How to represent boolean flag representation in FACT?

[rameshusa]

I have a degenerate dimesnion called Treaty or Facultative Flag for my insurance needs. When I add the flag to the FACT Table, Is it better to add it as char(1) or 1/0 as a number?

Will there be a performance benefits in using 1/0 over the Y/N? The FACT table may contain about 15 Million Rows?

Thanks,

[ngalemmo]

Or a Boolean.

Do whatever you want. It doesn't really matter all that much. It is a matter of style and what the business users would like to see.

[BoxesAndLines]

Use the smallest numeric datatype available. Don't use boolean since you cannot sum boolean natively.

[ngalemmo]

Use the smallest numeric datatype available. Don't use boolean since you cannot sum boolean natively.

Yeah, but you really can't sum any of it natively. If true = 1 and false = 0, how do I sum the number of false? I need to use a comparative expression, I cannot use sum() alone.

[BoxesAndLines]

Good point. I normally include a default metric for all fact tables with the value of 1 (really handy for factless facts). In this case of false I would sum the default metric where cond = 0.

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