Office Excel Add-in for SQL Server Analysis Services Frequently Asked Questions

With the speed of business ever increasing, companies must find ways of capturing and analyzing business data in the most efficient and timely manner. Microsoft provides a complete end-to-end business intelligence reporting and analysis solution to help improve an enterprise's business performance by providing business insight to all employees—leading to better, faster, more relevant decisions. Microsoft's compelling array of business intelligence solutions are comprised of several key products and technologies:

The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services enables organizations to achieve productivity gains by allowing their workforce to quickly identify, analyze and respond to business opportunities using free-form reporting and enhanced analysis within Excel. The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services provides a flexible way to leverage online analytical processing (OLAP) data in an Excel sheet for integrated analysis and reporting.

Feature highlights include:

The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services offering enables employees to gain critical business insight by utilizing Microsoft Excel to create rich, customized reports, access relevant information, and improve vital business activities such as business planning, budgeting, and forecasting.

Microsoft will continue to make enhancements to its existing products as well as new software investments that support both customers and partners. First, this new add-in will help customers take advantage of their existing software investments to address real business needs. Second, this new add-in is consistent with our desire to position Microsoft Excel as a viable development platform whereby our partners are encouraged to develop complimentary and value-added services and applications. Examples of this are Service Packs, Add-ins, Solution Accelerators, and new versions of products.

Customers and partners have been asking for new ways to leverage Microsoft products and technologies to address Business Intelligence opportunities. The Microsoft Office BI Accelerators are a natural extension of our combined BI solutions offerings (BI platform and front end tools) enabling customers to reach a broader set of information workers in an organization.

End users will need a valid license of Excel 2003 or Excel 2002 as well as a client access license for SQL Server. Familiarity with SQL Analysis Services combined with a strong understanding of your organization's business data will help prepare you for using the Excel Add-in.

The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services has been developed in response to our customers needs around enhancing the analysis and reporting capabilities of Excel connecting to Analysis Services cubes. The Excel Add-in provides two reporting modes—structured and free-form—the latter offers users cell-by-cell level flexibility while being connected to the cube.

While technically called a solution accelerator, the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services has similar attributes to those found in standard shipping products. The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services is fully tested by dedicated test teams, is delivered with complete documentation including help files and configuration guides, and is fully supported by Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS).

Partners have access to the Excel APIs, which are open to the public. These are the same APIs used to develop the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services.

The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services enables Microsoft partners to grow their businesses into new areas quickly and with minimal investment. It offers partners new opportunities to provide solutions to their customers as well as enhancing their own solutions. Building on core strengths—like development services, integration services, consulting services, and training—partners will play a critical role in delivering valuable customer solutions. With the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services time previously spent integrating with Office products can now be dedicated to providing value-added services specific to their areas of specialty.

Several partners deliver solutions using the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services. To find a Partner that can help you with your solution visit the Microsoft Office System Solutions Directory.

To learn what programs are required to use the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services visit the Excel Add-in Component Technologies page.

Yes, the necessary underlying Microsoft products are fully supported. In addition, the Excel Add-in itself has been tested by a dedicated test team and is supported by Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS). It is also delivered with complete documentation including help files and configuration guides. You can choose between problem-solving support and proactive support, such as technical workshops and advisory services, designed to help lower the risk and cost of ownership.

For specific support questions about the Excel Add-in, visit the PSS Contact page.

Yes. The following newsgroup is available for peer-to-peer collaboration:

Follow these step-by-step instructions to configure Outlook Express to access the Office Solution Accelerators private newsgroup:

After successfully completing the wizard, you will see Internet Accounts again. Click Close. Once you complete the setup process, you will be able to access the Microsoft.private.offsolaccelerators newsgroups.

The Excel Add-in for Analysis Services integrates deeply with SQL Server Analysis Services cubes and enables Excel 2003 and Excel 2002 users to perform analysis and reporting from their familiar desktop data analysis tool—Microsoft Office Excel.

There are no additional licensing costs for the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services, though licenses for the necessary products are required. For further licensing information visit the Microsoft Volume Licensing page.

To access the Excel Add-in for Analysis Services, you can: