MDX as Basis for the Interfaces 

Definition

MDX (multi-dimensional expressions) is a language developed by Microsoft for queries using multi-dimensional data. An MDX expression returns a multi-dimensional result set (dataset) that consists of axis data and cell data.

The syntax of multi-dimensional expressions is defined in the Microsoft specification OLE DB for OLAP.

Structure

The following table gives an overview of the most important components of MDX statements:

MDX Component	Significance
FROM	Cube selection
SELECT ON COLUMNS ON ROWS	Axes definition Definition of column axes Definition of rows axes
WHERE	Filter conditions definition

Example

The following example of a MDX request contains the above elements:

SELECT
  { [Measures].[CKF_SI_PROFIT],
    [Measures].[0D_DOCUMENT],
    [Measures].[0D_OORVALSC]
  } ON COLUMNS,
  NON EMPTY
    [0D_PLANT].MEMBERS
  ON ROWS
FROM [0D_SD_C03/SAP_DEMO_OLEDB]
WHERE
  ( [0CALMONTH].[200101],
    [0D_COUNTRY].[US] )

The following graphic shows this example and the result:

 

Examples for basic modules

Entity	Example
Member (characteristic value)	[City].[Las Vegas], [Time].[Year].[2003]
Tuple (several characteristic values, various characteristics)	([City].[Las Vegas],[Time].[Year].[2003],[Event].[SAP TechEd 2003])
Set (several tuples or member)	{([City].[Los Angeles],[Time].[Year].[2002]),([City].[Las Vegas],[Time].[Year].[2003]),}
Value (number, characters)	5, “red”

Examples for expressions that generate the entities named above

Expression	Example
Member as result	<member>.PARENT
Set as result	TOPCOUNT(<set>,<index>,<numeric_value_expression>)
Number as result	MAX(<set>[, <numeric_value_expression>])