SSAS - Understanding Non Aggregate Measures

Recently I have been asked a question, I have defined my measure with aggregate function as “None” and all the values are returned as Blank. What is the reason for this? So I have created a below demo to explain the concept of “None” aggregate function and how it works. Most you may be having the same question. So I am documenting this here to help you to understand about this.

Below is the sample model which will be used for demonstrating this

I have created a cube using the wizard with the above data model.  Below is the structure of the cube

Dimension : Product 

Attributes :ProductId

Dimension : Region

                Attributes :RegionID

Dimension :Chk  (Dummy Dimension)

                Attributes :ChkId

Measures : Sum(SoldQty)

                BillNumber (No aggregate)

Measures :  Sum(Valx) (Dummy Measure)

The cube is deployed and processed. Now in the browser, let us take a look how this measure behaves.

Now when using Region Dimension alone measure BillNumber is returning blank.

Now let us try adding the Product Dimension also inside. But still we could see only blanks in the BillNumber.

But if you try expanding for each region you will start seeing the Billnumber values.

The reason for this is in the first two tries there was an attribute at the level “All” . As we have mentioned BillNumber as NoAggregate , there will not be any value available for a “All” member.

Now you may get a question that in the first screenshot we have used Region at the granular level only. But why BillNumber is still Blank ?  As RegionId has been used in the query , by default ProductId will be at the “All” level. In the below MDX query , the product dimension is not used in the query , But by default it “All” member has been  considered for getting the values.

But in the last screen shot , we have the leaf level of all the attributes available in the cube so the BillNumber measure displays the value.Does this means do we need all the dimension attributes in the query to display the no aggregate measure ? Not necessary if you notice we have one other dummy dimension DimChk and other dimension attribute Color also. Without using the chk dimension attributes they will be considered as All member. But still we are getting the BillNumber measure displaying the value.This makes clear that we need to have attributes which is having the IDs as keys which are linked to the fact table which has this measure. In the above example if we use the ProductID&RegionIDattributes , No aggregate measure BillNumber will display the value.

If we remove one of the key attribute values, the bill number will start displaying Blank.

Conclusion

No Aggregate Measures will display values only when attributes with all keys linked to the fact is available in the MDX query or browser as it displays the leaf level data.

I have uploaded the SSAS project and relevant scripts in the below link for your reference.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=EF9A407250207BDE!126&authkey=!AFraUYOCfPbhRrE

Hope this blog is helpful .Will meet you next week with another blog. So far I am happy that I could keep up my resolution on doing a blog per week and hope I will be able to keep it up JJJJ.