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Analysis Services Data Access Interfaces (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data)

Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services supports several technologies that can be used to access data and metadata stored on an instance of Analysis Services. Using the Analysis Services data access technologies, you can do the following:

  • Retrieve Schema Rowsets
    Schema rowsets are one way in which client applications can examine metadata stored on, and retrieve support and monitoring information from, an Analysis Services instance. You can retrieve OLE DB, OLE DB for Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), OLE DB for Data Mining, or XML for Analysis (XMLA) schema rowsets.

    To retrieve schema rowsets:

  • Retrieve Data and Metadata
    You can retrieve data and metadata, in either tabular or multidimensional formats, from cubes and mining models.

    To retrieve data and metadata:

    • You can use ADOMD.NET in a managed client application to retrieve Analysis Services information using common Microsoft .NET Framework data access interfaces. For more information, see ADOMD.NET.

    • You can use the Analysis Services 9.0 OLE DB provider in unmanaged client applications to support OLE DB access. For more information, see Analysis Services OLE DB Provider (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data).

    • You can use ASSL to retrieve data directly from an Analysis Services instance in an XML-based format. For more information, see ASSL.

  • Manipulate Analysis Services Objects
    You can manipulate Analysis Services objects, such as databases, cubes, dimensions, and mining structures, using Multidimensional Expressions (MDX), Data Mining Extensions (DMX), or XMLA commands.

    To manipulate Analysis Services objects:

    • You can use ADOMD.NET in a managed client application to send commands using common .NET Framework data access interfaces. For more information, see ADOMD.NET.

    • You can use the Analysis Services 9.0 OLE DB provider in unmanaged client applications to send commands using OLE DB access. For more information, see Analysis Services OLE DB Provider (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data).

    • You can use ASSL to send commands directly to an Analysis Services instance. For more information, see ASSL.

In This Section

Topic

Description

Schema Rowsets

Describes the OLE DB, OLE DB for OLAP, OLE DB for Data Mining, and XMLA schema rowsets supported by Analysis Services.

ASSL

Describes ASSL the extended version of XMLA protocol, used to communicate with an Analysis Services instance.

ASSL takes advantage of SOAP to provide direct access to Analysis Services through a XMLA based open standard for multidimensional data access.

Analysis Services OLE DB Provider (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data)

Describes the native OLE DB provider for Analysis Services.

ADOMD.NET

Describes ADOMD.NET, the set of namespaces in the .NET Framework that provide access to data and metadata on an Analysis Services instance.

Note

This section describes the following APIs: Microsoft.AnalysisServices.AdomdClient.dll, msmgdsrv.dll, and msolap100.dll. Only these APIs are supported by Microsoft for accessing Analysis Services data.

Microsoft .NET Framework Support

Starting with SQL Server, Analysis Services fully supports the Microsoft .NET Framework. Support of the .NET Framework lets developers access Analysis Services data and metadata using a choice of .NET-compliant languages or by using native code. The Microsoft .NET Framework SDK includes the Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft C# compilers, as well as related tools.

To create applications that use Analysis Services, developers can use Microsoft Visual Studio .NET—an integrated design environment (IDE) that offers developers many tools and features that simplify and accelerate the iterative cycles of coding, debugging, and testing, and deployment. However, developers do not have to use Visual Studio .NET to compile and build managed applications for Analysis Services. Developers can use any code or text editor that is compatible with the .NET Framework.

Important

By default, the .NET Framework is installed with SQL Server, but the .NET Framework SDK is not. Without the SDK installed on your computer and included in the Books Online collection, links to SDK content in this section will not work. Install the .NET Framework SDK. After you install the SDK, add the SDK to the Books Online collection and table of contents by following the instructions in SQL Server Combined Help Collection Manager.