If you are not performing a dimension build, skip this section.
In a dimension build, each field in the data source is part of a column that describes an outline member. Fields can contain information about:
Member names
Member properties
Attribute associations
For Essbase to process this information, you must specify the following information when setting field types:
The type of field to expect in that column, such as a generation field or an alias field. The field type depends on the data source and the build method (see Understanding Build Methods).
The dimension to which the members of that column belong.
The generation or level number of the members of that column.