MDX Solutions: With Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services [Paperback]

George Spofford (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471400467 | ISBN-13: 978-0471400462 | Publication Date: July 20, 2001 | Edition: 1

A hands-on tutorial on building and using multidimensional data warehouses
The SQL query language is used to access data in most simple databases. But for multidimensional (or OLAP) data warehouses, Microsoft developed MDX. The MDX query language has become essential know-how for developers and users alike, whether for data warehouses or for budgeting and planning systems. This tutorial/reference guide shows developers and users how to use MDX to access and analyze data for decision support. Both the standard language and Microsoft's own extensive additions to MDX are explained. The authors provide practical examples of MDX in use, and explain both standard usage and more advanced techniques, such as optimization, cube design, and Pareto analysis. Finally, the appendices provide a handy reference guide that users can rely on.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A thorough tutorial and detailed reference to the analytical language of data warehousing

Understanding MDX is crucial for anyone designing or implementing a database in Microsoft's products. This informative book serves as both a tutorial and a reference guide by teaching you how to use MDX to access and analyze data for decision support. The standard language and Microsoft's own extensive additions to MDX are thoroughly explained. After the overview of the MDX language is presented, the author plunges into the tutorial, offering practical examples of MDX in use. He shows various techniques using MDX to access data and calculate results, and covers the more advanced techniques of aggregation, query templates, and MDX optimization.

This unrivaled book includes:
* Explanations of each MDX feature
* Simple and sophisticated applications
* Details of building and executing MDX queries
* Introduction to Visual Basic programming techniques using MDX
* Instructions for building and using client-side local cubes
* Detailed reference appendices for MDX operators, functions, and related connection settings

The accompanying CD-ROM includes:
* Samples of MDX expressions, queries, and local cubes
* MDXBuilder trial software
* Visual Basic sample code

Wiley Computer Publishing
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About the Author

GEORGE SPOFFORD ([e-mail]) is Chief Architect of the DSS Lab, where he is a consultant and software engineer specializing in design, implementation, and evaluation of OLAP-based DSS systems and related tools. He coauthored Microsoft OLAP Solutions (also from Wiley) and has extensive experience applying Microsoft's analysis tools. Working on OLAP technologies since 1988, he has also developed OLAP clients and servers, including Power Thinking Tools' FreeThink. He earned a Microsoft MVP award for his contributions to the OLAP user community.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471400467
• ISBN-13: 978-0471400462
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,028,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to fill the MDX knowledge gap, August 4, 2001

By 

Chris Harrington - See all my reviews

This review is from: MDX Solutions: With Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (Paperback)

Let us begin by acknowledging that MDX is a nontrivial topic. With SQL Server 2000 and Analysis Services, Microsoft is providing arguably the most powerful OLAP solution at perhaps the lowest price. But with power comes complexity. Much of this complexity is to be found in the OLAP query language: MDX. Developers will welcome any assistance in climbing this learning curve, and Spofford's book was quick to fill this gap.

This is a thick book, and it is not padded with screenshots of wizards. More than half of the book deals with the syntax and semantics of MDX. It provides a new OLAP sample database for those of us tired of playing with "Foodmart". There are also chapters on local cubes and client programming in ADO. The last quarter of the book is reference material. The MDX function and operator reference in Appendix A includes easily comprehended graphical explanations of function behaviors.

This is not a book geared towards administrators or end users or casual developers. Expect to sweat the details here and to do so from chapter 1. This is a book to read at your computer as you learn the power of MDX by running the examples queries. This author's experience is apparent in the examples, which demonstrate real-world OLAP use cases. Examples range from simple to sophisticated, so this book will useful to both intermediate and advanced MDX programmers.

One weakness of the book is that, since it was written prior to the final release of Analysis Services, there may be some inconsistencies. But the book's web site should post updates and corrections. Also, the book mentions but does not cover the XML for Analysis technology that was released by Microsoft last month (July). XML for Analysis allows SQL Server tables and cubes to be queried using SOAP and XML. Using the WebService Behavior, Internet Explorer can directly make MDX queries and present the results with HTML or graphically (see intrasight.com).

Since MDX has emerged as the defacto standard for OLAP query, all product developers and report developers will want to add this book to their library.

Chris Harrington Active Interface, Inc.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, October 1, 2001

By 

Homam (LA, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MDX Solutions: With Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (Paperback)

This book is very helpful in mastering MDX and unleashing its potential after you finish studying Analysis Services architectural components from other sources. The author demonstrates good knowledge and expertise in the subject and provides very helpful examples and interesting implementations. The illustrations in the book also make understanding MDX easier, since MDX, like XPath, has some concepts like hierarchies and context that are best understood by visualization.

However, his writing style is very parenthetical and rife with interludes, which is sometimes irksome and disrupt a smooth flow of ideas.

Buy it if you're building a non-trivial UI for Analysis Services or asked to generate sophisticated reports. Understanding how MDX works will also improve your OLAP designing skills.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great potential for enlightment reduced to pain?, October 19, 2004

By 

Paulo C. Rios Jr. (Europe) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MDX Solutions: With Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (Paperback)

Don't be surprised by the bad reviews this book has got here. There is a good reason for that. This is a strong text that deserved a good reviewer or a talented co-author.

Whereas some simple subjects are given a lot of attention, many examples and concepts are simply not explained enough or well.

The appendix is not used as a reference but as a part of the text, which is highly unusual. To understand the text, the reader must often search the appendix for five different definitions or more. The author usually avoids to explain what is in the appendix. What should be a reference becomes an essential part.

Complex concepts are given little explanation. The other existing book on MDX ("Fast Track to MDX") is incomplete, very short and superficial. This one book could fill a major gap. The text is insightful. Yet it does not use its potential at all. It makes a real pain of what could be a true pleasure.

There is simply no good book on MDX in the market. What is very unfortunate is that this book could have been an outstanding piece of work, a reference for understanding and use of MDX, but its main goals are largerly diluted and wasted in the way the book was written. A real shame. A major revison is not only due but deserved and urgent. I hope the author and the publisher do get the point.