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.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 18 Ratings

Get this book if you want to master SSAS - 2008-06-15
Reviewer Rating:
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..."

This book is best designed for reference or review (not learning) - 2009-08-15
Reviewer Rating:
OK here is an example of smart, comprehensive, hard working people writing a book that unfortunately takes far too much will power to try to learn from. It's the kind of book you can understand only if you already know most of it before you read it. So it's really reference review material. As an author I know they worked hard and put much of their lives into it. It makes a good reference book I will give it three stars. Great reference, not a good learning tool. Sorry.

Very technical but drastically in need of an editor(s) - 2009-03-12
Reviewer Rating:
I read a good part of this book (before I left it on a bus!) and found it both invaluable and infuriating.

It contains information not found in any other SSAS 2005 book I have come across (I own and have read about 5 others), but it is sorely in need of a traditional book editor to make the language (English) readable and a technical editor to bring the explanations down to a level that can be understood by mere mortals.

Invaluable, because it is the only book that covers certain information about the SSAS engine internals, but it could have been so much more useful to we SSAS practitioners if the writing was better.

Good Reference, but Don't Expect Tips and Tricks or even Ideas on Problem Solving - 2008-07-14
Reviewer Rating:
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!

Best SQL 2005 Business Intelligence book - 2008-04-15
Reviewer Rating:
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

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