Practice
The Basics
To reinforce our understanding of the basics we have covered
so far, we will use the Intersect() function in a manner that
illustrates its operation through a multi-step example: we will build from a
pair of simple select queries, to a combination of the two in an Intersect()
illustration. We will then explore the use of the ALL flag to force
retainage of duplicates.
We will call upon the MDX Sample Application again,
as our tool to construct and execute the MDX we examine, and to view the results
datasets we obtain.
1.
Start the MDX
Sample Application.
2.
Clear the top
area (the Query pane) of any queries or remnants that might appear.
3.
Ensure that FoodMart
2000 is selected as the database name in the DB box of the toolbar.
4.
Select the HR
cube in the Cube drop-down list box.
Let's assume for our practice example that we want to
replicate the data we discussed in the example used in the syntax section. Using
this simple illustration will allow us to be certain of our "answer,"
without the distraction of any complicating factors. To reiterate, our
objective will be to present total Number of Employees, a measure that
is stored in the HR cube, for three Northeastern states, intersected
with two states that form a subset of the three.
We will begin by composing a simple query to select the employee
population figure for the three-state set, followed by a query to select the
same information for the two-state subset of the initial three-state set.
We will then intersect the two sets with the Intersect() function,
noting the results immediately.
5.
Type the
following query into the Query pane:
-- MDX14-1: Tutorial Query Step 1
SELECT
{[Measures].[Number of Employees]} ON COLUMNS,
{([Store].[All Stores].[USA].[OR]),([Store].[All Stores].[USA].[CA]), 
([Store].[All Stores].[USA].[WA])} ON ROWS
FROM HR
The
purpose of this query is to simply generate the "first half" of the
pair of sets that we intend to "cross" in the Intersect() query
that will follow.
6.
Execute the
query by clicking the Run Query button in the toolbar.
The
Results pane is
populated by Analysis Services, and the dataset shown in Illustration 1 appears.
Illustration 1: Result Dataset - Initial Half of Set Pair to
be "Intersected"
We see the total Number of Employees for
three Northeastern states returned (actually for 1997, the default
member of the Time slicer).
7.
Select File
-> Save As, name the file MDX14-1,
and place it in a meaningful location.
8.
Select File
--> New from the main menu.
A new,
blank query pane appears.
-- MDX14-2: Tutorial Query Step 2
SELECT
{[Measures].[Number of Employees]} ON COLUMNS,
{([Store].[All Stores].[USA].[OR]), ([Store].[All Stores].[USA].[WA])} ON ROWS
FROM HR
The
purpose of this query is to simply generate the "second half" of the
pair of sets that we intend to "cross" in the Intersect()
query, which we will construct next.
10.
Execute the
query by clicking the Run Query button in the toolbar.
The
Results pane is
populated by Analysis Services, and the dataset shown in Illustration 2 appears.
Illustration 2: Result Dataset - The "Second Half"
of the Pair of Candidate Sets
11.
Save the file
as MDX14-2.
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