Direct Relations

This article describes how Direct Relations enhances data model management, specifically tackling the challenges of Random Paths and Many-to-Many relationships.

Traditional Relationship Management

Previously, Sisense relied on a shared relation group approach. While functional, difficulties could arise, particularly with:

  • Random Paths: These cryptic errors often arose due to inconsistencies within the shared relation group, causing frustration for data analysts.

  • Many-to-Many Relationships: Managing these intricate connections could become cumbersome, hindering query efficiency and data integrity.

Direct Relations

Direct Relations revolutionize how Sisense handles data model relationships. They establish unique links for each model, offering:

  • Granular Control: Direct Relations empower users to define precise connections between specific tables within a model. This eliminates ambiguity and streamlines data flow.

  • Enhanced Flexibility: Complexities like Many-to-Many relationships can be addressed with greater control, ensuring accurate data joins and improved query performance.

Utilizing Direct Relations for Optimal Outcomes

Implementing Direct Relations is a straightforward process:

Leveraging Direct Relations to Address Many-to-Many Relationships

Many-to-Many relationships occur when a single record in one table can be linked to multiple records in another table, and vice versa. Traditional shared relations might struggle with this complexity. Here's how Direct Relations can help:

Scenario: Imagine a data model with two tables: `Customers` and `Orders`. A customer can place many orders, and an order can be linked to multiple customers (e.g., in a group purchase scenario).

Solution: When creating the data model, use Direct Relations instead of the shared relation group. This establishes a dedicated connection between the `Customers` and `Orders` tables within the model.

Benefits: Direct Relations allow you to define a bridge table, if necessary, to specify the many-to-many connection. This clarifies data joins and ensures accurate results in your analysis.

Eliminating Random Path Issues with Direct Relations

Random Path errors often stem from inconsistencies within shared relation groups. Direct Relations provide a solution:

Scenario: You encounter a frustrating "Random Path" error message while working on a Sisense model. This cryptic message might indicate conflicting relationships within the shared relation group.

Solution: When duplicating a model that suffers from Random Path errors, select the Duplicate with Direct Relations option. This creates a copy of the model with independent table connections, effectively isolating the relationships specific to this model and eliminating conflicts inherited from the shared group.

Benefits: Direct Relations promote clear traceability of connections within each model, preventing random path errors and streamlining your data analysis workflow.

Additional Benefits

Direct Relations offer more than just resolving data relationship challenges. They provide:

  • Improved Model Organization: Direct Relations simplify model management by fostering clear traceability of relationships within each model.

  • Potential Performance Gains: By eliminating the need for shared relation groups, Direct Relations can potentially improve query performance.