Advanced Topics in MDX - Professional SQL Server Analysis Services 2005 with MDX - page 316

Summary
You have learned the calculation fundamentals in Analysis Services 2005 and
the use of MDX scripts to apply global scope calculations. MDX scripting in-
cludes 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 2005 calcu-
lations and various overwrite semantics of calculations due to the relationship
between attributes simply because it is too vast to cover here. This chapter is
meant to serve as an introduction to the Analysis Services 2005 calculation
model with some examples of solving common problems. Several sections in
this chapter cover the sort of MDX used to solve some of the common busi-
ness questions and some MDX enhancements in Analysis Services 2005.
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, understand the concepts discussed in the chapter in detail in-
cluding the calculation precedence rules; we highly recommend you read MDX
Solutions 2nd Edition by George Spofford et al. (Wiley, 2006).
Having learned some of the fundamental concepts of calculations in Analysis
Services 2005, you are ready for a deeper understanding of the dimensions
and cubes discussed in the next two chapters. Don't think you are done learn-
ing MDX in this topic. You will be learning additional MDX in subsequent
chapters through illustrations and examples wherever applicable. Your journey
through the Analysis Services landscape will become even more interesting
and exciting as you work your way through the topic.