SQLServerCentral.com Articles tagged MDX

Comparison of Queries Written in T-SQL and SQL Server MDX

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:00:00 UT

Beginning to learn and comprehend SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) MDX queries can be difficult after one has spent years writing queries in T-SQL. When trying to write SQL Server MDX queries, it's worth considering "How would I write this query in T-SQL?"

MDX Guide for SQL Folks: Part III - Advanced Analysis

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:00:00 UT

Learn everything about MDX drawing only on your T-SQL knowledge in this series. Frank Banin continues talking about Calculated Members, Named Sets, and more in part III.

Using MDX to Calculate Both Values and Percentages for Analysis Services

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:00:00 UT

When creating pie charts using data from Analysis Services, having the MDX query calculate and return the percentages along with the counts or sums is extremely efficient. In this tip, we walk through an example of how this can be done.

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MDX Guide for SQL Folks: Part II - Hierarchies and Functions

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:00:00 UT

Learn everything about MDX by drawing only on your SQL knowledge.

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MDX Guide for SQL Folks: Part I - Navigating The Cube

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 06:00:00 UT

Learn all you need to know about MDX, by drawing only on your current SQL knowledge.

Stairway to MDX - Level 2: The Ordinal Function

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:00:00 UT

Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson introduces the MDX Ordinal Function, as a means for generating lists and for conditionally presenting calculations. He also demonstrates the use of the function in creating datasets to support report parameter picklists.

Stairway to MDX - Level 1: Getting Started with MDX

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:00:00 UT

To learn MDX, there is really no alternative to installing the system and trying out the statements, and experimenting. William Pearson, the well-known expert on MDX, kicks off a stairway series on this important topic by getting you running from a standing start.

Stairway to MDX - Level 9: Member “Family” Functions: .LastSibling and Cousin()

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:00:00 UT

BI Architect Bill Pearson concludes his introduction to the MDX Members functions. In this Level we wrap up our exploration of the “family” group with the .LastSibling, and Cousin() functions.

Stairway to MDX - Level 8: Member “Family” Functions: .LastChild and .FirstSibling

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:00:00 UT

BI Architect Bill Pearson continues his introduction to the MDX Members functions. In this Level we continue our exploration of the general “family” group with the .LastChild and .FirstSibling functions.

Stairway to MDX - Level 7: Member "Family" Functions: Ancestor() and .FirstChild

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:00:00 UT

BI Architect Bill Pearson continues his introduction to the MDX Members functions. In this Level we continue our exploration of the general “family” group, with the Ancestor() and .FirstChild functions.

Stairway to MDX - Level 6: Member “Family” Functions: .Parent and .Children

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:00:00 UT

Some of the most important 'Member' functions of MDX are often known as the 'Family Functions'. These are used in queries on multidimensional structures for analysis and reporting, and can refer to relative nodes in the hierarchy in much the same way as in a family tree.

Stairway to MDX - Level 5: Members, and an Introduction to the MDX Members Functions

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:00:00 UT

Bill explains what is meant by a 'Member' and 'Member function' in MDX. A member is an item in a dimension that include the 'measures' which are the values of the attributes that belong to a dimension. 'Measures' are themselves members of a dimension called the “measures” dimension. MDX has a set of functions, known as member functions, each of which allow us to perform operations upon any member of a dimension

Stairway to MDX - Level 4: The Order() Function: Beyond Cube Hierarchies

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:00:00 UT

Bill Pearson continues his examination of the versatile Order() function, focusing upon its use in providing dataset sorts that reach beyond dimensional hierarchies

Stairway to MDX - Level 3: The Order() Function

Wed, 25 May 2011 06:00:00 UT

The Order() function provides the 'hierarchized' sorts you need for reports and applications using MDX. In this Step, Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson explores using the versatile Order() function for providing dataset sorts that respect dimensional hierarchies.

Stairway to MDX - Level 1: Getting Started with MDX

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:00:00 UT

How to reduce MDX code redundancy in SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:00:00 UT

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.

Stairway to MDX - Level 2: The Ordinal Function

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:00:00 UT

MDX Performance - burdens of IIF

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:00:00 UT

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

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Professional Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services 2008 with MDX - Sample Chapter

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:00:00 UT

A sample chapter from a new book on Analysis Services. Check it out and see if this is the book for you.

MDX Utility Belt of Calculations Part 4

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:00:00 UT

This is part four in the series of blog posts that will help in building a library of calculations you...

Custom Rounding and Truncation of Numbers in MDX

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:00:00 UT

MDX applies "bankers' rounding" algorithm in its ROUND() function. This article shows you how to avoid that and round like in T-SQL and Excel.

Attribute Discretization: Using the “Clusters” Method

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:00:00 UT

Join BI Architect Bill Pearson as he leads hands-on practice with the “Clusters” discretization method in Analysis Services. In this article we continue to explore attribute discretization, as a part of an extended examination of the dimensional model lying at the heart of the integrated Microsoft Business Intelligence solution.

The LEVEL_UNIQUE_NAME Intrinsic Member Property

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:00:00 UT

SSAS Architect Bill Pearson examines another intrinsic member property, LEVEL_UNIQUE_NAME, which allows us to exercise a great deal of presentation “sleight of hand” in working with MDX in Analysis Services, as well as within Reporting Services and various other reporting applications that can access an Analysis Services cube.

Intrinsic Member Properties: The HIERARCHY_UNIQUE_NAME Property

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:00:00 UT

This month's installment of "MDX Essentials" examines the HIERARCHY_UNIQUE_NAME intrinsic member property. Join SSAS Architect Bill Pearson in an introduction of this intrinsic member property, which Bill complements with hands-on exercises and sample uses.

The Unpopular SELECT Statement

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:00:00 UT

SELECT statements should be the most popular query in SQL Server, so why are they unpopular? It's the complex, confusing MDX SELECT statement that warehousing expert Vincent Rainardi is writing about.

Writing a Basic MDX Query Pt.2 - SQL School Video

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:00:00 UT

In the second part of this basic video on MDX queries, MVP Brian Knight continues with his discussion of MDX, examining some more advanced MDX features.

Writing a Basic MDX Query Pt.1 - SQL School Video

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:00:00 UT

MDX is the query language for multidimensional queries, usually against SSAS cubes. Brian Knight introduces us to the basics of MDX in this video.

Combine BottomCount() with Other MDX Functions to Add Sophistication

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:00:00 UT

Discover, through a hands-on practice exercise, a more sophisticated business use for the MDX BottomCount() function, in combination with the Generate(), Descendants(), Ancestor() and other functions we have explored within our series. Join BI Architect Bill Pearson in this, the second part, of an extended examination of the MDX BottomCount() function.

Exporting MDX queries to SQL Relational Databases using SSIS 2005

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:00:00 UT

Most of the time we move data from an RDBMS to a cube, but there are places where you might want to provide a feedback loop to the RDBMS. Andrew Muyobo shows how SSIS can help you do this.

Filtering Unneeded Dimension Members in PerformancePoint Filters

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:00:00 UT

Removing redundant dimension members from a Tree filter in PerformancePoint 2007 by using a simple MDX query.