Vidas Matelis Analysis Services Blog

I posted this in SSAS 2008 forum, but decided also to post it here.

I did some testing with Analysis Services 2008 June CTP and found following:

• No problems restoring databases that were archived in SSAS 2005.
• I like new dimension wizard and can see myself using it more, as I have more control on how attributes are created.
• June CTP can be used to test how my database is holding to “best design practices”, as I can see all the warnings after database is restored.
• Adventure works database that is shipped with Katmai June CTP has a lot of warnings. I know that this is just a warning and not error, but when I open Adventure Works DW cube, I keep getting distracted by all these blue lines in almost every dimension.

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Just participated in chat session on Katmai release and found some new information on SSAS 2008. Full transcript of this chat will be published shortly here.

Some interesting Q/A below:

• Q: What are improvements to Analysis Services 2008? I saw new feature visual attribute relationship in Dimension Editor, and also I saw “Design warning” interface where you can enable/disable design warnings. Anything else we should check in SSAS 2008?
  Rob Zare [MSFT] (Expert):
  A: This CTP includes a redesigned dimension wizard, a new attribute relationship designer, and real-time design/best practice warnings. The warnings are implemented in AMO, exposed in the UI via blue squiggly lines, and can be dismissed individually (a single occurrence) or turned off all together.

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This weekend I had some time to play with SQL Server 2008 (Katmai) June CTP, and I am posting here my first impressions (focus on Analysis Services).

Installation

As a first attempt I tried to setup SQL Server 2008 on the computer that already had SQL Server 2005 default instance installed. I wanted to install SQL 2008 as a named instance and compare SQL 2005 and 2008 side by side. After answering few standard questions I got message that because SQL Server 2005 was found on the machine, SQL Server 2008 cannot install client tools. I proceed with installation without client tools. After installation I tried to use SQL Server 2005 BIDS environment and connect to Katmai instance, but somehow that did not work. Then finally I decided that maybe I should read readmesqlkatmai.htm file. Found that side by side installation is not supported. From readme file: Read the rest of this entry »