Introduction

When reporting with multi-dimensional data using MDX queries, there are usually two approaches. One is to use a parameterized MDX query. Another is to use a concatenated dynamic MDX query. In the parameterized MDX query approach, only the values of parameters are passed from the reporting tool, and the MDX query is in the form of parameterized query. In the concatenated dynamic MDX query approach, the entire query is constructed in the reporting tool with string manipulation.

In the SQL Reporting Services (SSRS), both the parameterization and concatenation dynamic MDX approaches are supported. Most report writers would choose the parameterization approach, just because Reporting Services provide a better user interface for cube browsing, selecting values for parameters, and for testing. But this does not mean that the concatenation dynamic MDX approach is in some way bad. As a matter of fact, the concatenation dynamic MDX approach is often more flexible because report writers...