Analysis Services Tools Overview

Analysis Services tools in SQL Server 2005 introduced a new way to work with the data and data mining objects. In Analysis Services in SQL Server 2000, the first step a user had to take to design or manage a server was to physically connect to an Analysis Services server. In SQL Server 2005, the database professional or analyst has two choices: You can either work live against a physical server (also called Immediate mode) or work in Project mode. Also, you have the choice of two tools, depending on the task you must accomplish: BI Development Studio or SQL Server Management Studio.

A detailed description of the BI Development Studio as well as SQL Server Management Studio is available in Chapter 13. In the BI Development Studio the database professional or analyst will be able to work with the Data Mining Model Designer and wizards.

The Data Mining Model Designer is one of the richest designers. It hosts over ten data browsers. Rich visualization is critical to analyzing the findings of the mining model algorithm. Although the Designer only has five main tabs, you will soon notice that the Mining Model Viewer tab contains its own set of sub-tabs. The list of sub-tabs is dependent on the mining model algorithm selected.

SQL Server Management Studio is the environment to use for the following types of tasks:

• Migrate a database

• Back up or restore a database

• Train a mining structure

• Browse a mining model

• Script any management task

• Run a Data Mining query (DMX) against the live database

• Change a server property

Now that you understand some fundamentals about the toolset, let's look at how it can be used to answer questions and address problems in common business scenarios.