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

Creating simple dimensions


The Analysis Services dimension allows examining data across a specific business vertical. For example, the Product dimension allows managers to see which products generated the most revenue, and the Geography dimension helps determine the most profitable regions. Each dimension is based on a corresponding table or view in the relational data source; dimension table's columns will correspond to SSAS dimension attributes. Analysis Services allows creation of very simple as well as very complex dimension structures. There are many dimension and attribute properties which let us customize each dimension to meet specific business requirements. Let's begin by creating a simple dimension and then working our way through more complex ones.

Getting ready

To complete this recipe, we must have at least one data source view with necessary tables, views, named queries, and named calculations.

How to do it...

To create a dimension perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the...