Hands-On Procedure
Preparation
Let's get started by
creating a clone of the Budget FoodMart sample cube, as we mentioned
in the section above, in case we want to keep our originals intact for other
uses.
NOTE: If you are performing the steps of
our article on a production (or other) cube, instead of the sample cube we will
create for the purposes of illustrating the partitioning process, the
preparation steps in the first couple of sections below can be skipped.
1.
Open Analysis
Manager, beginning at the Start menu.
2.
Expand the Analysis
Servers folder by clicking the "+" sign to its immediate
left.
Our
server(s) appear.
3.
Expand the
desired server.
Our
database(s) appear,
in much the same manner as shown in Illustration 1.
Illustration 1: A Sample
Set of Databases Displayed within Analysis Manager
4.
Expand the FoodMart2000
database.
5.
Expand the Cubes
folder.
The
sample cubes appear,
as shown in Illustration 2.
Illustration 2: The
Sample Cubes in the FoodMart2000 Database
NOTE: Your local databases / cube tree will differ, and
obviously depend upon the activities you have performed since the installation
of MSAS (and the simultaneous creation of the original set of sample cubes).
Should you want or need to restore the cubes to their original state, simply
restore the database under consideration. For instructions, see the MSSQL
Server 2000 Books Online.
6.
Right-click on
the Budget sample cube.
Again, we
are making a copy of the Budget cube, because our lesson will involve
making changes to the cube we use within the practice example. As we have
noted, working with the copy will allow us to maintain our existing sample cube
in its current condition.
7.
Select Copy
from the context menu that appears.
8.
Right-click on
the Cubes folder.
9.
Select Paste
from the context menu that appears.
The Duplicate
Name dialog appears.
As noted
in previous articles, we cannot have two cubes of the same name in a given MSAS
database.
10.
Type the
following into the Name box of the Duplicate Name dialog:
DBJ_Budget
The Duplicate
Name dialog appears, with our modification, as depicted in Illustration
3.
Illustration 3: The
Duplicate Name Dialog, with New Name
TIP: As I have mentioned
elsewhere in this and other series, the foregoing is an excellent way of renaming
a cube, (a "rename" capability is not available here, as it is in
many Windows applications). Simply create a duplicate, give it the name to
which you wish to rename the old cube, and then delete the old cube, as
appropriate (although not in this case, of course). This also works for MSAS databases.
11.
Click OK
to save the name change.
The new
cube appears in the cube tree, among those already in place. We now have a
copy of the Budget cube, DBJ_Budget , upon which we can work with
the Partition Wizard.
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