Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 11
Creating and Configuring
SSAS Cubes
Once I completed the cube and demonstrated it to my students, I realized it was nearly
impossible to put down.
—Erno Rubik
In the previous two chapters, we prepared dimensions for our cube (or cubes, if you are creating a BI solution
that uses more than one). Now it is time to make the cube and find out whether the cube and dimensions are
presenting the right report data. We then resolve any issues using common SSAS configurations.
In this chapter, you learn how to create and configure Analysis Server cubes. We show you how to configure
the cubes using Business Intelligence Development Studio and how to manage these objects using SQL Server
Management Studio. Let's get going and create our cube now!
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As you will see in this chapter, the process of creating dimensions and cubes is similar. Neither will ever
interact directly with the data warehouse; instead, they interact with an SSAS Data Source View as an abstraction
layer. Microsoft refers to this design as the
unified dimensional model
(UDM).
This terminology can be confusing,
because Microsoft also refers to SSAS cubes as UDMs as well, and uses the terms interchangeably.
Tip
Creating Cubes
We begin creating our cubes using the dimensions that we recently completed and tested. And surprise,
surprise—this is performed using a wizard. Even if you are not a wizard fan, the Cube Wizard is short and to the
point and does not limit your control over your cube later, so we consider it a useful tool.
To start the wizard, right-click the Cubes folder and select New Cube from the context menu (Figure
11-1
).
When the wizard opens, click Next to navigate from the Welcome dialog window to the Select Creation Method
dialog window.
