Up to date data with ability to drill down/up

[intrepid402]

Hey folks!
I have a situation and I am trying to figure out the best way to solve this.

We have a relational model against a OLTP database and the users want up to date information on a report with the ability to drill through and drill up. I am not given access to Framework Manager to make a DMR model or access to package or database  to make a cube (if we try to create a cube with OLTP database and refresh the cubes every couple of hours). Is there any way to solve this? Do you suggest any alternative methods to give them up to date reports with ability to drill down and drill up?

Any help is appreciated!

[wyconian]

Hi

Drill up/down is an OLAP function so you need to have dimensional modelled data (either a cube or DMR).  I don't think you can do this without dimensional modelled data.

Good luck

[intrepid402]

It is possible to publish a relational model from Framework Manager and use it in Transformer to make a cube, correct? And then we can use the drill up/drill down functionality?

[MFGF]

Didn't you say you don't have access to build a cube in your original message? To answer the question - yes, you can use data from a relational package to feed data into Transformer to build a cube. You need an Administrator license to use Transformer, though, and to add the data source for the cube and publish a package for the cube also requires you to have Admin privileges.

In theory you could build a series of relational reports corresponding to individual levels of a dimension, and allow your users to drill through from one report to another, but it's a little cumbersome and gets very complicated if you have more than one dimension in play. It's not really drill down/up, but perhaps as close as you can get without having access to Transformer or FM.

Cheers!

MF.

[intrepid402]

Thanks MFGF,
That really helps. Yes, I don't have access to the database or package, but if I can't accomplish what the business needs without the access, then I can I just have to tell them straight up I can't do much without the access. May be they will give access to it.

[intrepid402]

Has anyone here did a drill down/up or cubes off of a OLTP database? If so, what should I really look out for?