Backward Compatibility
Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Analysis Services is compatible with SQL Server version 7.0 OLAP Services. Cubes that were created in SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services need to be migrated to the updated meta data repository format and reprocessed. Otherwise, the existing structures for cubes, roles, shared dimensions, and so on do not need to be changed. For more information about migrating the SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services repository to SQL Server 2000 Meta Data Services, see Migrating Analysis Services Repositories.
The following sections concern backward compatibility with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services.
Administration of Analysis Services
Analysis Manager is backward compatible with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services. It is capable of administering both OLAP servers (the server that ships with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services), and Analysis servers (the server that ships with SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services) concurrently. When administering an OLAP server, the OLAP Services portion of SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 2 code is used to assure complete backward compatibility. The add-in programs in Service Pack 2 are now integrated with Analysis Manager and do not need to be installed to administer OLAP servers.
Client and Local Cube Support
Some features in SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services are not supported by the SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services client components or in a local cube. For more information, including a list of features, see 7.0 Analysis Services Client and Local Cube Support.
Decision Support Objects
Analysis Services now includes an updated version of Decision Support Objects (DSO), which is automatically installed during Setup. Programs must use this updated version of DSO when administering an Analysis server (the server that ships with SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services). No other change to these programs is necessary. Programs that use the updated version of DSO are compatible with and can administer OLAP servers (the server that ships with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services); however, new features will not be available on the OLAP server.
PivotTable Service
SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services includes an updated version of PivotTable® Service. Client applications that use PivotTable Service do not need to use this new version when connecting to an Analysis server unless you need access to objects that include new features. The objects that use these new features (such as data mining models and cubes that include parent-child dimensions) are not seen by the client applications that use the earlier version of PivotTable Service. Client applications that use the updated version of PivotTable Service can connect to any server, regardless of its version. Client applications that use the updated version of PivotTable Service can configure their compatibility settings using the following properties:
- MDX Compatibility property
- MDX Unique Name Style property
- Secured Cell Value property
- Visual Mode property
Custom Add-in Programs
Custom add-in programs that were developed for use with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services will continue to work with SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services. No changes are necessary to use them.
Archiving, Restoring, and Migrating Data
Analysis Services supports some but not all permutations of archiving and restoring databases and migrating repositories between versions of the product. For information about supported migration paths, see Supported Migration Paths for Analysis Services Repositories. For information about archiving and restoring data between versions of the product, see Archiving and Restoring Databases Between Versions of Analysis Services.