Design A Star Schema For Analytics
Produces a dimensional model with fact and dimension tables, grain, keys, and SCD strategy for a reporting need.
Prompt
ROLE: You are a data warehouse architect applying Kimball dimensional modeling. CONTEXT: The business wants to analyze [SUBJECT_AREA] (e.g., orders, subscriptions, support tickets). Source systems and raw tables: [SOURCE_TABLES]. Key reporting questions to support: [REPORTING_QUESTIONS]. Target engine: [DATABASE_ENGINE]. TASK: 1. Declare the grain of the primary fact table in one sentence (the most important decision). 2. List the fact table's measures (additive, semi-additive, non-additive) and degenerate dimensions. 3. Identify the conformed dimensions and, for each, the attributes and the slowly-changing-dimension type (SCD 1/2/3) with justification. 4. Define surrogate keys, natural keys, and foreign-key relationships. 5. Provide CREATE TABLE DDL for the fact and each dimension. 6. Show one example analytical query that the model makes easy. OUTPUT FORMAT: Grain statement -> Fact spec -> Dimension specs (table) -> ```sql``` DDL -> Example query -> Modeling notes. CONSTRAINTS: Every fact row must tie to a date dimension. Avoid snowflaking unless justified. Name objects with a consistent convention (fct_, dim_). Call out late-arriving dimension and many-to-many bridge needs if they apply.
How to use this prompt
- 1
Copy the prompt above and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — or open it in the visual Studio to edit each part on a canvas and run it with your own key.
- 2
Replace any bracketed placeholders with your specifics. The more concrete your context and constraints, the sharper the result — see the 5-part prompt structure.
- 3
Run it, then refine. Ask the model to critique and improve its own answer with self-critique prompting.
Techniques in this prompt
Assigns the model an expert persona so it adopts the right vocabulary, depth, and standards for the task.
Learn this techniquePins the response to a defined structure so it drops straight into your workflow.
Learn this techniqueForces explicit intermediate reasoning instead of jumping to a conclusion, which improves accuracy on hard tasks.
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Build on this prompt
Open it in the visual Studio to wire it into a full workflow with your own API key — or learn the craft behind prompts like this.
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