Thursday, July 12, 2012

SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services OLAP Cube Browser Changes


The SQL Server 2012 Analytical Services Cube Browser in the Visual Studio Business Intelligence Environment and SQL Services 2012 Management Studio has been depreciated to no longer include Pivot Table functionality.   

However, contrary to reports that the Cube Browser has been eliminated, the Cube Browser is still there and can be used with regard to checking all Cube Hierarchy Build work and launching from a menu row above the integrated Excel Module with Pivot Table Options.

When you need actual Pivot Table Functionality you just click on the Excel Icon just to the right of the Language Drop Down box in the Cube Browser and use the Excel Pivot Tools to handle the task.   
The Excel plug-in automatically puts Excel in Pivot Table Mode and enables a variety of options within the Visual Studio BI Environment such as within Cube Browser Charting that were not available as a direct bolt-on in SQL Server Enterprise 2008 and earlier versions.