Creating a connection to a third-party OLAP server in SAS® Enterprise Guide®


SAS Enterprise Guide supports connections to any OLAP server that can be accessed using an OLE DB for OLAP-compliant provider. These providers, which are distributed by the OLAP server vendor, allow communication to the OLAP server using MDX queries. Starting in SAS Enterprise Guide 4.2, you must first define a Private OLAP Server connection before you can display your third-party OLAP server data.

  1. Open SAS Enterprise Guide.

  2. Select File ► Open ► OLAP Cube from the menu.

    OLAP Cube is Open under File, and selected

  3. Choose Private OLAP Servers from the selection pane on the left-hand side of the window.

    Private OLAP servers is selected along the left side

  4. Click the Connect to OLAP Cube icon to create a new connection.

    An icon that looks like a cord plugged into another is selected

  5. Enter the server definition.
    • The Server Name is the displayed name for the connection. This can be any string.
    • The Host Name is the machine's IP address or DNS name on which the OLAP server is running.
    • The Provider drop-down list enables you to select the OLE DB for OLAP provider for your OLAP server. The SAS OLAP Data Provider for 9.2, which is shown in this display, is used to connect to a SAS® OLAP Server. Other OLAP providers will be available in this list if they have been installed on the client machine. For information about which provider to use, refer to your OLAP server's documentation.

    Provider is SAS OLAP Data Provider 9.2, all other spaces are blank

  6. Click OK after entering the information. At this point, you are taken into the provider windows. If you have questions about how to use the provider, refer to your OLAP server's documentation.
  7. After completing the provider information, you are returned to the Open OLAP Cube window where your new private OLAP server is displayed.

Private OLAP is selected