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 translations


Analysis Services does not translate attributes or measure names for you, but it allows you to specify your own translations in case your application will serve a multilingual audience. You can define translations for dimension attributes as well as cube metadata. The Adventure Works sample multidimensional database supplies French and Spanish translations. You can use either SSMS/SSDT or a cube browsing tool of your choice to test translations.

How to do it...

To define translations for dimension attributes, the following steps need to be followed:

  1. Right-click on any database dimension within the SSDT project, and choose open. Navigate to the Translations tab within the dimension designer.

  2. Right-click anywhere within the Translations tab, and choose New Translation; doing so will open a dialog box that allows you to choose the language you will be using.

  3. The Translations tab lists all the dimension attributes. Once you choose the language, you will see a separate column...