MDX API

The MDX API enables Cube to connect to Microsoft Excel. It derives its name from multidimensional data expressions (opens in a new tab), a query language for OLAP in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Unlike Cube Cloud for Excel, it only works with Excel on Microsoft Windows. However, it allows using the data from the MDX API with the native PivotTable (opens in a new tab) in Excel.

Key features:

• Direct connectivity: Connect Excel directly to Cube Cloud using standard XMLA protocols.
• Advanced analytical functions: Utilize the power of MDX to execute sophisticated queries that include slicing, dicing, drilling down, and rolling up of data.
• Real-time access: Fetch live data from Cube Cloud, ensuring that your analyses and reports always reflect the most current information.

Configuration

To enable or disable the MDX API on a specific deployment, go to Settings in the Cube Cloud sidebar, then Configuration, and then toggle the Enable MDX API option.

Using MDX API with Excel

The following section describes Excel-specific configuration options.

Dimension hierarchies

MDX API supports dimension hierarchies. You can define multiple hierarchies. Each level in the hierarchy is a dimension from the view.

views:
  - name: orders_view
    description: "Data about orders, amount, count and breakdown by status and geography."
    meta:
      hierarchies:
        - name: "Geography"
          levels:
            - country
            - state
            - city

Dimension keys

You can define a member that will be used as a key for a dimension in the cube's model file.

cubes:
  - name: users
    sql_table: USERS
    public: false
 
    dimensions:
      - name: id
        sql: "{CUBE}.ID"
        type: number
        primary_key: true
 
      - name: first_name
        sql: FIRST_NAME
        type: string
        meta:
          key_member: users_id

Dimension labels

You can define a member that will be used as a label for a dimension in the cube's model file.

cubes:
  - name: users
    sql_table: USERS
    public: false
 
    dimensions:
      - name: id
        sql: "{CUBE}.ID"
        type: number
        meta:
          label_member: users_first_name

Custom properties

You can define custom properties for dimensions in the cube's model file.

cubes:
  - name: users
    sql_table: USERS
    public: false
 
    dimensions:
      - name: id
        sql: "{CUBE}.ID"
        type: number
        meta:
          properties:
            - name: "Property A"
              column: users_first_name
            - name: "Property B"
              value: users_city

Measure groups

MDX API supports organizing measures into groups (folders). You can define measure groups in the view's model file.

views:
  - name: orders_view
    description: "Data about orders, amount, count and breakdown by status and geography."
    meta:
      folders:
          - name: "Folder A"
            members:
              - total_amount
              - average_order_value
          - name: "Folder B"
            members:
              - completed_count
              - completed_percentage

Authentication and authorization

Authentication and authorization work the same as for the SQL API.