Teach yourself the Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) query language—one step at a time. With this practical, learn-by-doing tutorial, you’ll build the core techniques for using MDX with Analysis Services to deliver high-performance business intelligence solutions. Discover how to: Construct and execute MDX queries Work with tuples, sets, and expressions Build complex sets to retrieve the exact data users need Perform aggregation functions and navigate data hierarchies Assemble time-based business metrics Customize an Analysis Services cube through the MDX script Implement dynamic security to control data access Develop MDX-driven reports in SQL Server Reporting Services CD features: Practice exercises Database and code samples Fully searchable eBook

When used with the MDX query language, SQL Server Analysis Services allows developers to build full-scale database applications to support such business functions as budgeting, forecasting, and market analysis. Shows readers how to build data warehouses and multi-dimensional databases, query databases, and use Analysis Services and other components of SQL Server to provide end-to-end solutions Revised, updated, and enhanced, the book discusses new features such as improved integration with Office and Excel 2007; query performance enhancements; improvements to aggregation designer, dimension designer, cube and dimension wizards, and cell writeback; extensibility and personalization; data mining; and more

Design and implement fast, scalable and maintainable cubes with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services with this book and eBook

300+ ready-to-use, powerful MDX queries This hands-on guide shows you how to use Multi-Dimensional Expressions (MDX) to extract business intelligence from multi-dimensional cubes. Practical MDX Queries contains more than 300 downloadable MDX queries that can be applied across a wide variety of business intelligence-related problems. The use, syntax, and results of each query are described in detail. The book emphasizes MDX for use with SSAS within SSMS, but the techniques and queries also apply to SSRS, SSIS, MDX in SQL, MDX in DMX, MDX in XMLA, WinForms, WebForms, PerformancePoint Server, ProClarity, and many third-party applications. Work with dimensions, hierarchies, levels, and members Navigate both horizontally and vertically across dimensions and hierarchies Sort the results of your queries Access subsets of dimension members and measure values using the Where clause and Filter function Use MDX query calculations Extract and manipulate dates and times Produce totals, subtotals, and changes cross time using aggregate and other functions Create, visualize, and manipulate sets Work with perspectives, subselects, and subcubes Display and hide empty cells Use, modify, format, and create Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Deliver MDX query results to end users

Teach yourself SQL Server 2008—one step at a time. Get the practical guidance you need to build database solutions that solve real-world business problems. Learn to integrate SQL Server data in your applications, write queries, develop reports, and employ powerful business intelligence systems. Discover how to: Install and work with core components and tools Create tables and index structures Manipulate and retrieve data Secure, manage, back up, and recover databases Apply tuning plus optimization techniques to generate high-performing database applications Optimize availability through clustering, database mirroring, and log shipping Tap business intelligence tools—Reporting, Analysis, and Integration Services CD features: Practice exercises and code samples Fully searchable eBook For customers who purchase an ebook version of this title, instructions for downloading the CD files can be found in the ebook.

Teach yourself to use SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services for business intelligence—one step at a time. You'll start by building your understanding of the business intelligence platform enabled by SQL Server and the Microsoft Office System, highlighting the role of Analysis Services. Then, you’ll create a simple multidimensional OLAP cube and progressively add features to help improve, secure, deploy, and maintain an Analysis Services database. You'll explore core Analysis Services 2008 features and capabilities, including dimension, cube, and aggregation design wizards; a new attribute relationship designer; designer AMO warnings; and using dynamic management views to monitor resources. And as you complete each lesson, you can hone your skills using the practice exercises from the companion CD. Plus, you can review and download code samples illustrating the author’s own, professional techniques—direct from the companion Web site. For customers who purchase an ebook version of this title, instructions for downloading the CD files can be found in the ebook.

Best practices and invaluable advice from world-renowned data warehouse experts In this book, leading data warehouse experts from the Kimball Group share best practices for using the upcoming “Business Intelligence release” of SQL Server, referred to as SQL Server 2008 R2. In this new edition, the authors explain how SQL Server 2008 R2 provides a collection of powerful new tools that extend the power of its BI toolset to Excel and SharePoint users and they show how to use SQL Server to build a successful data warehouse that supports the business intelligence requirements that are common to most organizations. Covering the complete suite of data warehousing and BI tools that are part of SQL Server 2008 R2, as well as Microsoft Office, the authors walk you through a full project lifecycle, including design, development, deployment and maintenance. Features more than 50 percent new and revised material that covers the rich new feature set of the SQL Server 2008 R2 release, as well as the Office 2010 release Includes brand new content that focuses on PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint, Master Data Services, and discusses updated capabilities of SQL Server Analysis, Integration, and Reporting Services Shares detailed case examples that clearly illustrate how to best apply the techniques described in the book The accompanying Web site contains all code samples as well as the sample database used throughout the case studies The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit, Second Edition provides you with the knowledge of how and when to use BI tools such as Analysis Services and Integration Services to accomplish your most essential data warehousing tasks.