SQL Server MVP Deep Dives, Volume 2

Chapter 55. Managing context in MDX

Boyan Penev

When writing MDX queries, you usually start with a goal you need to achieve. Whether this goal is to return a simple data set or to perform calculations, you need to be aware of context. Context affects all sections of your queries and is an important background setting. Understanding and managing it correctly greatly simplifies and demystifies the query logic and outcomes.

To begin our exploration of context, we will start with its broader side, distinguishing and describing the three overarching context types: cube, session, and query context.

• Cube context— When you define calculations and named sets in the cube script, they can be used and shared by all sessions and queries against that ...