Tuesday, September 11, 2007

SQL Server Analysis Server Exploring the studio and troubleshoot

Now we made a cube that wrap all the dimensions and facts we want to analyze in our scope.

The First tab when clicking on the cube is the "cube structure", where you can see the cube structure and modify the relationships and dimensions the cover the cube from the business perspective. you can add a hierarchy, or delete it. you can add new measure, new dimension from the data source view.

The "Dimension usage" tab. Where you can link those dimensions with measures.

The "Calculations" tab . where you can add new calculations to help you to more analyze the data.

The "KPI" tab . where you can add your indicators to see if the data is going fine or there exists something wrong. here you have to know some MDX query language.

The "Perspectives" tab. where you can add perspectives to the cube on each one you will specify the dimensions and the measures related to it.

The Last tab is the "Browse" tab. where you can browse the cube. to do it you have to deploy the cube, and to do so. you have to right click on the project name->click on "properties"-> then change the path of the deployment server. then click ok. then click deploy.

Clarification:

After making the KPI's you may want to see them. There are many tools enable you to browse the cube and manipulate it like: Excel, ProClarity owned by Microsoft now, business Object.

in all of those you may not see the KPI's as you saw them in the Visual studio. Why? because this is an owned shapes by visual studio, you may see this KPI's with different shapes and colors. so according to the viewer, you will design the KPI indicator shape to fit the viewer. Otherwise you have to develop this viewer to the target tool.

Troubleshoot:

"A connection cannot be made. Ensure that the server is running. "

this error message occurred for the impersonation of the SQL server instance.
the solution is:
1- in the project properties, deployment section, modify the server to the SQL server 2005 instance.
2- in the data source double click, in the impersonation tab, select the "use the service account".

Now you have ended the cube and we wanna view it.
The next time we will explore the Reporting Service structure.

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