What is MDX ?
SQL is used for relational queries, while MDX is used for multidimensional queries.
Comparing MDX to SQL
From
SQL Select from Table
MDX Select from Cube
Dimensionality
SQL Returns one or more columns and 0 or more rows
MDX can returns data for 0,1,2,3 or more axes
Where
SQL has a filter
MDX has a Slicer
Key Terms
Definitions you need to know
Dimensions
Measures and Facts
Axis
Members
Cells
Hierarchies
Aggregations
Levels
Tuples
Sets
With Clause
Basics of MDX
MDX Punctuation
() for tuples
{} for Sets
[] for names of cubes, dimensions, hierarchies, levels and Members
Use commas all over the place
Use : to define range particularly Time
In a Cube
Dimensions have hierarchies
Hierarchies have levels
Levels have members
In a CellSet
Each axis contains a Set
Each Set contains of a group of members or a group of tuples
Tuples have members from different hierarchies
Examples:
Find Default Measure
Hello World MDX
Dimension data on Columns More Than One
Total Column
More Than One Dimension Data on Rows
A Total Row
Hiding Nulls
Displaying a Different Measure
Hiding Nulls Again
Dimensions
Single Hierarchy Dimension
Multiple-Hierarchy Dimension
Explicitly Requesting the All Level Member
Introducing .Members
Putting Two Levels Together
Use Hierarchies