CrossJoin vs SubCube

In Yukon MDX, you can crossjoin two sets by simply enclosing them in parentheses. In a way, it's like using the CrossJoin function without using the word. In other words, you just list the sets as if they were parameters, but leave the function name off.

But that's not really what's happening. Parentheses form a subcube. A subcube is very similar to a crossjoin, but with slight differences. With the Crossjoin function, you can't have the same hierarchy appear more than once, but with a subcube (that is, with the parentheses alone), you can use a specific member of one or more hierarchies, and then use the Tree() function to fill in all the remaining attribute hierarchies.

Thus, the expression Crossjoin([Bikes],Tree([Product])) is invalid, because the Category attribute appears both in [Bikes] and in Tree([Product]), but the expression ([Bikes],Tree([Product])) is valid, because the subcube operator just "fills in" the unused hierarchies.

One interesting thing about the subcube notation is that it is identical to tuple notation, except that as a tuple, you use single-members instead of sets. The intriguing part about that is that a tuple really is the crossjoin of individual members, so the notational similarity really does match an underlying semantic similarity. Form follows function. The Bauhaus architects would be happy. (See, I learned something in Munich.)

- Reed

Chertsey is not London

[This post has nothing to do with Yukon, and should in no way be interpreted as my having being the least bit disappointed by my experience in, uh, London]

If you ever go to a training class at Microsoft in London, check to see whether it is really in Chertsey, which is where their new training facility is. (Apparently, the facility came along with the Great Plains acquisition.) And if you go to Chertsey, be aware that you are going to a charming little town out in Surrey, and don't expect to pop down to the west end for a show in the evening. And if you stay at the Hilton Cobham (which really is a nice place), expect to be out in the middle of the forest at a popular "hideaway" where the only way out is by car or taxi--an easy hour to Chertsey during rush hour.