FLEXIBLE CUBE DATA WAREHOUSING

摘要

An online analytical processing (OLAP) specification system for specifying a new OLAP cube from an OLAP cube template including an OLAP cube template determination module determining the OLAP cube template and retrieve a corresponding template metadata file, the template metadata file including metadata defining the structure of the OLAP cube template. The OLAP specification system also includes a metadata copy module copying the template metadata file to create a base metadata file. The OLAP specification system also includes a viable options generation module generating and presenting viable options for modifying metadata in the base metadata file to define the new OLAP cube, where the viable options for modifying metadata in the base metadata file conforms with one or more predetermined rules. The OLAP specification system further includes a metadata receipt module receiving input via a user interface indicating a modification to the metadata in the base metadata file based on the presented viable options and storing the modified base metadata file as a new metadata file defining the new OLAP cube.