A dimension determines the method by which the segmentation process creates segments, such as by time or business unit. Dimensions add a business definition to data, so that you can manage it easily and access it quickly. You create dimensions during smart partitioning implementation.
The Data Archive metadata includes a dimension called time. You can use the time dimension to classify the data in a segment by date or time. You can also create custom dimensions based on business needs, such as business unit, product line, or region.