definitions across the two entry points.