Create a report by using the Excel data connection wizard to connect to a cube

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

The following procedure explains how to use Microsoft Excel to create a custom report that uses a Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services cube as a data source.

  1. Open Excel.

  2. Click the Data tab.

  3. Click From Other Sources > From Analysis Services. The Data Connection Wizard is displayed.

  4. On the Connect to Database Server page, enter the name of the server that is running Analysis Services and then enter credentials to access that server. Click Next.

  5. On the Select Database and Table page, follow these steps:

    1. Select the Analysis Services database that contains the cubes. By default, the database name is Dynamics AX of Dynamics AX initial.

    2. Select the cube that contains the data to include on the report.

    3. Click Next.

  6. On the Save Data Connection File and Finish page, follow these steps:

    1. In the File Name field, enter a name for the data connection file that is created. This file can be used to connect to the cube in the future.

    2. Click Browse to specify where to save the data connection file.

    3. In the Description field, enter a description to help identify the type of data that this file connects to.

    4. In the Friendly Name field, enter a user-friendly name for the data connection file.

    5. Click Finish to close this wizard.

  7. The Import Data dialog box is displayed. Select whether you want to view the cube data in a PivotTable report, or in a PivotChart and PivotTable report. For more information about these options, see the Excel Help. Click OK.

  8. To add fields to the report, select the fields in the PivotTable Field List pane.

    For more information about how to create PivotTable and PivotChart reports, see the Excel documentation. To see an example of this procedure that uses the Microsoft Dynamics AX General ledger cube, see Walkthrough: Analyzing Cube Data in Excel.