I am currently learning OLAP & MDX after many years of relational database development.
Any tips on getting started in MDX? What are the best books and resources to learn MDX?
+1
A:
If you are using SQL Server, Microsoft offers free online training here
vzczc
2008-08-24 10:55:34
Can you post the URL to the free training?
Raj More
2009-11-23 19:03:04
+8
A:
A classic, albeit a bit dated, book is Fast Track to MDX. It's a great overview and a quick read, though it doesn't cover the new MDX features of SQL Server 2005.
The Spofford book MDX Solutions is more up date and a little deeper, but a bit harder to get through.
I also highly recommend the blogs of Mosha Pasumansky, Chris Webb, and Darren Gosbell.
Kevin Dente
2008-08-25 04:42:46
I've just picked up a book co-authored by Chris Webb. It's called Expert Cube Development with MS SQL Server 2008. While it's no good as a first book there are some excellent tips and tricks in there once the basics are in place
Craig
2009-08-10 00:22:05
+2
A:
I found the Spoffard book not very helpful. MDX is such an oddity compared to other languages you'll learn, it's so hard to grasp from a dry book. I really would recommend a training course, otherwise you will flounder for ages. A course will really jump-start you, and it provides access to an expert when you have questions which don't seem to have online answers.
The worst trap to fall into, is to continually compare it with SQL! It uses some of the same keywords, but they mean something totally different, which makes the mental jump annoyingly harder.
I think the most efficient way to learn either OLAP or MDX would be to find someone who knows it, and get them to show you around, begin with some small changes, or some very simple queries.
Magnus Smith
2008-09-16 08:42:32
I took the Microsoft course (since we use SQL Server Analsis Services) and whilst it wasn't perfect, it did help a lot. I expect many companies run this course, so have a look in the area near you. I think it is "Implementing Business Logic with MDX in Microsoft SQL Server 2000", but the most important thing is that the trainer has had real experience of using MDX, not just teaching it!
Magnus Smith
2009-11-26 16:48:21
+2
A:
I just answered a similar question and went to a bit of trouble to build a list with some AS resources. It can be found Here.
ConcernedOfTunbridgeWells
2008-09-20 16:57:23
A:
If you create a Pivot Table that uses a cube (in Excel), you can see the query that is being sent using this (towards the bottom of the page)
http://www.codeplex.com/OlapPivotTableExtend
That might be a good way of getting a feel for the simpler stuff.
N.B. This is only in Excel2007, not sure about earlier versions
adolf garlic
2009-03-31 08:22:58
+1
A:
You should also try and get hold of MDX Studio, a free MDX query tool written by Mosha Pasumansky (one of the original creators of MDX). It has similar MDX functionality to SQL Management Studio, but also allows you to parse and format queries, which can be very handy when trying to decipher them.
Nathan
2010-01-17 21:51:12