Customer Reviews

MDX Solutions: With Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The book provides an excellent tutorial & reference to MDX which is today's default lingua franca as OLAP query language. George does a great job in bringing home MDX and developing solutions using MDX. I recommend this book and also the other title from George & Erik Thomsen on Microsoft OLAP solutions which is as well a excellent book on building OLAP solutions with Microsoft Analysis Services. The other salient feature I wish to emphasise is the author - George Spofford as been kind enough to answer email queries from readers on the subject matter. Erik Thomsen and George Spofford are gurus in the Microsoft Analysis Services. The best thing I found about the book was the authors not only bring out the strengths of analysis services but also its limitations. This helps somebody embarking on implementing analysis services be aware of its limitations and workaround those limitations. In all I give 5 stars for the book there are not many honest authors out there. My only request to the authors is now since the next release of Microsoft SQL Server - Yukon is due for release is next 3 months and Yukon will be another major landmark in SQL Server and Analysis Services technology with several major features slated to debut in Yukon it would be highly appreciated if the authors post appendix chapters on new Yukon features as and when it comes on their web site which will be a great benefit to existing owners of their books.

If you are new to MDX, this book is not going to be an easy read at all. However, it has a very good "MDX Function and Operator Reference" as an Appendix. This reference is indispensable to me when I am writing MDX statements. It is much more usable than the online reference that ships with SQL Server Analysis services.

There is much useful information to be found within its covers if you already have an understanding of MDX. I use this book in conjunction with the "Fast Track to MDX" book. Both books have their strengths and weaknesses and I equally benefited from both.

I'm just starting to look at MDX and have a minimal background in T-SQL. This is not the book if you're in my shoes. It jumps to advanced topics much too quickly, uses terms that haven't been previously discussed, and doesn't give enough progressive examples. It just doesn't do a good job of building the basics before it starts jumping around and getting advanced.

Very poorly written, but advanced book. Author covers wide range of topics, which are a must for anybody serious about learning MDX, but the writing style and explanations are just plain terrible. There are constant references to the topic yet to come in the subsequent chapters. Some sentences take 2-3 passes to understand. Many explanations of functions could really benefit from editor's touch (bold here, cursive there). Try to figure out the meaning of a new function when one sentence contains three words "level" and each one refers to something different. Be sure to read "Fast Track to MDX" to be sure you are ready for this one. Unfortunately this is currently the only advanced MDX book on the market.

Unlike Whitehorn this author clearly understands MDX. MDX semantics are complex and mudled but he tries to explain them. However, the result is still as not clear as it could be. What does the filter expression *really* mean...

i don't know why people here complains about lack of solutions. what's about me, i've found many useful tips & solutions inside that book. especially how to use virtual cubes and make them really 'virtual' with morphing underlying dimensions and measures extremely with mdx. more, these methods work well in the real world.
i think it's worth to spend money for that book. definitely it helped me a lot with mdx and cubes' implementation.

Even though it is somewhat dated now, and mentions SQL Server 2000, it is still worth the money. The exposition is well organized. The basics are well developed and serve as a good foundation for more detailed information. This is by far the best book on MDX which I have encountered.