BUSINESSOBJECTS MDX Connect is a powerful analysis tool that lets users
access ... SQL Server Analysis Services and create professional reports from an ...
BUSINESSOBJECTS™ MDX Connect The Complete Enterprise Query, Reporting and Analysis Solution for Microsoft OLAP Data MDX Connect enables
W ith so many sources of corporate data and with multiple technologies available to
users of Microsoft SQL
access and analyze it, satisfying the needs of the end user is getting harder and harder.
Server Analysis Services to
Users want one integrated solution that will help turn corporate data into relevant business
access, analyze, and share the information they need to make timely, informed business decisions.
information in order to simplify the decision-making process. BUSINESSOBJECTS MDX Connect exposes the power of Microsoft’s OLAP server by bringing multidimensional data into an easy-to-use view, allowing dynamic analysis within the familiar BUSINESS OBJECTS environment.
n MDX Connect allows users to filter Microsoft OLAP data and create complex calcula tions using the wizard-driven OLAP panel.
BUSINESSOBJECTS MDX Connect is a powerful analysis tool that lets users access Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services and create professional reports from an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. In a single B USINESSOBJECTS report, Microsoft OLAP data can be displayed with other data stored in or retrieved from relational databases, data warehouses, or personal files. BUSINESSOBJECTS MDX Connect provides: • Ease of use • Powerful analysis • An integrated enterprise solution
First in e-Business Intelligence ™
Ease of Use MDX Connect allows users to create reports and perform analysis without having to understand complex multidimensional expressions (MDX), the syntax used to query Microsoft OLAP BUSINESSOBJECTS breaks
cubes. The OLAP panel presents the dimensions and measures that exist in the OLAP cube,
down barriers between
and users can then work with the metadata to form the desired query. Once satisfied with
various business data types, allowing ad-hoc reporting, online
the query definition, MDX Connect brings the multidimensional data into the familiar BUSINESS OBJECTS client.
analytical reporting, and advanced on-report
Power Without Complexity
analysis.
While MDX is a powerful and robust query language, it is not something your end users should have to learn. MDX Connect provides a wizard-driven interface that insulates users from needing to know this complex query language. They can create calculations and do advanced multidimensional filtering, ranking and sorting without having to worry about the MDX syntax that is being sent to the OLAP server. Power users are also provided with an optional interface to write their own MDX calculations, but in most cases this will not be required. Drag-and-Drop Interface
The MDX Connect OLAP panel provides a clear view of the dimensions and measures that are created with Microsoft Analysis Services. The dimensions appear in the filter axis of the OLAP panel by default. Users simply drag the desired dimensions into the drop zone and press “Continue” to bring this information into BUSINESSOBJECTS for further reporting and analysis. BUSINESSOBJECTS Reporting
With MDX Connect, Microsoft OLAP data is read directly into BUSINESS OBJECTS, where it is cached dynamically. With BUSINESSOBJECTS, users have access to all the powerful reporting features they expect: on-report analysis, wysiwyg, drag and drop, wizards, and a familiar Microsoft Office certified interface. Users can also perform advanced analysis such as local OLAP, “drill”, “slice and dice”, and data mining.
n Combine Microsoft OLAP data with other data sources and make better business decisions, using BusinessObjects MDX Connect.
Powerful Analysis MDX Connect brings the power of Microsoft Analysis Services to BUSINESSOBJECTS, providing best-in-class native access to the multidimensional cubes. Generating all the syntax needed to query the OLAP Server, MDX Connect makes it easy to answer users’ most sophisticated business questions. Multiple Hierarchies
MDX Connect supports Analysis Services’ ability to split a dimension into multiple hierarchies. This means that the time dimension, for example, can be looked at from a calendar and a fiscal perspective, allowing reports to be created that present these different views of the same dimension. By presenting a completely visual perspective of potentially complex multidimensional structures, this type of analysis is made easy with MDX Connect. Multi-Source Data Integration
Once a user is satisfied with the filters and calculations in the OLAP panel, MDX Connect brings only the data that is
n MDX Connect provides production reporting and analysis for Microsoft OLAP data.
requested into BUSINESSOBJECTS, where it can be combined with relational, spreadsheet, or personal file data. Data from many sources may be easily combined within one report. BUSINESSOBJECTS reports have the same form and analysis power regardless of the data source or sources. This means that business analysts can always present information in a fully formatted professional report – no matter where the data comes from. Dimension Manipulation
Users can view the dimensional outline of the cube either by member or by level within the OLAP panel. They can create “zero-maintenance” reports by using the family functionality (i.e. children, siblings, parents), filter their selection by members, levels, values or attributes, or create prompts for your report viewers. All this sophisticated functionality is available within the properties of each dimension, making analysis simple. n MDX Connect provides sophisticated analysis from an easy-to-use interface.
An Integrated Enterprise Solution MDX Connect provides the complete integrated enterprise solution for Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services by bringing the full range of reporting, scheduling, and automatic System Requirements
distribution features of BUSINESSOBJECTS to Microsoft OLAP users. This means that you can
486 PC or higher;
access, analyze, and share all of their enterprise data easily
12 MB RAM (16 MB recommended); 30 MB free hard disk; Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT, or 2000.
Web Report Publishing and Distribution
As the internet and extranets increase in importance for businesses worldwide, web interaction becomes critical for enterprise software applications. MDX Connect meets this need by web-enabling data from Analysis Services jointly with data from other sources. Using BUSINESSOBJECTS, reports including OLAP data may be published to the BI portal BUSINESSOBJECTS INFOVIEW®, where they can be viewed and refreshed. Distribution of Production Reports
Microsoft OLAP data can be read into BUSINESSOBJECTS just as easily as other data sources, to create attractive, drillable production reports. Business Objects BROADCAST AGENT™ can then schedule, run, and distribute the report in HTML or BUSINESSOBJECTS microcube format, to the shared document repository, extranet, or to the internet. One Solution for all Query, Reporting, and Analysis
No longer do business users have to learn many new tools in order to make sense of their n View and refresh MDX Connect reports over the web with OLAP server data using BUSINESSOBJECTS INFOVIEW.
corporate data. BUSINESSOBJECTS MDX Connect supports Microsoft’s powerful OLAP server, Analysis Services, while keeping users in the
Americas Tel: +1 800 527 0580
familiar BUSINESSOBJECTS environment.
Europe Tel: +33 1 41 25 21 21 Asia-Pacific Tel: +65 887 4228 World Wide Web www.businessobjects.com
The Business Objects product and technology are protected by US patent number #5,555,403. The Business Objects logo, BusinessMiner, BusinessQuery, and WebIntelligence are registered trademarks of Business Objects SA. The Business Objects tagline, Broadcast Agent, BusinessObjects, Personal Trainer, Rapid Deployment Templates, and Set Analyzer are trademarks of Business Objects SA. All other company, product, or brand names mentioned herein, indicated or otherwise, may be trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications subject to change without notice. Not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright © 2001 Business Objects. All rights reserved. PT# DS609
