What are the different tools that are available for viewing data from a cube
and an MDX query? Aside from the default view in the Analysis Services
Manager, and the Analysis Services thin web client, what are some other
options? Just curious to know what other people do and how well it works.
Thanks - Bill Jones

You can use "Proclarity". This has web version also.

-SQLVarad(MCDBA-1999,MCSE-1999)

"Bill Jones" <wjones (AT) actcci (DOT) com> wrote

This question seems to be asked every week, so you might want to try Google
for all the answers that have been posted. Here's a repeat of a post that I
made a week ago:

There's plenty to choose from. The default option is to use PivotTables in
Excel (preferably the 2002 or 2003 versions) and the related Office Web
Components. Assuming you already have a modern version of Excel, this costs
nothing, but the capabilities are limited.

There are also a number of more functional, better performing third party
products, including ProClarity, Panorama NovaView, Temtec Executive Viewer,
MIS DecisionWare, Business Objects Enterprise (WebIntelligence), Crystal
Analysis Professional, etc. These are all available in both Windows and Web
versions.

You can also buy full function third party Excel add-ins that do much more
than PivotTables: IntelligentApps, Visual OLAP, BusinessQuery MD, XLCubed,
MIS Plain and BIXL. The OLAP Survey 3 has found that the full function Excel
add-ins seem to deliver the most customer success of all. ProClarity and
NovaView also offer good Excel reporting add-ins.

Finally, there are pre-built applications, such as those from Outlooksoft,
Geac (previously Comshare), CIP, etc. If you need a specialized planning and
financial reporting tool, these are a much better bet than trying to build
your own app using Analysis Services.

Nigel Pendse
http://www.olapreport.com

Bill

Another option is through O2OLAP for Excel. User comments and experienced
Analysis Services developer comments can be found on our web site
www.o2olap.com.

Howard.Taylor@ domain below
www.o2olap.com



"Bill Jones" <wjones (AT) actcci (DOT) com> wrote

Also worth checking out Microsoft's own Reporting
Services - currently only in Beta - but due to be RTM long
before Yukon. Click here:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/evaluat...ominations.asp

Thanks for all of the answers. I have already signed up to be a beta tester
for the MS SQL Server Reporting Services but was unaware that this utilty
would work with OLAP (I haven't received anything from Microsoft yet).
Excellent!


"Bill Jones" <wjones (AT) actcci (DOT) com> wrote