{"id":19789,"date":"2022-11-24T07:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T06:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expert-only.com\/?p=19789"},"modified":"2022-12-19T14:15:20","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T13:15:20","slug":"definition-of-ssas-concepts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expert-only.com\/en\/ssas\/definition-of-ssas-concepts\/","title":{"rendered":"Definition of SSAS concepts and MS OLAP cubes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Definition and basic concepts of SSAS technology, short for SQL Server Analysis Services.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The definition of the basic SSAS concepts allows for a better understanding of the functioning of MS OLAP cubes, i.e. multidimensional databases. Indeed, the Analysis Services module has been at the heart of Microsoft’s Business Intelligence suite for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, SSAS stands for SQL Server Analysis Services. It is the part of the MS BI suite that enables multidimensional analysis through the processing and storage of data in OLAP cubes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Definition of a multidimensional MS SSAS cube<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is the definition of an SSAS cube? It is a multidimensional structure or database composed of groups of measures also called indicators and dimensions. The dimensions in business intelligence are also called analysis axes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intersection of the groups of measures and dimensions contained in an SSAS cube returns a dataset. An SSAS cube is an OLAP cube which can be of the MOLAP, ROLAP or HOLAP type. A SSAS cube is essentially used to analyse the data it contains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. What is OLAP?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is OLAP SSAS? OLAP or Online Analytical Processing is a term that encompasses business intelligence databases and all systems used to process and analyse data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLAP differs from traditional data processing systems such as OLTP (Online Transactional Processing), which allows the capture and processing of operational data. OLAP systems are also called OLAP engine<\/a>s because of the complexity of the processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Definition of SSAS dimensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is an SSAS dimension? An SSAS dimension is an element of an SSAS cube that allows for the structuring and prioritisation of an analysis axis. It is essential to discuss the definition of dimensions with the basic SSAS concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An SSAS dimension in an OLAP cube contains dimensional attributes and allows data to be ranked, selected and organised across rows and columns. Common analysis axes are the dimensions Time, Geography, Organisation, Accounting panel, etc. These analysis axes are technically defined as dimensions in business intelligence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Analysis Services hierarchies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is an SSAS hierarchy? It is a list of attributes grouped by parent-child relationships. An SSAS dimension therefore consists of attributes and SSAS hierarchies within a dimension. A hierarchy is structured with members of the same dimension. The following is an example of an SSAS hierarchy for a five-level Time dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n