BI Xpress SSAS MDX Builder and SSIS Deployment

BI Xpress SSAS MDX Builder and SSIS Deployment

If you build SSIS Packages, or work on SSAS Cubes, BI Xpress is a must have tool for you. It has made my life so much easier in all of my BI work. I want to share with you just a couple of the features it contains. This is by no means a complete list features. You can find a complete list at pragmaticworks.com.
Deploying SSIS Packages is one of the biggest pains in SSIS development. Not anymore! I can deploy my packages with a two clicks now.
You can right click on your package in BIDS and select Deploy or quick deploy.
 

In deployment you lost of options as you can see on the screen below. You can even change your configuration file location.

 
On the next screen you can select where to move your packages. This can be to the File System, SQL Server, or the SSIS Package store. You can also deploy individual packages instead of the entire project. It will even move folders over also.
 

The other feature I wanted to show you is the MDX builder. This has taking all of the hassle out of wrting MDX during SSAS development. There are several built in formulas. You can even submit your own to have them added and your name will appear in the product. When you right click in the SSAS calculation screen you can select the MDX calculation builder.

 
The first screen has a list of calculations and sets available.

 
The next screens walk you through creating the calculation by having you select the proper measures and dimensions.

 
You even have the option for formatting the colors of the MDX calculation.
 

The last screen shows you the MDX it is going to create for you.
 

These two features alone make BI Xpress a must have tool. These are just the start. See all of the other features and download a free trial of BI Xpress here.