News

Microsoft Polishes OLAP Feature for SQL Server 7.0

• By Scott Bekker
• 09/14/1998

The three most important new features, write-back, member properties and distributed query resolution, enable enterprise financial and budgeting applications, extend analysis capabilities and provide a more scalable architecture than SQL Server 6.5. "The feedback we've received from our customers and partners confirms that the features we are delivering in Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 will meet the requirements of the most demanding analytical applications," says Jim Ewel, director of Microsoft SQL Server marketing at Microsoft.

Eight industry-leading ISVs responded by announcing product plans for SQL Server OLAP Services and the OLE DB for OLAP interface, joining the eight vendors who have already announced compatible products with the recent release of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 beta 3. Supporting products are being announced by Business Objects, Broadbase, Decisionism Inc., IQ Software Corp., Portola Dimensional Systems, Maximal Innovative Intelligence Ltd., PowerPlan Corp. and arcplan Inc. The ISVs provide a wide range of products for query, reporting, visualization, data mining and system management.

"With support for SQL Server OLAP Services, we can provide analysis and reporting on top of enterprise OLAP solutions," said Dave Kellogg, group vice president of corporate marketing at Business Objects. "With Microsoft's coupling of high-end functionality and excellent usability, Business Objects customers will be able to take advantage of the increased availability of OLAP solutions in the enterprise."

The new features will be available in the final version of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, due to ship in the final quarter of 1998. – Thomas Sullivan Staff Reporter/Reviews Editor