Microsoft Developer Network

Comprehensive Documentation and Resources

Home / SQL Server / Analysis Services / Getting Started

Getting Started with SQL Server Analysis Services

Welcome to the starting point for your journey with SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). This guide provides essential information to help you set up, configure, and begin developing with SSAS.

What is SQL Server Analysis Services?

SQL Server Analysis Services is a business intelligence platform that provides online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining capabilities for business applications. It enables users to create, deploy, and manage multidimensional structures that business users can explore to gain insights from data.

Key Concepts

  • Multidimensional Models: Cubes, dimensions, measures, hierarchies.
  • Tabular Models: In-memory columnar database engine for tabular data modeling.
  • Data Mining: Algorithms for discovering patterns and trends in data.
  • DAX (Data Analysis Expressions): Formula language for Tabular models.
  • MDX (Multidimensional Expressions): Query language for Multidimensional models.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

  • A working installation of SQL Server with the Analysis Services feature.
  • SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) installed.
  • SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio, which includes project templates for SSAS.
  • Understanding of relational database concepts.

Installation and Setup

If you haven't already, install SQL Server Analysis Services as part of your SQL Server installation. During setup, choose the appropriate instance type (Multidimensional or Tabular).

Tip: For development, install the latest version of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio. This provides the necessary project types and designers for SSAS.

Your First SSAS Project

Let's create a simple multidimensional project to get you started:

  1. Open Visual Studio with SQL Server Data Tools installed.
  2. Go to File > New > Project.
  3. Under Business Intelligence, select Analysis Services > Multidimensional Project.
  4. Give your project a name (e.g., AdventureWorksSSAS) and click OK.
  5. Right-click on the Data Sources folder in Solution Explorer and select New Data Source.
  6. Follow the wizard to connect to your SQL Server instance and a sample database like AdventureWorksDW.
  7. Right-click on the Data Source Views folder and select New Data Source View.
  8. Select the data source you just created and choose tables (e.g., DimProduct, FactInternetSales) to include.
  9. Right-click on the Cubes folder and select New Cube.
  10. Use the Cube Wizard to select tables and automatically generate dimensions and measures.
  11. Deploy your project to a local SSAS instance.

Once deployed, you can connect to your cube using SSMS or other client tools to explore the data.

Next Steps

Explore the following resources to deepen your understanding:

Happy analyzing!