Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - What's New: Analytics for Developers

This topic describes the changes to the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) framework in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

Analytics

Microsoft Dynamics AX provides a model driven approach for developing Business Intelligence (BI) applications that use the SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) development environment. Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services provides OLAP functionality.

• What is New or Changed?

You can use Microsoft Dynamics AX views to model data in perspectives.

The Analysis Services project wizard is introduced to make it easier to create, update, configure, and deploy Analysis Services projects. The wizard performs many of the tasks that you would otherwise need to perform manually in BIDS.

You can create Gregorian calendars to use as date dimensions in your Analysis Services project.

• Microsoft Dynamics AX View Support in Perspectives

What can you do?:
    Model data in perspectives.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Use tables to model data in perspectives. Use custom query definitions to perform the following tasks:

1. Join tables with complex join conditions.
2. Reduce the scope of tables.
3. Create measures or dimension attributes using calculated fields.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Use tables and views to model data in perspectives.

Why is this important?:
    Modeling data using views and tables makes it easier to customize cubes.

• Analysis Services Project Wizard

What can you do?:
    Deploy default cubes.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Initially deploy the default cubes by using the Setup wizard.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Use the Analysis Services project wizard to deploy an existing Analysis Services project. Choose the default cubes from the AOT.

Why is this important?:
    It is easier to deploy the default cubes.

  
What can you do?:
    Configure an Analysis Services project after you change the Microsoft Dynamics AX configuration.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Manually update your Analysis Services project in BIDS to remove measures, dimensions, and KPIs that you do not have access to according to the license and configuration keys in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Use the Analysis Services project wizard to remove measures, dimensions, and KPIs that you do not have access to according to the license and configuration keys in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Why is this important?:
    It is easier to update Analysis Services projects after you change the Microsoft Dynamics AX configuration.


What can you do?:
    Update an existing Analysis Services project.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Use the Update a Business Intelligence project form.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Use the Analysis Services project wizard to update an Analysis Services project to do the following:

1. Add or remove dimensions.
2. Add, remove, or update calendars to use as Date dimensions.
3. Add or remove label translations.
4. Add or remove currency conversion.

Why is this important?:
    It is easier to update an existing Analysis Services project.


What can you do?:
    Create a new Analysis Services project.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Use the Update a Business Intelligence project form.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Use the Analysis Services project wizard to create an Analysis Services project.

Why is this important?:
    It is easier to create a new Analysis Services project.

• Date Dimensions using Gregorian Calendars

What can you do?:
    Add date dimensions to cubes.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009:
    Date dimensions are not available in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. Use a system time dimension instead.
 
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:
    Define Gregorian calendars in the Date dimensions form in Microsoft Dynamics AX that you can use as Date dimensions in your Analysis Services project.

Why is this important?:
    The limitations of using the server time dimension in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 are as follows:

1. By default, only one Gregorian calendar can be included in the Analysis Services project.
2. Date attributes cannot be translated to Microsoft Dynamics AX languages.
3. You can only use attributes from SQL Server Analysis Services.
4. Null dates (1/1/1900) are not available.

My above blog is based on Microsoft's Official information.
 

I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 - What's New: Analytics for Developers' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.