Tag: Guide

Hiding Unrelated Dimensions in a BI Tool!

Posted on May 29, 2013 by - Blog, General, Targit

A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Hide Unrelated Dimensions in a BI Tool.

Hiding Dimensions Title Page 2

The main power of OLAP viewers (Business Intelligence Tools) is the ability for employees to do Ad Hoc reporting and analysis.  If one simply chooses the measures and dimensions they want to look at, the tool will return the data they are requesting from the Cube.  This is great reporting information at the employee’s finger tips, as long as the dimensions they request are related….

If the dimensions requested are unrelated, it’s often difficult for employees analyzing the data to identify they did not find a result.  The average business user may be busy, and the lack of relationship may go undetected if related and unrelated dimensions are used in the same table.  This causes frustration, and quite frankly lack of trust in the data, from employees.

To learn how to overcome these frustrations in 5 easy steps click below:

Business Impact’s Easy Step-by-Step Guide: How To Hide Unrelated Dimensions in Your Business Intelligence Tool.

 

Install Northwind database in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 in 3 easy steps

Posted on January 25, 2013 by - Blog, General

This guide will show how to install northwind database in only  3 easy steps.

Having trouble attaching northwind  database to your  SQL Server 2012? Well you are not alone! Northwind is the name of the sample database for SQL Server 2000, that later got replaced with the AdventureWorks sample database in SQL Server 2005. However, it is still used in e.g. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Database Development Training Kit so may still be relevant for users trying to learn SQL essentials.

The problem is that the original database file is not compatible with the newest version of SQL Server and causes difficulty for new users. We don’t believe the first lesson of SQL training should be jumping through hoops to get the sample data working, so here is the “fixed” database file and a guide to install it.

Good luck!

You can download the database here (zipped) and I would recommend you extract it to your SQL Server DATA folder as e.g.: “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA”.

Step 1:

Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your instance. Right-click the “Databases” folder and click “Attach”.

Northwind Install step 1

Step 2:

Click “Add…”  in the “Databases to attach:” box and find NORTHWIND.MDF in your folder. Make sure to click on the file and check that the “Database Data File Location:” is accurate.  Click OK.

Northwind Install step 2-1

 

Northwind Install step 2-2

 

Step 3:

Notice that it includes a “NORTHWIND_log.ldf” which actually doesn’t exist. So we want to click on that and remove it. Don’t worry! A new log file will automatically get created in the right location once you have attached the datbase.  Also, verify that “NORTHWIND.MDF” has the right “Current File Path”. Click OK and check the “Databases” folder in SQL Server Management Studio for the “northwind” database.

Northwind Install step 3-1

Northwind Install step 3-2

That’s it! You should now have full access to the Northwind Sample Database in a SQL Server 2012 environment.