Mastering MDX Course Outline


The course is delivered in hands-on format, either onsite or in public classroom. Labs based on realistic scenarios occur throughout. Students should be familiar with Analysis Services concepts, but are not required to be familiar with MDX.

1. Overview

  • MDX Foundations
  • Usage contexts
  • New capabilities in AS2005
  • Similarities to spreadsheet formulas


2. Syntax Fundamentals

  • Referencing members
  • Understanding Tuples
  • Understanding Sets 


3. MDX SELECT Statements

  • Why the skill is essential
  • Basic Structure
  • WITH Member/Set constructs


4. Family Functions

  • Dimensions, Hierarchies & Levels
  • Children() and Members() functions
  • Descendants() function


5. Filtering and Ordering Sets

  • Order() and Filter() functions
  • Top/Bottom Count 


6. Numeric Functions

  • Sum() and Aggregate() functions
  • Calculating averages
  • Ranking


7. Intermediate Skills

  • Conditional calculation using IF()
  • Testing for null values
  • Understanding autoexistence


8. Date/Time Handling

  • Set Functions
  • This period versus same period last YR
  • Last N periods
  • Running average
  • Trending


9. Creating Key Performance Indicators

  • Benefits
  • Creating KPIs
  • Querying KPIs


10. Scripting

  • Overview of development interface
  • Understanding subcubes
  • Declaring SCOPE and assigning cell values


11. Other MDX Contexts

  •  Custom member (versus calculated member)
  •  Custom level
  •  Actions
  •  Security

Contact us here to arrange for a delivery at your location.

If you wish to attend a public course, we are pleased to work with SQLSoft+.