Question on Multiple Date columns

Question

Hello all,
I have like 7 to 10 fact tables . In each fact table I have one date column..Some facts have 2 or 3 date columns
for example , I have Activations Fact table in which I have Disconnect_Date and Activation_Date...both should be joined to Date_Dim
Since , I can't join 2columns from one table to single Date Dim on date_key . I created a alias for Date dim , 1 for Activation_date and the other for Disconnect_date
Some other fact tables have only one date column . So, i joined all of them to single Date Dim
Now , In the subject area I will have some facts joined to one Date Dim and Some facts which have multiple date columns joined to their particular alias Date dims...
like ....
Subject Area:
Fact1 (with single date column joined to Date Dim)
Fact2 ( " )
Fact3 ( " )
Fact4 ( " )
Date Dim (joined to fact1,2,3,4)
ActivationsFact5 ( fact with 2 date columns)
Activation_Date ( joined to activationsfact5 on activation_date)
Disconnect_Date ( joined to activationsfact5 on disconnect_date)
I have like this...As I know which date dim is joined to what fact I can create reports
But other users who doesnt have idea on it...may create a report joining activationsfact with Date Dim ,which are not joined
To avoid this condition , the only way I see is to create aliases of Date Dim for all the facts like Fact1,Date Dim1,Fact2,Date Dim2 like that
But , I am concerned about creating so many date dims in the rpd. And creating hierarchies for them.
Does anyone have idea on how to handle this ?? Please help
Thanks,
Siri

Answer 1

Instead of creating aliases of Date Dim for every fact table , do u think its better to train users ?