February 5, 2014 at 2:31 am
Hi,
Can anybody recommend me a good SSAS Multidimensional model book? Preferably 2012 but 2008 is OK as well. I know some MDX programming but I'm, by no means, an SSAS expert so I would like the book to contain clear and concise descriptions with examples/diagrams and step by step exercises.
I've just wasted a lot of time on Expert Cube Development with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services and despite all the hype and positive reviews, I have never read a worse technical book in my entire life. In fact I got absolutely nothing practical from this book so I'm definitely not looking for something like this.
Thanks in advance.
February 6, 2014 at 7:08 am
I have not found what I consider a good MDX book that seems to focus on writing MDX queries for SSAS. Even one closely titled to that, something like "Writing MDX queries for SSAS 2008" was primarily focused on just writing MDX queries that produced fixed results. In my view it's a niche that some qualified person should fill (or someone can point me to a good book that focuses on MDX for SSAS which really deal with that subject).
Assuming no one can come up with a specific book that meets your needs, I would still suggest MDX step by step which is good for getting a grounding on MDX writing. I also found the MDX Cookbook to be a good source. The MDX chapter in the Expert Cube Development book you reference does have some useful information. I found it very useful to help with understanding how I could use scope for formulas that would have an NA at higher levels.
Hope this is enough to help, assuming no one know of a book I'm not aware of.
February 6, 2014 at 8:49 am
I have a book titled 'Practical MDX Queries for Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services 2008" by Art Tennick that contains over 300 practical MDX examples, but I think the OP was looking for an SSAS book rather than an MDX-specific book.
I believe the 'Unleashed' series of books are supposed to be good, but I don't have any first-hand experience of them.
Regards
Lempster
February 12, 2014 at 9:40 am
EDITED MY POOR GRAMMAR AND TYPOS!
SQL Server 2008 Anaysis Services Unleashed is written by the original folks from Panorama, the company purchased by MS that created the SSAS engine. However, the wording and examples are hard to follow for a newbie.
Even though it is for 2005, Teo Lachev's book is great AND practical but deals with the old UDM model: http://www.amazon.com/Applied-Microsoft-Analysis-Services-2005/dp/0976635305
My personal suggestion is to read the Analysis Services Performance and Operations Guide white paper that is 200 pages. It is very well written and easy to follow.
Finally, Lynn Langit and Kevin Goff's book covers ALL 2008 BI components, but they do a great job of making SSAS the core of the book and has some EXTREMELY GOOD MDX in it as well:
February 14, 2014 at 4:30 am
sneumersky (2/12/2014)
SQL Server 2008 Anaysis Services Unleashed is written by the original folks from Panorama, the company purchased by MS that created the SSAS engine.
Off-topic, but I didn't know that SSAS was not developed by Microsoft in-house. I guess i should not be surprised by that though. 🙂
February 14, 2014 at 8:52 am
The re-writing of the 2005 engine was done by Microsoft, but yes, the original product was created in 1994 in response to a British Publishing Company's request to have an application analyze its RDBMS data.
In 95 a client/server version of the product was created.
Two years later MS acquired the technology near the end of 1996.
March 3, 2014 at 9:11 am
Hi All,
I´m reading this post a little bit late but I can recommend you this new book:
Expert Cube Development with SSAS
Language : English
Paperback : 402 pages [ 235mm x 191mm ]
Release Date : February 2014
ISBN : 1849689903
ISBN 13 : 9781849689908
Author(s) : Chris Webb, Alberto Ferrari, Marco Russo
Hope that helps,
March 3, 2014 at 9:15 am
I´m reading this post a little bit late but I can recommend you this new book:
Expert Cube Development with SSAS
The poster identified that in his original post as one that wasn't helpful. Personally I found the book very useful, but everyone has their own way of learning.
March 4, 2014 at 2:07 am
Hi again,
I recommended the new one, it's quite similar to the previous one but adds some other information regarding SQL Server 2012 (SSAS Multidimensional, not Tabular). It is important to read the section "Who this book is for" before buying the book, and of course there are different opinions about the quality of the content. Fortunately every mind is a different world :hehe:. In my experience this book helps me right now to implement new cubes and therefore I can recommend it. There are also a lot of free learning material in the web, especially in blogs from the experts and discussions in forums, where detail solution for very specific problems can be found.
Kind Regards,
March 4, 2014 at 11:36 am
Sometimes I like to get the point of view from the original folks, Melomed, Gorbach, Berger, and Bateman. Sometimes it is good to hear from the original creators, but I admit it took me about 4 times reading the book to understand it all in and out.....the XML/A, AMO, MDX. For me it was the best book to know what is going on under the covers 😀
For a developer I think Ferrari, Webb, and Russo give the best view from many different levels.
Bottom line for me: SSAS is a majorly complex piece of software, and it is good to get as many viewpoints as possible if you really like it.
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