Module III: Business Analytics Multidimensional Models Creating OLAP Cubes Using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)

BI System Components Data Repository Data Source OLAP System Module 1: Delivering BI Chapter 1, 2, 10,18– Larson Book Creating KPI Creating Reports Excel and Tableau Module 2: Design a Datamart: Chapter 3 & 6 Larson Book Requirement Analysis Creating a Schema SS DB Engine Data Source Flat Files Transactions DB (OLTP) XML Files Excel Files Etc. Data Repository Datamart DataWarehourse OLAP System Multidimensional Database - Cubes Data Analysis Visualization Cube Browsing Reporting Dashboards Data Mining Module 4: Populate a DataMart Chapter 7 & 8 – Larson Book ETL Process SSI Services Module 3: Business Analytics Chapter 4,9, 10 – Larson Book Build an OLAP/Cube SSA Services

Outline Business Analytics Concept Step (and Concepts) involved in creating an OLAP Cube using SSAS

Making the connection …. Transactional Tables SSDBE Account OLAP – Cubes SSAS Account

Business Analytics Analytics? Analysis of data Business Analytics? An umbrella term that includes tools, techniques, and technologies for capturing, unifying, and analyzing data to support performance management and decision making. BA makes it easier to visualize and analyze business data to support decision making – Measure and Monitor processes.

Creating OLAP Cubes Using SSAS SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) will be used to create OLAP Cubes VERY IMPORTANT: You are going to use your analysis services account (KJ##NID) directly for Cube creation. DO NOT use BI Studio's Analysis Services Project template (as suggested in Larson Book) to create a Cube. In the BI studio do the following: File  Open Analysis Database (DO NOT SELECT New Project option) If you do not follow the class instructions, then you will end up creating a project which you can’t process or run! Which means you will have to re-do the all the steps from scratch.

Your SSAS Project is on the CBB Server Refer to the agenda for the correct server name

Connect to SSAS Account – Do not create a new SSAS Project Open SSAS Project DO NOT create a new Project as suggested in the textbook.

Connect to your SSAS DB (KJ##NID) on the Server 1) Enter Server name in the “server” textbox 2) Enter your SSAS DB name (KJ##NID) in the “database” textbox

This should show – KJ##NID (CB-OT-DEVST##) If you see your SSAS DB in the solution explorer window, then you have successfully open your SSAS DB This should show – KJ##NID (CB-OT-DEVST##)

Do not create a new SSAS Project

Steps Involved in Creating an OLAP Cube Basic Steps: Includes the minimum number of steps involved in creating a functional Cube. Additional features: These focus on modifying an existing Cube and adding enhancements to a Cube.

Basic Steps: Creating an OLAP Cube Step 1 :  Create a data source for your Cube – Ideally, the data source for your cube should be the data mart which you have designed and populated. However, in this module all of us will use the same data source: KJ81MaxMinManufacturingDM (refer to LBD# 1) Step 2: Create a data source view using the data source you created in step 1. (refer to LBD# 1)  Step 3: Create a Cube using the Cube Wizard. (refer to LBD# 1) Use the Facts from the data source Fact tables to create Cube Measures. Use the dimension information from the data source dimension tables to create Cube Dimensions. Create Hierarchies (LBD#3) Step 4:  Change the property settings for the measures. (refer to LBD# 2) Step 5: Create "Dimension to Measure" Relationships - link the measures with the appropriate dimensions. (refer to LBD# 4) Step 6:  Assign user-friendly names and sort order for hierarchy levels. (Class Notes) Step 7:  Process and Browse the Cube. (refer to class notes and Module 1 material)

Additional Steps: Creating an OLAP Cube Step 8: Creating a Time Dimension: Creating a time dimension using DateTime field (refer to LBD# 1, 3, 4, and class notes) Create new columns (using the New Named Calculation option in the data source view) in your fact table for the Month, Quarter, and Year values (depending on the Time Hierarchy of your datamart design) - We used T-SQL to create month, quarter, and year fields using the DateofManufacturing and DateofInventory fields. (LBD#1) Create Time Dim using a wizard (LBD #3) If you use the dimension wizard to create a new dimension then make sure you revisit Step 5 (i.e., add the new dimension to measure relationship). (LBD#4) Step 9: Create New Calculated Measures (refer to LBD# 2) Step 10: Adding New Measure Groups (refer to LBD# 2) Step 11:  Create KPIs (refer to LBD# 5)

Creating a Basic Cube – Details are in the LBDs, but here are some slides to get you started Part of ICA#3

Basic Cube Step 1 – Connect to a Data source - Right click on the data sources folder and select “New Data Source” - Click “Next” on the data source wizard dialogue box. Enter, the Server name, your SS DB- Engine Authentication (i.e.,location of your the data source). Select the Datamart that you want to use as a data source. Always test the connection before clicking ok Click on “New”

Click Next Impersonation Information – your SSAS authentication – your WSU NID and PWD. YOUR may have to enter “AD\” in front of your username in case you get login errors.

About data sources ….a source of all your pain & frustration If you have to change (instead of correct the connection string or authentication information) the data source AFTER creating the Cube and DSV, then you have to recreate the DSV and Cube. How to edit your data source? Right on the data source item (e.g., ICA3DS) and select “open” General Tab– “Edit” the connection to the data source – It will allow you to edit your SSDBE connection information Impersonation Tab – will allow you to edit your SSAS access credentials General Tab Impersonation Tab

Step 2: Create a data source view Right click on data source view Click Next

Select the data source you created in step 1 Select the tables you want to include in your Cube

Data Source View – A powerful feature

Step 3 – Create a Cube

Use the existing tables to create a Cube, click next

Select the Measure Group Tables & Corresponding Measures

Select the tables for the Dimensions

Check and Finish – Why no Time Dim?

Cube Structure – Understand this space really well (all the tabs and windows)

Step 7: Process the Cube – Right Click on the project folder

Related Resources Microsoft BI Resource Page http://www.microsoft.com/bi/ http://www.microsoft.com/bi/resourcecenter/demos.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/bi/resourcecenter/videos.aspx

Summary Understand the concept of BA Understand the concept of OLAP using SSAS Learn to build an OLAP Cube using SSAS