Accessing and Analyzing Data with Microsoft Excel (Bpg-Other)

In this chapter, you learned the following:

• Microsoft Data Analyzer is designed to analyze OLAP data. It provides an alternative to PivotTable reports and PivotChart reports. Data Analyzer can quickly drill up and drill down through levels in a cube, quickly isolate disparate members, and easily synchronize multiple views of the same data.

• Data Analyzer uses a view file to connect to and render OLAP data graphically. In many cases, you can share your view files with others without worrying about moving the target OLAP data source.

• If an OLAP data source doesn’t contain the measures you need, and you don’t have permissions to add measures to the original OLAP data source, you can create your own custom measures in Data Analyzer. These custom measures remain in your Data Analyzer view file for reuse and further customization.

• Data Analyzer interacts with other Microsoft Office applications. You can use Data Analyzer in conjunction with Excel, PowerPoint, and Web browsers to analyze data and present the results of your analysis.

In the next chapter, “Analyzing XML Data,” you will learn about the following:

• What XML is and why it is gaining such broad acceptance in computing today.

• How to understand and read XML data.

• How to analyze XML data with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access