Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) is
a powerful syntax that enables you to query multidimensional objects
and provide commands that retrieve and manipulate multidimensional
data from those objects. MDX is designed to ease the process of accessing
data from multiple dimensions. It addresses the conceptual differences
between two-dimensional and multidimensional querying. MDX provides
functionality for creating and querying multidimensional structures
called
cubes with a full and complete language
of its own.
MDX is similar to the
Structured Query Language (SQL), and MDX provides
Data
Definition Language (DDL) syntax for managing data structures.
However, its features can be more complex and robust than SQL's
features. The SAS 9.2 OLAP Server technology uses MDX to create
OLAP cubes and data queries. MDX is part of the underlying foundation
for the SAS 9.2 OLAP Server architecture, and it offers detailed and
efficient searches of multidimensional data.
With MDX, specific portions
of data from a cube can be extracted and then further manipulated
for analysis. This allows for a thorough and flexible examination
of SAS OLAP cube data. Users of MDX can take advantage of such features
as calculated measures, numeric operations, and axis and slicer dimensions.