Microsoft Developer Network

Introduction to SQL Analysis Services Queries

Welcome to the exciting world of querying data within SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). Analysis Services is a powerful business intelligence platform that allows you to create, deploy, and manage multidimensional structures (cubes) and tabular data models. These models are optimized for complex analytical queries, enabling users to explore vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

Understanding SSAS Query Languages

To interact with and retrieve data from your SSAS models, you'll primarily use two powerful query languages:

• Multidimensional Expressions (MDX): MDX is the established query language for OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) cubes. It's highly expressive and excels at navigating hierarchical data, performing complex calculations, and slicing and dicing data across multiple dimensions.
• Data Analysis Expressions (DAX): DAX is the query language for tabular data models. It shares similarities with Excel formulas and is known for its ease of use and powerful aggregation capabilities. DAX is widely used in Power BI and Power Pivot as well.

Why Query SSAS?

Querying SSAS allows you to:

• Extract specific data subsets for reporting and analysis.
• Perform complex calculations that go beyond simple aggregation.
• Slice and dice data by various dimensions (e.g., time, geography, product).
• Create ad-hoc analyses to uncover trends and insights.
• Build the foundation for custom applications and dashboards.

Getting Started

This section will guide you through the fundamentals of both MDX and DAX. We'll cover basic syntax, common functions, and practical examples to help you become proficient in querying your Analysis Services data. You'll learn how to construct queries to retrieve the information you need and how to leverage the full power of your analytical models.

In the following pages, we will delve deeper into the specifics of each language:

            
            -- Example of a basic MDX query structure (conceptual)
            SELECT
                {[Measures].[Sales Amount]} ON COLUMNS,
                {[DimGeography].[Country].Members} ON ROWS
            FROM [AdventureWorksCube]
            WHERE ([DimTime].[Calendar Year].&[2023])
            
            

            
            -- Example of a basic DAX query structure (conceptual)
            EVALUATE
                SUMMARIZECOLUMNS (
                    'DimGeography'[Country],
                    'DimTime'[CalendarYear],
                    "Total Sales", [SalesAmount]
                )
            WHERE 'DimTime'[CalendarYear] = 2023
            
            

Let's begin by exploring the core concepts and syntax that will form the basis of your SSAS querying journey.