Combined Dimensions

Dimensions can be combined to provide a detailed list of the weights applied to the various combinations of segments. This then allows you to go in and make fine adjustments to the combined weights to achieve the sample you require.

The figure here below shows a dimensions list with three separate dimensions.

Figure 1 - Example of a dimensions list containing three separate dimensions

Each of these dimensions can comprise several segments (click on the blue Dimension Name link to open its Edit Dimension page) - .

Figure 2 - The segments in the Gender dimension

And each segment can have a specified weight (go to Weights for more information). To combine dimensions:

Select two or more dimensions in the dimension list and click the Combine Dimensions button to combine the selected dimensions.

The result is as shown in the example below - .

Figure 3 - Example of three dimensions combined into one

Click on the "group name" (in this case the Gender/Carbrands/Degree link) to view the full list of all the combinations of segments in the combined dimension - . Click on an individual dimension name (for example Gender) to open the Edit Dimension page for that dimension.

Figure 4 - A small part of the segment list for a combined dimension. This list contained 110 cells

Go to the Weights tab and click on a Weight Name link to open the Weight list for the combined dimension - .

Figure 5 - The weights for the same small part of the combined dimension's segment list

The weights listed here are initially calculated automatically by the system when the dimensions are combined, and are the results of the combination of the weights specified for each individual segment. For example in the first row, the individual weights you have specified for the separate Male, SAAB and Bachelor segments, when combined and calculated against the specified weights for all the other rows in the list, will result in 1.35% of the total sample being males who both drive a SAAB and have a Bachelor's degree. You can now make fine adjustments to the targets.

Note that the full list must always total 100%; the Total cell at the bottom of the list will then be green. In the event the list does not total 100% the cell will be red.

Note: To change the order of the weight list here, you must "uncombine" the dimensions (go to Uncombining a Dimension for more information), select the appropriate dimension and use the Move Up and/or Move Down buttons to position the dimension as desired in the dimension list, then recombine them.

Uncombining a Dimension

You may wish to remove a dimension from the combined set, for example to adjust its segments' weights independently of the other dimensions in the combination. To do this:

1. Go to the Dimensions tab.
2. Click on the dimension you wish to remove to open it's Edit Dimension page.
3. Click Uncombine.

A confirmation dialog opens.

4. Click OK to continue.

This will release the dimension from the combination, and the released dimension will then be listed separately from the remaining combined dimensions in the Weights and Dimensions tabs - .

Figure 6 - The Weights tab with Gender dimension released from the combination

The weights for the remaining segments in the combination will be recalculated automatically, and the released dimension will be given the same weights it originally had before it was included in the combination. You can later recombine the dimensions as necessary.