Applied Microsoft Business Intelligence

Chapter 8Developing a Flexible and Scalable Multidimensional Model

The tried-and-true semantic layer, Analysis Services' multidimensional model, offers a great interface to allow end users to see their data through an easy-to-use interface. As the engine has improved over the years, developers have found tips and tricks to optimize the model as much as possible. Designing the model correctly from the beginning will make your life easier as a developer and an end user. In addition, you can enhance and performance-tune the model if needed. After you have completed all your development, your model will satisfy all your business users' needs.

This chapter introduces the multidimensional model as part of the Analysis Services suite, discusses how to design the model optimally, and how to enhance it to ensure flexibility and scalability. Specifically, you will learn how to walk through the Cube Creation Wizard, modify measures and dimensions, and use the Business Intelligence Wizard. If there are any additional concerns with the cube, you will learn how to performance-tune both processing and querying to create the best possible model for your users.

Why Use a Multidimensional Model?

In addition to the tabular model, the Analysis Services product also includes the multidimensional model. As the original analysis portion of Analysis Services, the multidimensional model is a very mature product. (Be sure to read Chapter 5, which explains the history of Analysis Services and why you ...