Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services with MDX and DAX

Chapter 6

Cube Design

What's in this chapter?

• Understanding the BISM multidimensional mode
• Creating cubes with the Cube Wizard
• Browsing cubes with the Cube Browser and Excel
• Understanding cube dimensions and dimension relationships
• Learning measure and Measure Group properties
• Creating calculated members and measures
• Creating and browsing perspectives and translations

In Chapter 5 you learned to create dimensions using the Dimension Wizard and to refine and enhance dimensions using the Dimension Designer. Dimensions by themselves aren't that useful; you need to incorporate them into a cube to fulfill their purpose: enabling users to slice-and-dice data to gain insights. In this chapter you learn how to create cubes using the Cube Wizard and enhance your cubes using the Cube Designer. You learn to add calculations to your cube that facilitate effective data analyses followed by analyzing the cube data itself in the Cube Designer and Excel.

The BISM Multidimensional mode

To generate profits for a business, you need to make key strategic decisions based on likely factors such as having the right business model, targeting the right consumer group, pricing the product correctly, and marketing through optimal channels. To make the right decisions and achieve targeted growth you need to analyze data. The data can be past sales, expected sales, or even information from competitors. The phrase “knowledge is power” is fitting here because in the world of business, analyzing and comparing, ...