What is the best way for users to view cubes?

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What is the best way for users to view cubes?

Hi,

Our company is about to purchase SQL Server 2005 as an upgrade to running the reporting out of MS Access (so I am new to SQL Server).
I have been trying out Analysis Services cubes and would like to know how others using SQL Server are allowing users to view cubes. I am using the Cube Browser from within an Analysis Services cube project which is excellent. This made me think that there must be an equivalent program that end users are able to use, although I haven't yet come across anything obvious.

I have heard of Data Analyzer from Microsoft, although this looks a bit too simple for serious data analysis. Also I have seen the option of embedding a PivotTable object within an ASP/ASP.NET page using OWC.

Would be great if anyone has any advice on good or bad products/methods for getting end users viewing cubes.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

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What is the best way for users to view cubes?

  • Priyanka63947

    There was Business Scorecard Accelerator 2004 before.

    Now there is the Business Scorecard Manager 2005 (code-named Maestro), a server-based product
    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX012225041033.aspx

    This can form a good UI in WSS(Windows Sharepoint Services) portals for viewing and browsing data from SSAS cubes.

    Can
      - show a dashboard with KPIs (maps to cube measures)
      - Using the Report View webpart, show Pivot tables, Pivot chart or Reporting Services reports that use MDX to query the cube

  • gavwel

    I can definitely understand the cost issue. 

    If you want to deploy a low cost analysis solution, you can always use Reporting Services with the end-user client app Report Builder.  The nice thing about the Report Builder is that the Query builder is pretty close to that of the Browser in BIDS.   You just don't have the formatting power of other solutions. 

    Another possibility is to use the Pivot Chart/Table functionality in Excel.  The benefit of using Excel is that most people are already familiar with it. You may also try looking at the following Excel Addin for 2002/2003.  The addin was designed for AS2000, so I haven't be able to get things like DrillThrough and What-Ifs to work.  I would definitely look for updated addins once Office 12 comes out.

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx FamilyId=DAE82128-9F21-475D-88A4-4B6E6C069FF0&displaylang=en

    Larry

  • David Reynolds

    Matt,

    There are plenty of options for analyzing OLAP cubes, It's really a matter or functionality and cost.

    Here is a link for MS partners in the query, reporting, and analysis arenas.
    http://www.microsoft.com/sql/partners/DWA/query.asp

    One vendor that is not on the list that you may want to check out is Business Objects (www.businessobjects.com).  They have a product that is called OLAP Intelligence that allows analysis/browsing of OLAP Cubes.

    Personally I wouldn't go with Data Analyzer, MS acquired it a few years ago and I get the feeling that it won't be maintained.  Although this could definitely change now that MS has a robust BI platform now. 

    I haven't used/reviewed all of the products on the MS Partner list, but I've found that Proclarity is not as user-friendly/intuitive as I would have hoped.  MIS Plain integrates very well with Excel although the current version doesn't natively work with AS 2005.  I had to manipulate the connection string to get it to work.

    I'm currently reviewing other OLAP Analysis package right now, so I'll give you some more feedback near the end of the week.

    Larry Pope

  • loo

    I want to know which tool / product / solution is positioned by MS as THE TOOL for cube viewing / analysis moving forward



  • Sergei Kantere

    Isn't there anything out-of-the-box with SQL Server 2005

    Fotgive me, I am a new user (read novice). But this seems to be a serious shortcoming. I was guessing that the "browser" view for cubes in BIDS will be available to end-users via IE (somehow after deployment). I hope this guess is true... anyone from SSAS team... please verify

    thanks,
    Nitesh

  • Stardust

    Thanks for the feedback Larry.

    Unfortunately I'm not really after a vendor such as Business Objects as they end up costing more than SQL Server itself, and whether or not it is worth the price they charge we cannot afford it.

    After a bit more thinking yesterday I realise that I am after a custom design that I can implement myself, preferably web-based.

    If anyone is interested, a couple of useful links are:
    A description of how to create an OLAP cube viewer in ASP.NET using the OWC pivot table:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/03/10/OLAP/
    A custom OLAP control that can be deployed in an ASP.NET web project:
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx FamilyId=4599B793-B3C6-4ED5-ACB3-820D0E832151&displaylang=en

    If anyone else has any decent custom OLAP solution links please post them here...

  • gm001

    Is it  Business Scorecard Manager 2005

  • What is the best way for users to view cubes?
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