Professional Microsoft® SQL Server® Analysis Services 2008 with MDX

10.8. Summary

You have learned about calculation fundamentals in Analysis Services 2008, and the use of MDX scripts to apply global scope calculations. MDX scripting includes creating calculated members, named sets, and assignments. Kind of makes you want to specialize in MDX, doesn't it? This is great stuff! This chapter does not provide an in-depth view of the Analysis Services calculations and various overwrite semantics of calculations due to the relationship between attributes simply because those subjects are too vast to cover here. This chapter is meant to serve as an introduction to the Analysis Services 2008 calculation model with some examples of solving common problems. Several sections in this chapter cover the sort of MDX used to answer common business questions. MDX is like an ocean. Even when you think you have mastered it you might end up finding there are things you have not learned. Typically you will learn a lot of MDX as and when you implement customer solutions. If you want to dive fully into MDX and understand the concepts discussed in the chapter in detail including the calculation precedence rules, we highly recommend you read MDX Solutions: With SQL Server Analysis Services 2005 and Hyperion Essbase, Second Edition by George Spofford et al. (Wiley, 2006).

Having learned some of the fundamental calculation concepts, you are now ready for a deeper understanding of the dimensions and cubes discussed in subsequent chapters. Don't think you are done learning ...