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Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SQL Server Series)
by Edward Melomed, Irina Gorbach, Alexander Berger, and Py Bateman - Sams

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  • Average Customer Review: Based on 17 reviews.
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: 38507


Product Description

Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services provides fast access to data by means of multidimensional data structures and the multidimensional query languag MDX. Analysis Services provides the capability to design, create, and manage multidimensional cubes based on data warehouse tables, and it serves as the foundation for the Microsoft  Business Intelligence strategy.

 

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services gives the reader insight into the way Analysis Services functions. It not only explains ways to design and create multidimensional objects, databases, dimensions, and cubes, but also provides invaluable information about the reasons behind design decisions made by the development team. 

 

Here's what you will find inside:

  • Understand the key concepts of multidimensional modeling
  • Explore the multidimensional object model and its definition language
  • Learn the main concepts of the MDX language and gain an in-depth understanding of advanced MDX concepts
  • Understand the mechanisms of integrating multidimensional and relational databases
  • Learn how to build client applications to access data in Analysis Services
  • Examine server architecture, including main data structures, data processing, and query resolution algorithms
  • Gain a deep understanding of the internal and external protocols for data transfer, including the XML/A protocol
  • Explore how Analysis Services manages memory
  • Explore the security model, including role-based security, code-access security, and data security
  • Discover how to monitor and manage Analysis Services

All the code for the sample database used in the book can be found at www.informit.com/title/0672327821.


Featured Customer Reviews

Good Reference, but Don't Expect Tips and Tricks or even Ideas on Problem Solving, July 14, 2008
I bought this book because I was facing a few specific problems while implementing Analysis Services. This book did not help much there. As I was reading, I found that this book does have great content on the design of MS-AS2005. It's a great reference book to have handy because it consolidates information in one book and often describes the motivations for certain designs. Likewise, the book never discussed the significant missing feature in the product, nor workarounds to handle some of the very common requirements. That, while not surprising given the authors are from Microsoft design team, is not helpful.

Ultimately I don't regret buying this book, but don't expect it to solve many of your challenging problems. The materials in this book should have been included in the original product documentations!

Get this book if you want to master SSAS, June 15, 2008
I came from the world of Hyperion Essbase and decided to switch to Microsoft SQL Server Analysis services. The SQL server books online seemed to be lacking in some details (or examples) and other SSAS printed books seem to be more of the beginner level books or step by step tutorial books. They are good to start with but not deep enough. If you are just starting in the BI and OLAP world, get those books first.

This book is not a general BI book and is more specific to SSAS details. Because of my prior understanding of of data warehousing and OLAP, I was able to build SSAS cubes in no time but there were some lingering questions on how do I do this in SSAS (compared to doing it in Essbase) and other low level details. This is the only SSAS book that I found so far that goes into enough details of SSAS that no other book goes into.

If you are just starting with Microsoft BI and need to learn the concepts of data warehousing (star and snowflake schema), OLAP, ETL and SSIS, get one of the other books first. Then do the SSAS books online tutorials. Once you are ready to dig deeper into SSAS and build enterprise class analysis services cubes, this book would be a great help.

Here is a quote from Nigel Pendse of The OLAP Report in the foreword of this book:
"This book is not intended to teach new users how to use Analysis Services 2005; it is for technically competent implementers who want to make the most of Analysis Services by understanding how it really works..."

Avoid, May 24, 2008
If you must, avoid this book. Looks like they threw in all chapters in a bin and did a pot luck. No flow whatsoever. Only good for quick lookup. But then you have MSDN. I am utterly dissappointed

Best SQL 2005 Business Intelligence book, April 15, 2008
I have read 3 SQL 2005 Business Intelligence books and this one is the best by far. For one, it provides a working sample SQL 2005 Business Intelligence Project Solution. This solution is a predesigned HOLAP. The OLTP database is also provided.

The level of expertise of the authors is very high. They go into granular detail on the architecture of the SQL 2005 BI (but not as much as I have liked). They also go into details on how one can improve the performance of SQL 2005 BI. Administration and security features are also covered. It was little weak on ETL (SSIS) but that topic has few thick books of its own.

SQL 2005 Business Intelligence is very different (conceptually and architecturally) from its SQL 2005 OLTP counterpart. It is not an exaggeration to say they are completely different products integrated into one. If you have no previous BI background, then expect a steep learning curve.

I highy recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning SQL 2005 BI.

Here are the contents:

1)Introduction
2)Creating Multidimensional Models
3)Using MDX
4)Creating Data Warehouse
5)Bringing Data into Analysis Services
6)Analysis Server Architecture
7)Accessing Data in Analysis Services
8)Security
9)Management

Best Book on SSAS 2005 for Professional Consultant, April 09, 2008
As a professional consultant for microsoft, I know what a good book on SSAS look like and this book is a great book compared to many other ones. I want in depth coverage for the saavy professional so I bought it and read it cover to cover. I used this as a reference guide when I'm stuck on some design issues. This book has helped me delivered many projects for large customers.

I wish we have a new version for SSAS 2008 !!! (the author informed me that he's considering it !!! and this is great news).


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