Incrementally update a cube

This procedure updates a partition. Incorrect use of partitions can result in inaccurate cube data.

1. In the Analysis Manager tree pane, under the database that contains the cube, expand the Cubes folder.

2. Right-click the cube, and then click Process.
3. In the Process a Cube dialog box, click Incremental update.
4. (Optional.) To incrementally update shared dimensions contained in the cube during processing, select Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube.
5. Click OK to display the Incremental Update Wizard

In the Incremental Update Wizard:

In the Welcome step, click Next.

If the cube contains multiple partitions, the Select a partition to update step appears. In the Partition box, select the partition to update, and then click Next.

In the Data source box, select the data source that contains the data to add to the partition. The same data source used by the partition can be selected or a different one. By default the same data source used by the partition is initially displayed. To select a different data source, click Change, select the data source, and then click OK. If a different data source is selected, it must contain a fact table with the same structure and columns as the fact table for the partition, and it must contain dimension tables with the same structure and columns as the partition's dimension tables.

In the Fact table box, select the table that contains the data to add to the partition. The partition's fact table can be selected or a different table. By default the partition's fact table is initially displayed. If this table is selected, the user must use a filter, as described in the next step, to ensure that only data not already in the partition is added. To select a different table, click Change, select the table, and then click OK. If a different table is selected, it must have the same structure and columns as the fact table for the partition. The table must also be manually merged with the fact table for the partition after the incremental update completes. Click Next.

Specify a filter (WHERE clause expression) to limit the data selected from the fact table and added to the partition. A filter is required if the fact table for the partition is selected as the fact table for the incremental update. Click Next

Click Finish.

In the Process dialog box, wait for the incremental update to finish processing, or click Stop to halt and cancel processing.

To refresh data in a cube

1. In the Analysis Manager tree pane, under the database that contains the cube, expand the Cubes folder.
2. Right-click the cube, and then click Process.
3. In the Process a Cube dialog box, click Refresh data.
4. (Optional.) To incrementally update shared dimensions contained in the cube during processing, select Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Process dialog box, wait for the data refresh to finish processing, or click Stop to halt and cancel processing.

First Page: Tutorial 49: MSAS - Processing Dimensions and Cubes