This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

As the foundation of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services provides users with faster access to data and even more tools for managing and analyzing data across multidimensional objects (databases, dimensions, cubes).

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed is the ultimate guide for anyone who is planning to use the latest version of Analysis Services. It gives readers insight into the way Analysis Services functions, and explains practical methods for designing and creating multidimensional objects. It also provides valuable insight into the reasons behind the design decisions taken by the product development team. The authors have been involved with Analysis Services from its earliest days. They have documented in detail the internal features of Analysis Services 2008, explaining server architecture, main data structures, data processing, and query resolution algorithms.

• Discover the new functionality introduced in Analysis Services 2008 including MDX enhancements and new DMV (dynamic memory views)

• Work with the Business Intelligence Development Studio, the new Dimension Editor, and Aggregation Designer interfaces

• Enjoy complete coverage of new Shared Scalable Databases scale-out infrastructure

• Learn the key concepts of multidimensional modeling

• Explore the multidimensional object model and its definition language

• Integrate multidimensional and relational databases

• Build client applications to access data in Analysis Services

• Unravel the inner workings of the server architecture, including main data structures, data processing, and query resolution algorithms

• Learn the main concepts of the MDX language and gain an in-depth understanding of advanced MDX concepts

• Gain a deeper understanding of the internal and external protocols for data transfer, including the XML/A protocol

• Discover how Analysis Services manages memory

• Explore the security model, including role-based security, code-access security, and data security

Category: Microsoft SQL Server

Covers: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services

User Level: Intermediate-Advanced

$59.99  USA / $65.99 CAN / £38.99 Net UK±

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 9 Ratings

Wait for other SSAS 2008 - 2009-03-04
Reviewer Rating:
I have thousands of hours of experience with SSAS 2000 and 2005. I think that SSAS is one of the best (if unappreciated) Microsoft products.

I bought this book for one reason - it was the first one available. If you need one now, then get it. But be warned that it's not particularly good.

The key problem is that the authors are fascinated with XML. They use raw XML to explain a wide variety of concepts and tasks. For the authors and publishers, it has the benefit of wasting a lot of space. This fattens the book and makes it look like you are getting more for your money.

Unfortunately for the readers, the book is difficult to read and completely misses the point of the SSAS interface. XML is the underlying metadata structure of SSAS. That is the last place you should look to understand cube and dimensional structure, or for modifying how the cube works.

For a professional programmer (me), time is money and productivity is everything. First you should should use the graphical and tabular representation of metadata to manipulate the cubes and dimension. THEN, you write MDX functions when necessary. If all else fails, mess with the XML.

If you can wait a few weeks, there are two new books coming out for AS 2008. I believe either would a much better alternative to this book.

Don't waste your money buying this book like I did.

Regards,

Dan.

Don't buy this book! - 2009-07-23
Reviewer Rating:
Through the first 3 chapters I felt like the book may have some promise. True, the brief overviews didn't really pertain to any major aspects of Analysis Services, but it was interesting to learn the background of the product.

Once I got to chapters 4, 5 and 6 I almost fell asleep. The author tries to explain multidimensional cubes with no real foresight into how this applies to Analysis Services. I found myself completely confused as to what was trying to be explained. My background is mainly in RDBMS, but I have enough experience with multidimensional databases to understand the core concepts. However, I am still trying to figure out what those chapters were about.

I agree with the other commenter who mentioned that this book is completely difficult to read and I say that it is not worth buying.

Hands down .... the best book on Analysis services - 2009-07-04
Reviewer Rating:
I found this book to be extremely informative. I have read many other books on SSAS and I found that this book can tell you a lot about how SSAS really works. It also have an very wide and excellent coverage of topics which are seldom even discussed in many other SSAS books.

Mind you that if you are a newbie this may be a bit too overwhelming. However if you know the subject and want more detailed knowledge on inner workings of SSAS, then this book is a MUST READ.

Don't be too bothered about reviews on Amazon which say that this contains lot of XML based samples.... The XML samples are required, because the show how to use XMLA (Xml for Analysis Services).

All in all, this is the best book written on the subject.

Great Book for Deep Thinker and Advanced Users - 2009-06-30
Reviewer Rating:
For those of you who want to be the best at what you do, this book will get you there in a hurry. I am a professional consultant (MCS) with microsoft and I know the caliber of the authors (the most knowledgeable product people who built SSAS) and recognize the beginner book from the most advanced book. This is at the far right end of most advanced book. If you are beginner who hates XMLA, then please go get book for dummies or something and stop whining about advanced features showing here. I use this book for my reference as well as a deep understanding of the product internal. For those of you actually use MSFT BI product to build something useful and professional, this is the book for you. For those of you who are new and who cannot read very well, please find the dummies books, as those are for you.

Waste of money! - 2009-05-17
Reviewer Rating:
It's very appalling to see writers that claim to have worked on the product but could not give clear and accurate examples of any topics discussed. Waste of money from my perspective.

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