When we have a non-degenerate
commuting square of finite dimensional C∗-algebras, we can construct a subfactor in
two ways. One is by a repetition of basic constructions in a horizontal direction and
the other in a vertical direction. We prove that if one of the two is of finite depth, so
is the other. Furthermore, we prove the two have the same global indices in the sense
of A. Ocneanu. This gives an answer to a question V.F.R. Jones raised in
his talk at Aarhus in June, 1995. We actually prove a more general result
on flatness and also give an example of a new finite principal graph as its
application.