Book Image

SQL Server Analysis Services 2012 Cube Development Cookbook

Book Image

SQL Server Analysis Services 2012 Cube Development Cookbook

Overview of this book

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system. As a database, it is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications. SQL Server Analysis Services adds OLAP and data mining capabilities for SQL Server databases. OLAP (online analytical processing) is a technique for analyzing business data for effective business intelligence. This practical guide teaches you how to build business intelligence solutions using Microsoft’s core product – SQL Server Analysis Services. The book covers the traditional multi-dimensional model which has been around for over a decade as well as the tabular model introduced with SQL Server 2012. Starting with comparing MultiDimensional and tabular models – discussing the values and limitations of each, you will then cover the essential techniques for building dimensions and cubes. Following on from this, you will be introduced to more advanced topics, such as designing partitions and aggregations, implementing security, and synchronizing databases for solutions serving many users. The book also covers administrative material, such as database backups, server configuration options, and monitoring and tuning performance. We also provide a primer on MultiDimensional eXpressions (MDX) as well as Data Analysis expressions (DAX) languages. This book provides you with data cube development techniques, and also the ongoing monitoring and tuning for Analysis Services.
Table of Contents (19 chapters)
SQL Server Analysis Services 2012 Cube Development Cookbook
Credits
About the Authors
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Combining tables using calculated columns


To begin working with calculated columns, we'll make a modification to the Tabular Model design created in the previous chapter. In a business intelligence solution, we often combine data from multiple source tables to simplify the structure and make it easier for users to navigate and report on information. Previously, we used a T-SQL query to join the Product Subcategory and Product Category table information to populate a single table in the semantic model. To gain experience with a different table design technique and develop new skills, we will change the approach.

Getting ready

You're going to make a design modification to the Tabular Model you created in Chapter 9, Using Tabular Models. If you would like to keep that project in its current state for reference, you can make a copy of the project folder for backup purposes. Otherwise, we'll just pick up from where we left off and continue to work in the same Tabular Model.

How to do it…

You'll start...