Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Data Sources
Cube data comes from relational databases. To access these databases, you need to identify their location and
supply security credentials. In SSAS this information is stored in a data source. Before you create cubes in Visual
Studio, you need to have at least one data source.
To create a data source, launch the Data Source wizard by right-clicking the data source project folder in
Solution Explorer, and select New Data Source from the context menu. A wizard appears to walk you through the
creation process (Figure
9-11
).
Figure 9-11.
Creating an SSAS data source
Define a Connection
The SSAS wizard is remarkably similar to the Data Source Wizard you used in SSIS, and it is configured the same
way. If you have previously created a connection within a solution, Visual Studio already has the data connection
listed on the second screen of the Data Source Wizard. If one is not listed, click the New button to create a new
connection. This takes you to the Connection Manager screen.
In the Connection Manager screen, choose the provider you want to use in the top dropdown box. “OLE DB/
SQL Server native client 11.0” is the typical provider used to connect to Microsoft SQL Server 2012.
After you select the provider, select the name of the server and the name of the database you want to connect
to. Clicking the Test Connection button will indicate whether a connection is successful.
If you have performed the exercises in the book so far, you already have the connection configured in your
SSIS project, so you select that one and click the Next button to advance the wizard (Figure
9-12
).
