Tutorial 10: MSAS : Preparing to Create the Cube

This tutorial explains the steps to create the cube and the preparation like settip the datasource.

Preparing to Create the Cube

A cube is the fundamental unit of data storage and retrieval in the Analysis Server. A cube can be created with either the Cube Wizard or the Cube Editor. The cube wizard provides very limited options as against the options available in the Cube Editor. In this section of the tutorial we propose to concentrate on the Cube Wizard and learn how to create a cube, process a cube and browse the results using the Wizard.

Setting up the Data source Name

Every cube draws its data from a data source. Almost all kinds of data stores can be used as data sources for cubes—including text files. The SQL Server has to be connected to the data source using the OLE DB Providers. For older systems Microsoft has provided the option of using OLE DB provider for ODBC drivers. However, before connecting the SQL Server database to its data source the data sources have to be configured and the system Data source name defined in the ODBC Administrator. To set up the Data Source Name (DSN) in the ODBC Administrator follow the steps given here. Click Start >Settings >Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC). Select Microsoft Access Driver in the dialog box that opens and Click ‘Configure’. Now enter ‘Sample’ as the Data source name in the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup dialog box and Click Select.

The Select Database dialog box opens. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Analysis Services\Samples\FoodMart 2000.mdb and Click Ok. The Data source gets selected. The ODBC Data source Administrator box now displays the Sample database with the description Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) as a system data source. Click Ok to proceed.

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