Transactional Fact and update of records

[PJK]

Hi,

I have a transactional fact table for Log details. One of the attributes, log_type starts with value "Initial" during log creation time and the final value is "Complete".

For a transactional fact table is it advisable to update the records as and when there is a change in the operational system record or needs to accomodate that change as a new record?

The confusion is due to,
In the DW Toolkit book -> Fact Table type comparision -> Transaction Grain -> Fact row updates -> Not revisited

thanks,
Pullai

[mr_neal]

Hi,
For a transactional fact table is it advisable to update the records as and when there is a change in the operational system record or needs to accomodate that change as a new record?
Pullai

Pullai,
It depends on whether you need to track (or report on) the history of the transaction. If you do, then you create a new record in the fact table and end date the prior record; if not, then just update the status key and update date. Hope that answers your question. (Check out post: "Fact table for transactional data" as well)