- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; Bk&CD-Rom edition (10 Aug 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0471400467
- ISBN-13: 978-0471400462
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 18.9 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
171,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #22 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Information Systems > Information Retrieval
- #32 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Databases > Database Design & Theory
- #42 in Books > Computers & Internet > Computer Science > Databases > Data Storage & Management > Data Warehousing
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
MDX (Multi-Dimensional Expressions) is a language developed by Microsoft for the querying and analysis of multi-dimensional OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) databases. MDX is a mere three years old and, although it is becoming well accepted, it's still hard to find supporting material. This book is a welcome addition to a sparse canon and is intended for IT professionals and students.
The book starts with a series of chapters of increasing complexity that cover the basics of MDX and its usage. Performing calculations in Microsoft's Analysis Services (the OLAP and data mining tools supplied with SQL Server 2000), using libraries of external functions and advanced MDX operations and commands are among the topics addressed in subsequent chapters, followed by client programming basics and optimising MDX. The remaining quarter of the book comprises four appendices, the first and largest being a reference of MDX functions and operators, helpfully indexed both by name and by return type. A CD-ROM is supplied containing sample code, function libraries and OLAP database (with its source relational database) and a trial version of MDXBuilder 2.0.
What this book, along with most of the other MDX material available, does not do is to give information about why and when you might find MDX useful: there is no overview or placing of the language in context. That said, the content is comprehensive and thorough with tips, notes and sample code scattered liberally throughout. The style is generally readable and upbeat. For anyone getting to grips with MDX, this book is to be recommended. --Mark Whitehorn
Product Description
A hands–on tutorial on building and using multidimensional data warehouses
The SQL query language is used to access data in most simple databases. But for multidimensional (or OLAP) data warehouses, Microsoft developed MDX. The MDX query language has become essential know–how for developers and users alike, whether for data warehouses or for budgeting and planning systems. This tutorial/reference guide shows developers and users how to use MDX to access and analyze data for decision support. Both the standard language and Microsoft′s own extensive additions to MDX are explained. The authors provide practical examples of MDX in use, and explain both standard usage and more advanced techniques, such as optimization, cube design, and Pareto analysis. Finally, the appendices provide a handy reference guide that users can rely on.
The SQL query language is used to access data in most simple databases. But for multidimensional (or OLAP) data warehouses, Microsoft developed MDX. The MDX query language has become essential know–how for developers and users alike, whether for data warehouses or for budgeting and planning systems. This tutorial/reference guide shows developers and users how to use MDX to access and analyze data for decision support. Both the standard language and Microsoft′s own extensive additions to MDX are explained. The authors provide practical examples of MDX in use, and explain both standard usage and more advanced techniques, such as optimization, cube design, and Pareto analysis. Finally, the appendices provide a handy reference guide that users can rely on.
Inside This Book
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This chapter intoduces the syntax and semantics of the MDX (Multi Dimensional eXpressions) language, primarily as a general overview but with a look at the dialect implemented by Microsoft OLAP/Analysis Services. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
This chapter intoduces the syntax and semantics of the MDX (Multi Dimensional eXpressions) language, primarily as a general overview but with a look at the dialect implemented by Microsoft OLAP/Analysis Services. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the book you must read if you want to master MDX, a language specifically designed to develop applications based on OLAP databases (particularly Microsoft Analysis Server).
And this is the book to keep as a reference guide on your desk when designing Olap solutions, as I do.
No other books go so deep into MDX, and his author is really "the MDX Guru".
However, this book is not for the total beginner, to whom "Microsoft SQL Server 2000 - Analysis Server Step by Step" by Jacobson could provide a smoother introduction to the subject. To get conceptual fundamentals for Olap I suggest Erik Thomsen's "Olap Solutions" (a new edition is coming...), and cube design techniques with Microsoft Olap can be found in "Microsoft Olap Solutions" by Spofford, Thomsen and Chase (together with some chapters on MDX which have been reworked and updated in "MDX Solutions")
And this is the book to keep as a reference guide on your desk when designing Olap solutions, as I do.
No other books go so deep into MDX, and his author is really "the MDX Guru".
However, this book is not for the total beginner, to whom "Microsoft SQL Server 2000 - Analysis Server Step by Step" by Jacobson could provide a smoother introduction to the subject. To get conceptual fundamentals for Olap I suggest Erik Thomsen's "Olap Solutions" (a new edition is coming...), and cube design techniques with Microsoft Olap can be found in "Microsoft Olap Solutions" by Spofford, Thomsen and Chase (together with some chapters on MDX which have been reworked and updated in "MDX Solutions")
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you need to know about MDX this is THE book. Readable as well as being a good reference.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Great book to fill the MDX knowledge gap
5 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
Let us begin by acknowledging that MDX is a nontrivial topic. With SQL Server 2000 and Analysis Services, Microsoft is providing arguably the most powerful OLAP solution at perhaps the lowest price. But with power comes complexity. Much of this complexity is to be found in the OLAP query language: MDX. Developers will welcome any assistance in climbing this learning curve, and Spofford's book was quick to fill this gap.
This is a thick book, and it is not padded with screenshots of wizards. More than half of the book deals with the syntax and semantics of MDX. It provides a new OLAP sample database for those of us tired of playing with "Foodmart". There are also chapters on local cubes and client programming in ADO. The last quarter of the book is reference material. The MDX function and operator reference in Appendix A includes easily comprehended graphical explanations of function behaviors.
This is not a book geared towards administrators or end users or casual developers. Expect to sweat the details here and to do so from chapter 1. This is a book to read at your computer as you learn the power of MDX by running the examples queries. This author's experience is apparent in the examples, which demonstrate real-world OLAP use cases. Examples range from simple to sophisticated, so this book will useful to both intermediate and advanced MDX programmers.
One weakness of the book is that, since it was written prior to the final release of Analysis Services, there may be some inconsistencies. But the book's web site should post updates and corrections. Also, the book mentions but does not cover the XML for Analysis technology that was released by Microsoft last month (July). XML for Analysis allows SQL Server tables and cubes to be queried using SOAP and XML. Using the WebService Behavior, Internet Explorer can directly make MDX queries and present the results with HTML or graphically (see intrasight.com).
Since MDX has emerged as the defacto standard for OLAP query, all product developers and report developers will want to add this book to their library.
Chris Harrington Active Interface, Inc.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Good book
2 Oct 2001
Format:Paperback
This book is very helpful in mastering MDX and unleashing its potential after you finish studying Analysis Services architectural components from other sources. The author demonstrates good knowledge and expertise in the subject and provides very helpful examples and interesting implementations. The illustrations in the book also make understanding MDX easier, since MDX, like XPath, has some concepts like hierarchies and context that are best understood by visualization.
However, his writing style is very parenthetical and rife with interludes, which is sometimes irksome and disrupt a smooth flow of ideas.
Buy it if you're building a non-trivial UI for Analysis Services or asked to generate sophisticated reports. Understanding how MDX works will also improve your OLAP designing skills.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A great potential for enlightment reduced to pain?
20 Oct 2004
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Don't be surprised by the bad reviews this book has got here. There is a good reason for that. This is a strong text that deserved a good reviewer or a talented co-author.
Whereas some simple subjects are given a lot of attention, many examples and concepts are simply not explained enough or well.
The appendix is not used as a reference but as a part of the text, which is highly unusual. To understand the text, the reader must often search the appendix for five different definitions or more. The author usually avoids to explain what is in the appendix. What should be a reference becomes an essential part.
Complex concepts are given little explanation. The other existing book on MDX ("Fast Track to MDX") is incomplete, very short and superficial. This one book could fill a major gap. The text is insightful. Yet it does not use its potential at all. It makes a real pain of what could be a true pleasure.
There is simply no good book on MDX in the market. What is very unfortunate is that this book could have been an outstanding piece of work, a reference for understanding and use of MDX, but its main goals are largerly diluted and wasted in the way the book was written. A real shame. A major revison is not only due but deserved and urgent. I hope the author and the publisher do get the point.
Whereas some simple subjects are given a lot of attention, many examples and concepts are simply not explained enough or well.
The appendix is not used as a reference but as a part of the text, which is highly unusual. To understand the text, the reader must often search the appendix for five different definitions or more. The author usually avoids to explain what is in the appendix. What should be a reference becomes an essential part.
Complex concepts are given little explanation. The other existing book on MDX ("Fast Track to MDX") is incomplete, very short and superficial. This one book could fill a major gap. The text is insightful. Yet it does not use its potential at all. It makes a real pain of what could be a true pleasure.
There is simply no good book on MDX in the market. What is very unfortunate is that this book could have been an outstanding piece of work, a reference for understanding and use of MDX, but its main goals are largerly diluted and wasted in the way the book was written. A real shame. A major revison is not only due but deserved and urgent. I hope the author and the publisher do get the point.
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