Ideal way of having dimension tables in environments

Question

What is the typical way of having dimension tables?

We have four environments - development, testing ,User Testing, Production.

Is it right that dimension tables are present only in production and not in other environments?

So the fact tables in all other 3 environments will use the production dimension tables keys?

Is this the way, it is set up in your work places? or do you have separate dimension tables in each environment?

Please help.

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gs

Answer 1

Does not sound right to me.

For example, if you were altering a dimension table, you definately would not do it directly on production.  If you are using a specific tool though that has limitations and only one license you may be forced into this scenario. 

Usually your environments are independant, for the purpose that the first 3 environments could come crashing down.

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Answer 2

Thanks GGoldSpink..

Please confirm if this is how it works in your organization.

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gs

Answer 3

As a consultant this is how it works through a number of them

A test environment should be as close as possible, if not exact mirror of the prod environment.  At any stage you should be able to reset the test environment, such as back the database up from the prod, then restore to the test.

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Best Wishes, The Redman; If something helps, please help show it by voting, if it solves, bonus!