Simba Technologies, Inc.
Connecting Descisys’ TeraSolve with Microsoft Excel Using SimbaProvider SDK

“When Descisys added a MDX engine and OLE DB for OLAP provider to TeraSolve, we chose Simba to provide the most reliable and scalable solution. Simba’s OLAP technology provides the widest data connectivity, the easiest maintainability, and the most solid and cost-effective platform for current and future development.”

-CEO, Descisys Ltd.

Challenge

One of Descisys’ customers wished to connect Microsoft ® Excel ® with Descisys’ TeraSolve data warehouse product. Descisys had had some success with deployment of a basic MDX engine and OLE DB for OLAP (ODBO) connectivity, which it had constructed in-house for TeraSolve to enable the same customer to previously connect Brio. However, Descisys’ MDX engine did not support the advanced functionality required by Excel or many other popular reporting tools. To enable interoperability with Excel, Descisys needed to build out its MDX capability for the standards-based ODBO connectivity and processing power required by its customer.

Solution

For the robust MDX functionality, processing power and open data connectivity that it required, Descisys turned to Simba. Simba’s SimbaProvider SDK offered a complete MDX engine with enhanced processing power and the means to deploy both standards-based ODBO and XMLA providers, thereby exposing data contained in TeraSolve.

Results

Descisys delivered a solution for its customer in record time. By using SimbaProvider, Descisys was able to build an easily maintainable MDX engine capable of working with Microsoft Excel. Furthermore, SimbaProvider enabled Descisys to easily deploy both robust, standards-based ODBO and XMLA providers for the widest possible interoperability. Not only would TeraSolve work with Brio and Excel, it would connect with all of the most popular analytic applications and development environments.

When Descisys originally added a MDX engine and an OLE DB for OLAP (ODBO) provider to TeraSolve, it was prompted by a customer request to access data stored in a TeraSolve data warehouse using Brio. Until then, TeraSolve used a proprietary API, and Brio was a third party analytic tool that connected via ODBO. To enable the OLAP functionality and access required by its customer, Descisys evaluated its options – build an MDX engine and ODBO provider itself to enable the Brio connectivity, or source a ready-made MDX engine and develop a provider with a SDK.

Descisys soon found that the only ready-built, licensable MDX engine on the market was Simba’s. It was also part of Simba’s SimbaProvider SDK, a robust software development toolkit for building ODBO and XML for Analysis (XMLA) data connectivity to multi-dimensional OLAP and star schema relational data sources.

Brio’s requirements of a MDX engine and an ODBO provider were somewhat focused and straight-forward, and Descisys initially chose to build its MDX engine and ODBO provider itself. Given the application’s basic requirements, Descisys believed that this would save effort and money.

Descisys had some success, albeit with a challenging learning curve; it delivered the Brio connectivity to its customer. It wasn’t until the customer came back many months later with a request to add access for Microsoft Excel and PivotTables – requiring an enhanced MDX implementation – that Descisys then decided it was time to revisit Simba.

Realizing that building a MDX engine was much harder than originally imagined, and that its MDX engine was becoming quite costly to maintain going forward, Descisys chose to license SimbaProvider SDK. SimbaProvider provided Descisys with a complete MDX engine and full MDX capabilities, as well as an ODBO provider. This was exactly what Descisys needed to provide its customer with connectivity between TeraSolve and Excel and PivotTables. Because Descisys had gained some knowledge building a MDX engine to connect with Brio, Simba had Descisys up and running, connecting to Excel and PivotTables within two weeks. With SimbaProvider, Descisys also obtained the tools necessary to add a XMLA provider at no extra cost.

Descisys’ decision to partner with Simba ensured that it would have the broadest access in the future. Not only would Brio, Excel and PivotTables connect to TeraSolve, SimbaProvider offered the widest possible interoperability with the newest generation of analytical applications and development environments, including Business Objects, Cognos, Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager, Microsoft Reporting Services, ProClarity, ArcPlan, Temtec, ADOMD, ADOMD.NET and many others.

SimbaProvider SDK provided Descisys with the complete solution for performance, extensibility and compatibility that it required.

About Simba Technologies

Simba Technologies Inc. is the recognized world leader in standards-based data access products and solutions. Simba works with the world’s leading software companies to deliver first class data connectivity solutions.

Simba is a pioneer in ODBC, MDX, ODBO and XMLA. Since 1991, Simba has developed advanced data access solutions for thousands of end users. Today, more than half of all MDX providers have been built with Simba technology, and through a partnership with Microsoft, Simba’s SQL technology has been installed on more than 30 million desktops worldwide.

Simba’s firm commitment to delivering the highest customer value through innovative solutions and expert support has gained the company a reputation as the industry leader for data connectivity solutions.

For more information about Simba’s data connectivity products and services, visit www.simba.com or call 1.604.633.0008 ext. 2