Choosing the correct project
Now that the IDE has started, you can start getting accustomed to it. Just as in Visual Studio, SQL Server Data Tools works with solutions and projects. A project is a group of source code files that are deployed together to the target. A solution is a group of projects that you want to handle together.
Depending on what you are developing you are working with different kinds of projects. In the tool you have several project templates with different targets, there are Reporting Services and Integration Services project templates used when developing ETL packages and reports. Then there is an Analysis Services section containing the different project templates that you can use.
There are two different project types for the multidimensional model: one where you create a model from scratch, and one that imports a cube and dimensions from an existing Analysis Services server. The Import from Server (Multidimensional and Data Mining) project type can be used if you have lost your source files to your project, but you have deployed it to the server.
Tip
Handling source files is very important as in all development projects. The files created in a multidimensional project are really XML and XMLA representations of all the objects.
It is good practice to use a central source-code repository when creating Analysis Services cubes; one example of a source-code repository is Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012.
Hands-on steps for creating your first cube project
Create a new project to start the development of the first cube in the following manner:
- Go to File menu and click on New, and then click on Project.
- Navigate to the Business Intelligence templates and Analysis Services.
- Click on the Analysis Services Multidimensional and Data Mining Project project type.
- Specify that the project name is called
FirstCubeand click on OK to create the new project.
Now it is time to learn a bit about the IDE and how it works.