Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Clear Analysis Services cache

As you probably know, Analysis Services caches results of queries on a cube. Thus, if you're making a new query soon after the previous one, most probably you get the same results even you have new data in the underlying relational database. In most cases, it makes Analysis Services performance better. However, sometimes you need to get up=to-date results from a cube instantly. The simplest way I know is:
Open SQL Server Management studio and connect to an Analysis Services instance.
1) Select a database that contains a cube you want to be updated.
2) Run a new XMLA query query.

3) Insert content below.
<Batch xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine">
<ClearCache>
<Object>
<<DatabaseID&gtAdventure Works DW 2008R2 SE</DatabaseID>
<CubeID>Adventure Works DW</CubeID>
</Object>
</ClearCache>
</Batch>

4) replace a database ID with database name that you selected

5) copy a cube's ID from the cube's properties and update CubeID parameter.

6) Run a query and ensure that no errors have been returned

The query works for SQL Server 2008 (might be working for other version but I didn't check it yet)

Friday, March 19, 2010

Showing Analysis Services data with SharePoint 2010

My current task now is to make Excel Chart running on SharePoint 2010. That task is relatively simple when you have a standalone VM. However, it turned out that that causes issues when the configuration is distributed and the SharePoint is a part or a domain (which is the common case, actually)
The most complete description on how to make it working is available at
Weblog Ton Stegeman [MVP]

How to rename SQL Server instance

A quick an nice way to restore SQL work after renaming a computer
How to rename SQL Server instance

Saturday, March 13, 2010

An Introduction to Windows PowerShell and IIS 7.0

The following link may be interesting for people who is interested in manageing IIS through powershell scripts
An Introduction to Windows PowerShell and IIS 7.0.