Behavior Changes to Analysis Services Features in SQL Server 2008

This topic describes behavior changes in Analysis Services. Behavior changes affect how features work or interact in SQL Server 2008 as compared to earlier versions of SQL Server.

Behavior Changes

Feature

SQL Server 2000 Behavior

SQL Server Behavior

Browsing

Supports hidden or disabled levels in hierarchies.

Hidden or disabled levels are migrated as visible and enabled levels. Calculations that involve hierarchies that contain such levels might return unexpected results.

Dimension

Supports the option to not include data members in parent-child dimensions.

Data members always exist in parent-child dimensions; data members can no longer be excluded from parent-child dimensions.

Multidimensional Expressions (MDX)

Function: CreateVirtualDimension

Expression will return Error.

MDX

Function: CreatePropertySet

Expression will return Error.

MDX

Statement: With Cache

Accepted syntax, but does nothing.

MDX

Statement: Create Cache

Accepted syntax, but does nothing.

MDX

Calculation precedence rules.

Calculation precedence rules have changed from previous versions of Analysis Services.

See Understanding Pass Order and Solve Order (MDX) and Performance Improvements for MDX in SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services.

Security

Supports the option to specify dimension security so that a user can view a top level that is different from the top level of the hierarchy.

Top Level for dimension security is not supported. Members that are secured by using the Top Level setting will be visible after migration.

Other

AutoCommit and AutoRollback in update.

Tries to commit a non-existing transaction fail. In SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services, the Update statement created its own transaction. In SQL Server Analysis Services, it does not.