OLE DB for OLAP 

Purpose

OLE DB (Object Linking and Embedding Database) defines a number of COM (Component Object Model)-based interfaces that encapsulate the services of database management systems. These interfaces provide the applications with unified access to data from different sources.

OLE DB for OLAP (OLE DB for Online Analytical Processing) is an interface specification for database-independent access to relational and multidimensional data. This specification is now considered to be the industry standard.

ADO MD (ActiveX Data Objects Multidimensional): ADO MD enables an especially straightforward access to multi-dimensional data using a multi-dimensional data provider (MDP), which meets the OLE DB for OLAP standard. ADO MD enhances ADO with multidimensional objects.

OLE DB and ADO form the core of Universal Data Access, Microsoft's concept for universal access to data in different formats using a single technology.

The figure below shows Microsoft's concept of Universal Data Access:

OLE DB for OLAP distinguishes between the following types of components:

...

       1.      Consumer: Part of a system or application code which requires access to data and uses one OLE DB interface. OLE-DB-enabled data consumers can efficiently access all relational databases using the available ODBC driver.

       2.      Provider:

-         Data provider: An OLE DB provider which models the data from the source as a browser in tabular form.

-         Service component: An additional OLE DB component, which does not model any data, but which instead provides services that guarantee functions required by the consumer.

The implementation of OLE DB for OLAP (ODBO) in BW enables consumers to query data from the BW OLAP server. If client applications use the OLE DB for OLAP interface directly at system level, this ensures the best possible control and flexibility. Clients can also use the high level programming interface ADO MD. This interface enables VB (Visual Basic) and VB script applications to access OLE DB for OLAP. More information: Multidimensional Interfaces and MDX as Basis of the Interfaces.

OLE DB for OLAP is useful as a frontend interface for BW when the following is of importance:

●      Support by the manufacturer of OLAP providers and consumers

●      Use of the OLE DB architecture for reusable and parallel components

●      Use of BW OLAP BAPIs for generic OLAP tools.

●      Simplification of the requests to application development by ADO MD

●      Execution of OLAP services on each provider without data needing to be transformed

Implementation Considerations

Implementation of the OLE DB for OLAP-interface in BW is based on Microsoft‘s OLE DB Programmer's Reference Version 2.7 (Part 3: OLE DB for OLAP).

For more information, see Integration and Installation

Constraints

Note the following restrictions when you use OLE DB for OLAP as your front end to the BW system:

·         The result of development coordination between third parties and the BW system is checked in a test and certified. The integration of third parties nevertheless does not reach the degree of integration offered by the front end of the BW system.

·         The BW system is delivered with preconfigured information models (InfoSources, InfoCubes, queries). These models reflect the business experience of SAP and speed up the implementation of BW. For third parties, use of these information models is restricted to InfoCubes. Standard queries are not offered. Accordingly, decision makers must expect a longer introductory period.