Creating Local Cubes from Virtual Cubes
This information applies to AS2000 local cube files only. Analysis Services 2005 replaced the ability to create virtual cubes with the ability to create multiple measure groups in a single cube.
In many situations local cubes can be created from virtual cubes without there being any problems. But the local cube may appear slightly different from the source cube, there may be trouble with calculated members, and there are some situations where the local cube cannot be created at all.
The (Blank) Member
When you create a local cube from a virtual cube and you include dimensions that exist in one but not all of the source cubes for that virtual cube, you will see members marked (Blank). These cannot be suppressed in the creation of the local cube, though you may be able to suppress them in your client applications as you browse the local cube.
The (Blank) member appears in place of the (All) level when a dimension is displayed that is not included in all of the source cubes.
You will never see this problem if your virtual cube is created from a single source cube or if your virtual cube only includes dimensions that are contained in all of the virtual cube’s source cubes.
Calculated Members
We have seen situations where calculated members in virtual cubes do not appear in local cubes. We have not been able to determine the exact situations where this occurs, but it appears to be more likely when the calculated members in the virtual cube are more complex. We have not seen a similar problem in displaying complex calculated members when the local cube is based on a regular cube.
The Local Cube Cannot Be Created
We have experienced some difficulties in creating a large local cube from a virtual cube. We do not know the exact limit, but it appears to be possible to create larger local cubes from regular cubes than from virtual cubes.