Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 MDX Step by Step

Chapter 3. Understanding Tuples

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Explain the concept of cube space

• Retrieve data from a cube using tuples

• Reference hierarchy members using a variety of syntax

For the purpose of data access, Analysis Services presents cubes as n-dimensional spaces referred to as cube spaces. Within a cube space, data are made accessible through cells, each uniquely identified by a tuple.

In this chapter, you learn how to assemble tuples to access individual cells. This is foundational to your success with MDX.

N-dimensional Space

To understand the concept of cube space, picture a simple number line. As you may remember from your school days, a number line is a line marked at regular intervals by integer (whole-number) ...