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Running the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard

When you use the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard to deploy a Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services project, you can run the wizard in the following ways:

  • Interactively   When run interactively, the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard generates an XML deployment script based on the input files, as modified interactively by user input. The wizard applies any user modifications only to the deployment script. The wizard does not modify the input files. For more information about the input files, see Understanding the Input Files Used to Create the Deployment Script.

  • **From the command prompt   **When run at the command prompt, the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard generates an XML for Analysis (XMLA) deployment script based upon the switches that you use to run the wizard. The wizard may any one of the following: prompt you for user input and modify input files based on that input; run a silent, unattended deployment using the input files as is; or create a deployment script that you can use later.

Running the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard Interactively

When you run interactively, the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard reads the values from the input files and presents this information to you. You can modify these input values—such as deployment destination, configuration settings, deployment options, and connection string passwords—or leave them as is. If you change any input values, the wizard uses these changes when generating the XMLA deployment script. However, the wizard does not make any changes to the values in the input file.

Note

If you want to have the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard modify the input values, run the wizard at the command prompt and set the wizard to run in answer file mode.

After you review the input values and make any wanted changes, the wizard generates the XMLA deployment script. You can run this deployment script immediately on the destination server or save the script for later use.

To run the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard interactively

  • Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server, point to Analysis Services, and then click Deployment Wizard.

    —or—

  • In the Projects folder of the Analysis Services project, double-click the <project name>.asdatabase file.

    Note

    If you cannot find the <project name>.asdatabase file, try using Search and specify *.asdatabase.

Running the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard at the Command Prompt

The Analysis Services Deployment Wizard can also be run at the command prompt. When you run the wizard at the command prompt, you provide the full path to the .asdatabase file and run the wizard in one of the following modes:

  • Answer file mode
    In answer file mode, the wizard lets you interactively modify the input files that were originally generated when the Analysis Services project was built in Business Intelligence Development Studio. The wizard saves these modified input files before generating the XMLA deployment script. The modified input files become the new starting point the next time that the wizard is run.

    To run the wizard in answer file mode, use the /a switch.

  • Silent mode
    In silent mode, the wizard runs a silent, unattended deployment based on the information resident in the input files.

    To run the wizard in silent mode, use the /s switch. When you run the wizard in silent mode, messages are output to the console or to a log file if one is provided.

  • Output mode
    In output mode, the wizard generates an XMLA deployment script for later execution based on the input files.

    To run the wizard in output mode, use the /o switch and provide an output file name.

For more information about these command line switches, see Deployment Utility (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data).

The following procedure describes how to run the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard at the command prompt.

To run the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard at the command prompt

  1. Open a command prompt and navigate to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE folder.

  2. Type Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Deployment.exe followed by the switches that correspond to the mode in which you want to run the wizard.