Promoting Microsoft SSAS Changes to Test and Prod

When it comes to moving Analysis Services cube changes from Development to Test to Production, there are a few options available . They range in precision from broad-brush to pin-point pushes. Each approach has its benefits and drawbacks, and your situation defines which method works best for you.

One broad-brush method is backing up the whole database and restoring it to the destination environment, manually changing the data source to point to the appropriate data and then processing the whole database. Another broad-brush approach is to use the Synchronize Database Wizard. Both of these methods affect the whole database. They both work perfectly well - not to mention easily - if you only have one cube in the database, or you don't care that all cubes on the database must be fully processed after the update is done.