SQL Server is a Microsoft product used for data analysis and business intelligence applications. The program offers applications that can be used to analyze corporate data stored in databases. The analysis process can include designing and manipulating data cubes. A data cube is a multidimensional database that is comprised of a set of dimensions and measures.
SQL Server Data Cubes
To understand data cubes we must first take a look at databases. A database is what contains all the data used for data sources, cubes and dimensions. A database is the source of data when constructing a data cube or source. The term “data source” is often used to describe the source data. When dealing with SQL Server, the “data source” is what is used to establish connections with the source data.
Dimensions are part of the main structure behind a data cube. A dimension is any factor that can be grouped, recorded and catalogued. Dimensions are organized in hierarchal categories known as levels. For example, a company that sells shoes and shirts can create a shoe dimension in a data cube. Under the cube dimension each brand of shoe, i.e. Nike and Reebok will be a level under the shoe dimension. The dimension can be broken down even further to indicate the various models of shoes Nike and Reebok make.
Data cubes can be used for a variety of applications. The multidimensional aspect of each cube allows for an end user to manipulate data to identify trends. A data cube that analyzes sales can be used to direct a product to store locations that sell a high number of that product. Cubes can also be used to measure employee productivity or to analyze marketing campaigns.
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