Logical Data Modeling - Orphan (Entity, Instance)

An orphan instance is an instance (entity) that does not have a corresponding existing parent record in a parent-child relationship.

An orphan is created if you insert an instance that does not have an existing parent instance.

When you load an article into a fact table but this article code is not present in the article dimension. This record (instance) is an orphan record.

When loading orphan instance, you can:

• Reject the instance
• Insert the instance in an other table
• Or set an other instance value to regroup the orphan instances (the -1 of -2 value)