Viewing a dimensional cube as a virtual data source

A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation to interleave dimensional and relational query constructs in a single, dimensional query, based on a report specification and a predetermined sequence and without introducing semantic inconsistencies, the operation comprising:

• receiving user indication of a plurality of query constructs to include in the report specification to retrieve a set of query results from a dimensional data model, wherein the report specification is expressed in a predefined reporting language of a higher level of abstraction than both a relational query language and a dimensional query language, wherein the dimensional data model includes a cube having a plurality of dimensions, at least one dimension including a hierarchy of members, wherein the plurality of query constructs includes the dimensional and relational query constructs;
• generating the single, dimensional query from the report specification by operation of the one or more computer processors when executing the program and based on the predetermined sequence of applying the plurality of query constructs in the single, dimensional query and based further on a plurality of mapping rules specifying how to map between the dimensional data model and a corresponding relational data model, in order to prevent one or more semantic inconsistencies in the set of query results when interleaving the dimensional and relational query constructs in the single, dimensional query;
• wherein the predetermined sequence specifies to arrange the plurality of query constructs in an order of application of:
• a dimensional slicer, a dimensional pre-aggregation detail filter, a relational post-aggregation detail filter, a dimensional set filtering operator, a dimensional suppression, a relational summary filter, a relational sort, and a relational summary operator;
• wherein the plurality of mapping rules includes a model mapping rule, a level mapping rule, a leaf mapping rule, a cell mapping rule, a ragged mapping rule, a fact mapping rule, and a child mapping rule;
• wherein the single, dimensional query is executed in order to generate the set of query results;
• and
• outputting the set of query results responsive to the report specification.

A system to interleave dimensional and relational query constructs in a single dimensional query, based on a report specification and a predetermined sequence and without introducing semantic inconsistencies, the system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• a memory containing a program, which when executed by the one or more computer processors is configured to perform an operation comprising:
• receiving user indication of a plurality of query constructs to include in the report specification to retrieve a set of query results from a dimensional data model, wherein the report specification is expressed in a predefined reporting language of a higher level of abstraction than both a relational query language and a dimensional query language, wherein the dimensional data model includes a cube having a plurality of dimensions, at least one dimension including a hierarchy of members, wherein the plurality of query constructs includes the dimensional and relational query constructs;
• generating the single, dimensional query from the report specification based on the predetermined sequence of applying the plurality of query constructs in the single, dimensional query and based further on a plurality of mapping rules specifying how to map between the dimensional data model and a corresponding relational data model, in order to prevent one or more semantic inconsistencies in the set of query results when interleaving the dimensional and relational query constructs in the single, dimensional query;
• wherein the predetermined sequence specifies to arrange the plurality of query constructs in an order of application of:
• a dimensional slicer, a dimensional pre-aggregation detail filter, a relational post-aggregation detail filter, a dimensional set filtering operator, a dimensional suppression, a relational summary filter, a relational sort, and a relational summary operator;
• wherein the plurality of mapping rules includes a model mapping rule, a level mapping rule, a leaf mapping rule, a cell mapping rule, a ragged mapping rule, a fact mapping rule, and a child mapping rule;
• wherein the single, dimensional query is executed in order to generate the set of query results;
• and
• outputting the set of query results responsive to the report specification.