Understanding Multidimensional Data
Before we get too deeply into a discussion about Analysis Services, it is very important that you grasp the concept of multidimensional data and its usefulness as an analytical tool. Most of us, particularly those who are reading this book, are very familiar with relational database systems and the way data is stored and represented in those systems. As shown in Figure 31.1, typical relational database systems provide only a two-dimensional view of data (rows and columns).
Figure 31.1. The traditional relational data store.
This flat representation of transactional data does not lend itself to complex data analysis ...
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