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

Defining data sources


Each Analysis Services project could use multiple data sources. The traditional approach is to first build a staging relational database where you import data from various data repositories within your enterprise. Subsequently, you would build a dimensional model using a Star or Snowflake schema, as opposed to a normalized model you would typically use for a transactional database, for your data warehouse that has fact and dimension tables. Lastly, you build the Analysis Services solution using the dimensional model within the relational data source. This approach is still recommended, because it allows you to have more control over your data cleansing routines prior to building Analysis Services objects.

On the other hand, SSDT does give you the flexibility to connect to various relational databases and define necessary data structures within data source views, if you don't have the luxury of building the staging area or the star schema database. However, this flexibility...