Database Representation(Tabular)

In tabular mode the concept of database is similar to those concepts in relational engine and multidimensional models; the database is the container of all objects in the tabular model.

Database Representation

The database is the place where all objects that form a tabular model reside. Contained by the database the developer finds objects like connections, tables, roles and many more.

Database in AMO

When using AMO to manage a Tabular Model database, the Database object in AMO matches one-to-one the database logical object in a tabular model.

Database in ADOMD.Net

When using ADOMD to consult and query a Tabular Model database, the sense of using or being connected to a specific database is obtained through the AdomdConnection object.

You can connect directly to a certain database using the following code snipped:

using ADOMD = Microsoft.AnalysisServices.AdomdClient;
…
   ADOMD.AdomdConnection currrentCnx = new ADOMD.AdomdConnection("Data Source=<<server\instance>>;Catalog=<<database>>");
   currrentCnx.Open();
…

Also, over an existing connection object (that hasn't been closed) you can change the current database to another of your choice as shown in the following code snippet:

   currentCnx.ChangeDatabase("myOtherDatabase");

Database in AMO

When using AMO to manage a database object you start first with a Server object and from there you search for your database in the databases collection or create a new database by adding one to the collection.

The following code snippet shows the steps to connect to a server and how to create an empty database, after checking the database doesn’t exist:

AMO.Server CurrentServer = new AMO.Server();
try
{
    CurrentServer.Connect(currentServerName);
}
catch (Exception cnxException)
{
    MessageBox.Show(string.Format("Error while trying to connect to server: [{0}]\nError message: {1}", currentServerName, cnxException.Message), "AMO to Tabular message", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
    return;
}
newDatabaseName = DatabaseName.Text;
if (CurrentServer.Databases.Contains(newDatabaseName))
{
    return;
}
try
{
    AMO.Database newDatabase = CurrentServer.Databases.Add(newDatabaseName);
    
    CurrentServer.Update();
}
catch (Exception createDBxc)
{
    MessageBox.Show(String.Format("Database [{0}] couldn't be created.\n{1}", newDatabaseName, createDBxc.Message), "AMO to Tabular message", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
    newDatabaseAvailable = false;
}

Also, if you want to have a practical understanding on how to use AMO to create and manipulate database representations see the source code of the AMO2Tabular sample; specifically check in the following source file: Database.cs. The sample is available at Codeplex. An important note about the code: the code is provided only as a support to the logical concepts explained here and should not be used in a production environment; nor should it be used for other purpose other than the pedagogical one.