Define Linked Dimensions

Article
03/08/2017

A linked dimension is based on a dimension created and stored in another Analysis Services database of the same version and compatibility level. By using a linked dimension, you can create, store, and maintain a dimension on one database, while making it available to users of multiple databases. To users, a linked dimension appears like any other dimension.

Linked dimensions are read-only. If you want to modify the dimension or create new relationships, you must change the source dimension, then delete and recreate the linked dimension and its relationships. You cannot refresh a linked dimension to pick up changes from the source object.

All related measure groups and dimensions must come from the same source database. You cannot create new relationships between local measure groups and the linked dimensions you add to your cube. After linked dimensions and measure groups have been added to the current cube, the relationships between them must be maintained in their source database.

Note

Because refresh is not available, most Analysis Services developers copy dimensions rather than link them. You can copy dimensions across projects within the same solution. For more information, see Refresh of a linked dimension in SSAS.

Prerequisites

The source database that provides the dimension and the current database that uses it must be at the same version and compatibility level. For more information, see Set the Compatibility Level of a Multidimensional Database (Analysis Services).

The source database must be deployed and online. Servers that publish or consume linked objects must be configured to allow the operation (see below).

The dimension you want to use cannot itself be a linked dimension.

Configure server to allow linked objects

In SQL Server Management Studio, connect to an Analysis Services server. In Object Explorer, right-click the server name and select Facets.
Set LinkedObjectsLinksFromOtherInstancesEnabled to True to allow the server to issue requests for linked objects that reside in databases running on other instances.
Set LinkedObjectsLinksToOtherInstances to True to allow the server to request data for linked on databases running on other instances.

Create a linked dimension in SQL Server Data Tools

Start the wizard. In SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), right-click the Dimensions folder in an Analysis Services database or project, and then click New Linked Dimension.
Connect to the Analysis Services database that provides the dimension. On the Select a Data Source page of the Linked Object Wizard, choose the Analysis Services data source or create a new one.
On the Select Objects page of the wizard, choose the dimensions you want to link to in the remote database.
On the Completing the Wizard page, you can preview the linked objects. If you link a dimension that has the same name as one that already exists, an ordinal number (starting with '1' for the first duplicated name) is appended to the name. When you complete the wizard, the dimension is added to the Dimensions folder.

Create a New Data Source Connection to an Analysis Services Database

Use the New Data Source wizard to add to your project connection information about the Analysis Services database that provides the dimension. You can start the wizard by clicking New Data Source in the Select a Data Source page of the Linked Objects wizard.

In the Data Source Wizard, on the Select how to define the connection page, click New.
In Connection Manager, verify that the provider is set to Native OLE DB\Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Analysis Services 11.0.
Enter the name of the server (use servername\instancename for a named instance)¹ or type localhost to connect to an Analysis Services server that is running on the same computer.
Use Windows authentication for the connection.
In Initial catalog, click the down arrow to select a database on this server.
On the Data Source Wizard, click Next to continue.
On the Impersonation Information page, click Use the service account. Click Next, and then finish the wizard. The connection you just defined will be selected in the Linked Objects Wizard.

Next Steps

You cannot change the structure of a linked dimension, so you cannot view it with the Dimension Structure tab of Dimension Designer. After processing the linked dimension, you can view it with the Browser tab. You can also change its name and create a translation for the name.

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