How to: Process an Analysis Services Object

New: 17 July 2006

In Microsoft, SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SSAS) processing an object refers to the steps that turn data into information for business analysis. Processing applies to Analysis Services databases, cubes, measures groups, partitions, dimensions, mining models, and mining structures. Processing for each type of object is controlled by a set of processing options, such as full processing and incremental processing. The processing option can be set for each object as a property, or can be set at runtime. For more information about processing options, see Processing Options and Settings.

You can process Analysis Services objects by using the following tools:

  • Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio.
  • Analysis Services XMLA Query window in Management Studio.
  • Solution Explorer in Business Intelligence Development Studio. Before you can process an object that is contained within a project, you must first deploy the project. For more information, see Deploying Analysis Services Projects.

The following procedures describe the steps to fully process a dimension by using the methods listed earlier. If you prefer a programmatic approach, you can also use AMO to process Analysis Services objects. For more information, see Programming AMO OLAP Basic Objects.

To fully process a dimension by using Object Explorer

  1. Open Management Studio.

  2. Under Registered Servers, expand Analysis Services.

  3. Right-click the Analysis Services instance, click Connect, and then click Object Explorer.

  4. In the Object Explorer pane, expand the Analysis Services instance, expand Databases, and then expand the database that contains the dimension to be processed.

  5. Expand Dimensions.

  6. Right-click the dimension to be processed, and then click Process.

  7. In the Process Dimension dialog box, in the Process Options column under Object list, verify that the option for this column is Process Full. If it is not, under Process Options, click the option, and select Process Full from the drop-down list.

  8. Click OK.

To fully process a dimension by using Solution Explorer

  1. Open Business Intelligence Development Studio.

  2. Open a project that has been deployed.

  3. In Solution Explorer, under the deployed project, expand the Dimensions folder.

  4. Right-click a dimension, and then click Process.

  5. In the Process Dimension dialog box, in the Process Options column under Object list, verify that the option for this column is Process Full. If it is not, under Process Options, click the option, and select Process Full from the drop-down list.

  6. Click Run.

  7. When processing is finished, click Close.

To fully process a dimension by using the XMLA Query window

  1. Open Management Studio.

  2. Under Registered Servers, expand Analysis Services.

  3. Right-click the Analysis Services instance, click Connect, and then click Object Explorer.

  4. In the Object Explorer pane, expand the Analysis Services instance, expand Databases, and then expand the database that contains the dimension to be processed.

  5. Expand Dimensions.

  6. Right-click the dimension to be processed, and then click Process.

  7. In the Process Dimension dialog box, in the Process Options column under Object list, verify that the option for this column is Process Full. If it is not, under Process Options, click the option, and select Process Full from the drop-down list.

  8. Click Script on the Process Objects screen.

    This generates an XMLA script and opens an Analysis Services XMLA Query window.

  9. Click Cancel.

  10. From the menu bar, click Query, and then click Execute.

    Note

    The script can be saved and run as a scheduled job. For more information, see Scheduling Administrative Tasks Using SQL Server Agent.

See Also

Concepts

Processing in Analysis Services

Other Resources

Administering Analysis Services in Management Studio How-to Topics

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance