Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Creating an OLAP Database

Remember that an OLAP database is made up of data sources, dimensions, and cubes. A data source is simply a pointer to data somewhere, such as via a Jet OLE DB provider, an OLE DB provider, SQL Native Client, Microsoft Directory Services, or even SSIS packages. You populate the data in your cube from the data source. Dimensions are constructed of columns from tables that you select to be used to build and filter data cubes. Cubes are combinations of dimensions whose intersections contain strategically significant measures of business performance, such as quantities, units, amounts, and so on. You need to identify the data sources from which your OLAP cube is to be based.

Adding a Data Source

To add data sources for ...