Dimension Enhancements
This release of Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Analysis Services adds significant functionality to OLAP analysis with a number of new dimension types, features, and improvements.
Parent-Child Dimensions
A new parent-child dimension type supports hierarchies based on parent-child links between members in columns in a source table. Such hierarchies represent structures that include organization charts and part assemblies. Data members can be used to provide data for nonleaf members, such as the direct commission amount for a sales department manager or the individual salaries for all members in an organizational chart. For more information, see Parent-Child Dimensions.
ROLAP Dimensions
Extremely large dimensions can now be accommodated using the ROLAP storage mode. The dimension data remains in the database table and is not subject to the size limitations of MOLAP. For more information, see Dimension Storage Modes.
Write-Enabled Dimensions
The members of write-enabled dimensions can be updated through Analysis Manager and client applications that support dimension writeback. Roles are used to control dimension write access by client applications. For more information, see Write-Enabled Dimensions.
Changing Dimensions
The new changing dimension type permits dimension members to be deleted, moved, added, or renamed without requiring the cube to be fully processed after changes. This increases the availability of cubes to client applications. For more information, see Changing Dimensions.
Dependent Dimensions
Dependent dimensions permit improved aggregation design optimization by using knowledge of nonintersecting member combinations to reduce storage requirement estimation in the design algorithm. For more information, see Dependent Dimensions.
Ragged Dimensions
Ragged dimensions have at least one member whose logical parent is not in the level immediately above the member, such as is the case of countries that do not have a state or province level between the country and city levels. For more information, see Ragged Dimension Support.
Enhanced Virtual Dimensions
Virtual dimensions have better performance and greater flexibility than in earlier versions. They can be based directly on columns in another dimension's table and include multiple levels. Virtual dimensions are no longer limited to 760 members. For more information, see Virtual Dimensions and Virtual Dimensions Created in Version 7.0.
Custom Rollup Formulas and Custom Member Formulas
Cube cell values associated with members can be calculated according to custom expressions rather than the aggregate functions of measures. The expressions can be applied to all the members in a level or individual members. For more information, see Custom Rollup Formulas and Custom Member Formulas.
Automatic Member Grouping
System-generated member groups can be used to accommodate members that have more than 64,000 children. This feature can also be used to provide an intermediate level for drilldown between a level with few members and one with numerous members. For more information, see Member Groups.
Default Members
Default members can be specified for each dimension and varied by role. They control end users' default views of cubes that include the dimension. For more information, see Set Default Member Dialog Box and Custom Rules in Dimension Security.
Dimension Filters
A filter (WHERE clause expression) can be used to limit the dimension table rows that are included in the dimension. The filter is specified in the Source Table Filter property of the dimension. For more information, see Properties Pane (Dimension Editor Data View).