Cube Write-Back

Hi, there,

I have been told that cube writeback only affect the data on the cube rather than the underlying relational table. One of the requirement is to allow users to do what-if analysis/simulation on the cube. If the writeback only affect cube data, what if I re-process the cube?

FYI, we are using SQL Server 2005 Enterprise here.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Yong Hwee

Writeback is implemented as ROLAP partition. Analysis Services creates a table in relational database where it stores writeback data.

Writeback is data will not dissapear.
You can fully reprocess you cube (assuming you didnt change data in relational database) and you will see AS data same as before re-processing.

Edward.
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Hi, Edward,

Thanks for your immediate reply. I think we will need to implement such feature in our cube. However, if we are going to query the relational table directly rather than go thru the cube we may not get the expected simulated/writeback figure. As the writeback figure is stored in another table.

Thank you.

Regards,

Yong Hwee

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You dont need to worry about querying or creating relational table. You will only query and connect to Analysis Server. It will internally create and manage the writeback table. As a user you dont need to worry about the mechanism Analysis Server is using to store writeback data.

All you need to know. The writeback is avaliable and it is persisted. You can re-process your cube without concern of loosing data.

Edward.
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

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Hi, Edward,

Thanks for your reply. That's true, I agreed with you, I should not have worried about how SSAS deals with the write-back data.

One more thing, I have been browsing the web to look for information on using the Cube Analysis add-in provided by Microsoft. I only managed to find the manual by Microsoft. Information on using the What-If Analysis of Cube Analysis has been limited. No example shown. Hope you can shed some light on this.

Thank you.

Yong Hwee

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I am sorry but I can't be much help to you with information on the add-in.

Try posting your question on microsoft.public.excel newsgroup.

Hope that helps.

Edward.
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.