Practice
Preparation: Access SQL Server Management Studio
To reinforce our understanding of the basics we have covered
so far, we will use the DrillDownMember() function in a couple of ways
that illustrate its operation. We will do so in simple scenarios that place DrillDownMember()
within the context of meeting business requirements similar to those we might
encounter in our respective daily environments. The intent is to demonstrate
the operation of the DrillDownMember() function in a straightforward,
memorable manner.
We will turn to the SQL Server Management Studio as a
platform from which to construct and execute the MDX we examine, and to view
the results datasets we obtain.
1.
Click the Start button.
2.
Select Microsoft SQL Server
2005 within the Program group of the menu.
3.
Click SQL Server Management Studio,
as shown in Illustration 2.
The Connect to Server dialog
appears.
4.
Select Analysis Services
in the Server type selector.
5.
Type / select the server name
(server name / instance, if appropriate) in the Server name selector.
6.
Supply authentication
information, as required in your own environment.
7.
Click the Connect button
to connect with the specified Analysis Services server.
The SQL Server Management
Studio opens.
8.
In the Object Explorer
pane (it appears by default on the left side of the Studio), expand the Databases
folder (click the "+" sign to its immediate left), appearing
underneath the Analysis Server with which we are working.
The Databases folder
opens, exposing the Analysis Services database(s) with which we have
established connection(s), as depicted in Illustration 3.
Illustration 3: Exposing the Analysis Services Databases
in the Object Browser ...
NOTE: The Analysis Services databases
that appear will depend upon the activities that have taken place in your own
environment, and will likely differ from those shown in Illustration 3
above. For purposes of this practice session, the Adventure Works DW
database must be present. If this is not the case, consult the Books
Online for the installation / connection procedures, and complete these
procedures before continuing.
9.
Expand the Adventure Works DW database.
The Database expands, exposing the folders
for the various objects housed within an Analysis Services database,
as shown in Illustration 4.
Illustration 4: Exposing the Object Folders in the
Database ...
10.
Expand the Cubes folder
within the Adventure Works DW database.
The Cubes folder opens. We see two
cubes, the first of which, Adventure
Works, is the sample cube with
which we will be conducting our practice exercises. The cubes appear as depicted in Illustration 5.
Illustration 5: The Cubes Appear ...
11.
Click the Adventure Works cube to select it.
12.
Click the New Query
button just under the main menu, in the upper left corner of the Management
Studio, as shown in Illustration 6.
Illustration 6: Click the New Query Button with the
Adventure Works Cube Selected
The metadata pane for the Adventure Works cube
appears, along with the query pane to its right, as depicted in Illustration
7.
Illustration 7: Adventure Works Cube Metadata Appears ...
We will be using the Query pane in our practice
session that follows, to construct and execute our MDX queries.
In addition to its role of providing an environment for the
management of all server types in the SQL Server family, including Analysis
Services, Reporting Services and DTS servers, many additional
functions can now be performed from the SQL Server Management Studio.
Among those functions, I find the capabilities to easily browse data, and to
issue queries, highly convenient. We can accomplish querying in several other
ways within the Microsoft integrated BI solution, but this is certainly one of
the most direct.
We will be using the appropriate query editor in this
and many prospective articles for the purpose of issuing MDX queries within the
practice exercises of the MDX Essentials series. The query
editors within the Management Studio afford us the capability to not
only execute MDX queries against our cubes, but handle DMX (queries
against our data mining models) and XMLA (covering all command types
that can be sent to Analysis Services), as well. The MDX and DMX
editors each include a Metadata pane for the convenient display of the
metadata for the currently selected data source, a dramatic enhancement over
the native tools provided in earlier versions. To some extent, the "drag
and drop" capabilities afforded us via the Metadata pane might be
useful, but we will typically limit our exercises to "straight MDX"
queries, as the focus of this series is the MDX functions, properties,
techniques and so forth. (Articles within my other series explore other
capabilities and features of the SQL Server Management Studio, as well
as the SQL Server Business Intelligence Studio).
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