How to: Batch Process Analysis Services Objects
In Microsoft Analysis Services, you can process objects in batches. Using batch processing you can select the objects to be processed, and control the processing order. Also, a batch can run as a series of stand-alone jobs, or as a transaction in which the failure of one process causes a rollback of the complete batch.
You can execute batch processing using one of these methods:
Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio. Using this method, you can select similar objects, such as a set of dimensions or a set of partitions, for batch processing. To process other objects, you can select the setting Process affected objects for processing partitions affected by dimension processing. For more information, see Processing Options and Settings.
Solution Explorer in Business Intelligence Development Studio. This method provides the same functionality that you find using Object Explorer in Management Studio. Before objects can be processed in BI Development Studio, the project that contains the objects must be deployed. For more information, see Deploying Analysis Services Projects.
An XMLA script using the XMLA Query window in Management Studio or as a scheduled task. You can create and execute an XMLA script using Management Studio as described in the following procedure. For more information about executing an XMLA script as a scheduled task, see Scheduling Administrative Tasks Using SQL Server Agent.
The following procedures show the steps for fully processing dimensions and partitions. Batch processing can also include other processing options, such as incremental processing. For these procedures to work correctly, you should use an existing Analysis Services database that contains at least two dimensions and one partition. We strongly recommend that you execute these procedures in a test environment, not on production systems.
To create and execute a batch process using Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio
The following procedure uses a batch processing job set to transaction mode to fully process dimensions. By selecting Process Affected Objects, the job processes any affected partitions that are currently in the processed state. This job will not process any unprocessed partitions.
Open Management Studio, locate an Analysis Services database, and expand the database container.
Click the Dimensions folder, and then click the Summary tab.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Summary display window.
Right-click the selected dimensions and select Process.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Object list.
Right-click the selected dimensions and select Process Full.
To customize the batch process job, click Change Settings.
Under Processing options, mark the following settings:
Processing Order is set to Sequential, and Transaction mode is set to One Transaction.
Writeback Table Option is set to Use existing.
Under Affected Objects, select the Process affected objects check box.
Click the Dimension key errors tab. Verify that Use default error configuration is selected.
Click OK to close the Change Settings screen.
Click OK in the Process Objects screen to start the processing job.
When the Status box shows Process succeeded, click Close.
To create and execute a batch process using Solution Explorer in Business Intelligence Management Studio
Open BI Development Studio.
Open a project that has been deployed.
In Solution Explorer, under the deployed project, expand the Dimensions folder.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Dimensions folder.
Right-click the selected dimensions, and then click Process.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Object list.
Right-click the selected dimensions and select Process Full.
To customize the batch process job, click Change Settings.
Under Processing options, mark the following settings:
Processing Order is set to Sequential, and Transaction mode is set to One Transaction.
Writeback Table Option is set to Use existing.
Under Affected Objects, select the Process affected objects check box.
Click the Dimension key errors tab. Verify that Use default error configuration is selected.
Click OK to close the Change Settings screen.
Click Run in the Process Objects screen to start the processing job.
When the Status box shows Process succeeded, click Close.
Click Close on the Process Objects screen.
To create and execute an XMLA script using Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio
You can manually write an XMLA script to work with Analysis Services using any text editor, such as Notepad. However, you can use Analysis Services to create an XMLA script in Management Studio that can be executed in the XMLA Query window on any Analysis Services computer, or inside a task that can be scheduled. This procedure shows how to create and execute an XMLA script using SQL Server Management Studio. For more information about scheduled tasks, see Scheduling Administrative Tasks Using SQL Server Agent.
Open Management Studio, locate an Analysis Services database, and expand the database container.
Click the Dimensions folder, and then click the Summary tab.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Summary display window.
Right-click the selected dimensions and select Process.
Holding the Ctrl key, click each dimension listed in the Object list.
Right-click the selected dimensions and select Process Full.
To customize the batch process job, click Change Settings.
Under Processing options, mark the following settings:
Processing Order is set to Sequential, and Transaction mode is set to One Transaction.
Writeback Table Option is set to Use existing.
Under Affected Objects, select the Process affected objects check box.
Click the Dimension key errors tab. Verify that Use default error configuration is selected.
Click OK to close the Change Settings screen.
In the Process Objects screen, click Script. This step generates an XMLA script, and opens an XMLA Query window in which the XMLA script can be executed.
In the Process Objects screen, click Cancel to close the screen without executing the processing job.
Switch to the XMLA Query window, and then click Execute to execute the script.