Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for creating and managing a visual representation of OLAP attributes and relationships for a dimension. A visual representation is generated that contains an arrangement of shapes with connections between shapes. One or more sub-elements are contained within at least some of the shapes. Connections between the shapes represent relationships between attributes in an OLAP dimension. The containment of a respective sub-element within a respective shape represents a relationship between an attribute being represented by the respective sub-element and an attribute being represented by the respective shape. Shapes representing OLAP attributes and relationships can be programmatically grouped and ungrouped.

Abstract: A system that facilitates validating an object in a software design tool comprises a component that receives input relating to development of an object. A validating component, prior to compile, automatically determines whether the object is associated with an error upon receipt of the input. An alarm component can generate an alarm upon the validating component determining that the object is associated with an error.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a centralized key performance indicator (KPI) framework and systems and methods of utilization. In particular, KPIs can be defined and centrally stored as data or metadata in a data store. Systems and methods are provided to enable, among other things, KPI definition, storage, identification of defined or available KPIs, and interaction with the KPIs. For instance, an interface is provided to allow KPI data to be requested and retrieved from a source such as a database. A generic application program or users thereof can then interact with and display KPI data without knowing anything a priori about the stored data or the structure thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to systems and methods that facilitate development and debugging of calculations in a multidimensional data environment or model. Data cube calculation scripts, including those provided in MDX (Multidimensional Expressions), can be executed or applied incrementally. Breakpoints can be set with respect to a calculation script and the cube state can be viewed and queried via a user interface. Users are enabled by the subject systems and methods to step through calculation scripts, identify the effects on a cube, and alter the script if the desired results failed to occur. In addition to debugging, the systems and methods can be employed for initial development of scripts.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for creating and managing a visual representation of OLAP attributes and relationships for a dimension. A visual representation is generated that contains an arrangement of shapes with connections between shapes. One or more sub-elements are contained within at least some of the shapes. Connections between the shapes represent relationships between attributes in an OLAP dimension. The containment of a respective sub-element within a respective shape represents a relationship between an attribute being represented by the respective sub-element and an attribute being represented by the respective shape. Shapes representing OLAP attributes and relationships can be programmatically grouped and ungrouped.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for integrating best design practices with a database. Rules for best design practices are integrated into an object model of a database. As the database design changes, violations to the rules are detected. Notifications are output for the violations of the rules. The system detects when a change to the database design that is made in a development environment causes a violation to a best design practice. The violation to the best design practice is indicated to the user. A database can be validated upon request to detect any violations of best design practices. A request is received to validate a selected database for best design practices. A best design practices check is performed against the selected database to identify if any violations are present. Any violations are output that were identified while performing the best design practices check.