The primary purpose of SQL Server 2008 Integration Services is to deliver extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) functionality that supports core features of the SQL Server database management system. However, there are numerous scenarios where its role involves interaction with components that provide business intelligence-related features incorporated into the product.  Read more...

Getting the time dimension configured correctly is a necessary first step in order to take advantage of the Time Intelligence features in SSAS.  Read more...

This white paper describes how operations engineers can test, monitor, capacity plan, and troubleshoot Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services OLAP solutions in SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, and SQL Server 2008 R2.  Read more...

This white paper explains how Microsoft® adCenter implemented a Microsoft SQL Server® 2008 Analysis Services Scalable Shared Database on EMC® Symmetrix VMAX™ storage. Leveraging TimeFinder® clones and Enterprise Flash Drives with the read-only feature of SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services allowed adCenter to dramatically scale out OLAP while maintaining SLAs and decreasing system outages.   Read more...

In a parent child dimension, when an attribute's usage type is set as Parent and browsed from a client tool, many designers as well as users may get confused based on the displayed results. For example, when you browse a parent attribute in a parent child dimension like Employee and say the parent attribute is Employees, you can browse data members from the parent node until the deepest available level of the child node. By default you will find each parent member having a child member with the same name even though this member might not exist in the data. From a user experience point of view this is not a desirable way of browsing a parent child hierarchy because it may get confusing. In this tip we will look at an example of this issue and how to solve this problem.   Read more...

One of the most important responsibilities of a database administrator is to make sure that all the databases are backed up across environments managed by them. In my earlier article titled Importance of Database Backups and Recovery Plan I discussed the importance of a good database backup and recovery plan for all the user and system databases. In this article we will take a look at the steps which a database administrator needs to follow to backup and restore an analysis services database.   Read more...

To query an Analysis Services cube, MDX is used as the query language. In most business settings, one would find a set of queries that are common across a number of user query requirements. To cater to this, even with a modest size IT team, there is a good chance that the same queries are developed redundantly either within a SSAS MDX script or repetitively in an ad-hoc manner in client applications. In this tip we would look at how to reuse queries without redeveloping them over and over.   Read more...

I used to think naively that IIF is an innocent little function that can only do good and help me...  Read more...

Discretization (one of my favorite tech words to say J) is a really great feature of Analysis Services that is...  Read more...

When you are obliged to create a dimensional database for an SSAS cube, how can you do it as fast as possible?  Read more...

As your database grows in size, Analysis Services cubes that use that database grow along with it. As such, one...  Read more...

Businesses often have custom financial calendars - adapting these for use in SSAS can often be challenging - this article shows you how to do it.  Read more...

Proactive caching helps DBAs to better control the cube data automatic refresh frequency, offering near real-time data for reports. This article covers the settings for HOLAP and ROLAP, and configuring proactive caching.  Read more...

In SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008, Microsoft has added some fantastic visualizations around data-mining algorithms. These visual aids allow us to see exactly what a particular algorithm is predicting or describing—making a difficult subject easier to understand.  Read more...

A look at partitioning in Analysis Services from Shahfaisal Muhammed. Learn how it works, what it can do, and how to implement partitions for your cubes.  Read more...

I have installed a new instance of SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services and I am unable to find the Surface Area Configuration tool that I used to use in SQL Server 2005. How can I manage the Analysis Services features in SQL Server 2008?   Read more...

As I am new to Windows Server 2008 R2 it would be great if you can let me know the step by step approach to enable the default port of SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services in Windows Firewall for user connectivity.  Read more...

Actions are powerful way of extending the value of SSAS cubes for the end user. They can click on a cube or portion of a cube to start an application with the selected item as a parameter, or to retrieve information about the selected item. Actions haven't been well-documented until now; Robert Sheldon once more makes everything clear.  Read more...

Analysis Services calculations are great for storing formulas that your users need to see on a regular basis.  They also...  Read more...

To be able to drill into multidimensional cube data at several levels, you must implement all of the hierarchies on the database dimensions. Then you'll create the attribute relationships necessary to optimize performance. Analysis Services hierarchies offer plenty of possibilities for displaying the data that your business requires. Rob Sheldon continues his series on SQL Server Analysis Services 2008.  Read more...