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

Learning about basic dimension processing


You can process dimensions using SSMS processing dialog or XMLA script. Alternatively, you could use the ascmd.exe command line utility to schedule a dimension processing. While developing the solution, you could also process dimensions using SSDT.

Getting ready

Launch SSMS and connect to the existing AdventureWorks_Sample database, which has been previously deployed on your instance of Analysis Services. Expand the Dimensions folder within the current database.

How to do it...

To process a dimension, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on any dimension and choose Process; doing so opens the Process Dimension dialog.

  2. Choose any of the dimension processing options except ProcessAdd. This option is not available in the dialog.

  3. Click on the Script button in the top-left corner of the dialog and choose Script Action to New Query Editor Window. The sample XMLA command for processing the Geography dimension is as follows:

    <Batch xmlns = "http://schemas...