Book Review: MDX with SSAS 2012 Cookbook

A couple of years back I reviewed a new book on the market related to MDX and Analysis Services, Book Review: MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook, and the book has now been updated to 2012.  The book was written by Microsoft SQL Server MVP Tomislav Piasevoli and Sherry Li. The cookbook style of book is an outstanding reference book.  The book is full of solutions that tell you “how to do it”, “how it works”, and wait, “there’s more” (great value add and insights).

The book has been updated for the 2012 edition of SSAS and the examples have also been updated against the 2012 version of Adventure Works database.  The other difference from the 2008 R2 release of the book is that some of content has been broken up into a a couple of new chapters.

• Chapter 1: Elementary MDX Techniques
• Chapter 2: Working with Sets
• Chapter 3: Working with Time
• Chapter 4: Concise Reporting
• Chapter 5: Navigation
• Chapter 6: Business Analytics
• Chapter 7: When MDX is Not Enough
• Chapter 8: Advanced MDX Topics
• Chapter 9: On the Edge

Book link – MDX with SSAS 2012 Cookbook. Amazon reviews link – Amazon Customer Reviews.

I would definitely rate this a must have for anyone doing multidimensional SSAS development and give it 5 out of 5 stars – .

Book Review: MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook

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A couple of weeks back I mentioned a new book on the market related to MDX and Analysis Services and that I had received a copy to review.  The book is MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook written by Microsoft SQL Server MVP Tomislav Piasevoli.

This is by no means an introduction (101) book to MDX, but it is an MDX reference book that anyone using Analysis Services should have on their desk (or device – available in eBook version as well).  I have not read a cookbook technical style of book before and I simply couldn’t put it down.  I really enjoyed the style of here is a situation, here’s how you do it, and now let’s see how this actually works.  But the author doesn’t just stop there, nope, but what there’s more information about the recipe and then provides additional reference links to checkout or other spots in the book to look at as well.  After I got done reading one recipe I continued on to the next one because I was interested in reading the solution and finding out more and seeing how it compared to how I would approach the situation.

I found the book very easy to read and the information is extremely valuable for anyone working with Analysis Services and trying to solve solutions using MDX. This is a must have book for any SSAS professional, if you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself and you will definitely agree, just like others already have like Derek Goodridge (@WorkerThread) and Jason Thomas (@de_unparagoned).

Book link – MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook.

I would definitely rate this a must have and give it 5 out of 5 stars – .

New Book: MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook

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Just a couple of weeks ago I tweeted about a new book that came out in regards to MDX and Analysis Services:

Book –> MDX with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analysis Services Cookbook

Well just this week I received my very own eBook version for review from the publisher and I have already started diving into it to check it out.  This is a cookbook style of book that goes over different scenarios and/or issues and then provides the solution, explains the solution, and then provides even more information in regards to the item.  Very slick and I love the format.  Not only is Microsoft SQL Server MVP Tomislav Piasevoli a pro when it comes to this content, but he also got an all star MVP lineup to review and edit the book including Greg Galloway, Darren Gosbell, Deepak Puri, Marco Russo, and Chris Webb.

I plan on providing a full review on the book in a couple of weeks, but just wanted to put another shout out in regards to the book in case you haven’t heard about it yet and are looking for a technical reference cookbook in regards to MDX.  Stay tuned for my complete review.