HP Intelligent Management Center Standard Software Platform - Manual (Page 486)

OLAP reporting with Crystal Reports
Although relational databases such as SQL servers and PC databases are
the most common sources of data, Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and
Multi-Dimensional Data are rapidly becoming the popular data-storage and
analysis formats. Crystal Reports provides the same access and reporting
features for OLAP data sources that it provides for relational data.
Note:
The term OLAP is used in this topic to refer to all common forms of OLAP
and Multi-Dimensional Data storage and access systems.
Crystal Reports supports access to OLAP data through direct connection
and Open OLAP gateways. A direct connection requires an installed OLAP
client and uses DLLs located on your local machine, whereas the Open
OLAP gateway doesn't require either. With an Open OLAP connection, data
access is achieved through a Name Server host that communicates with
Crystal Reports and your OLAP data source. Set up an Open OLAP
connection on the Advanced Settings tab of the Connection Properties dialog
box.
For direct connections, Crystal Reports supports many OLAP server types.
These types are displayed in the Server Type list of the Connection Properties
dialog box. This list is dynamic and will show those server types for which
you have an installed client.
Note:
Crystal Reports can open OLAP reports that were created in previous
versions. However, while Crystal Reports 9 can open version 10 OLAP
reports with saved data, it cannot refresh them.
OLAP grid objects
When you design a report with OLAP data, Crystal Reports creates a primary
report containing one or more OLAP grid objects. OLAP grid objects look
and act much like Cross-Tab objects, but they are designed specifically for
OLAP data.
OLAP grid objects provide true multi-dimensional reporting. Add dimensions
to either axis to analyze three, four, or more dimensions in a single OLAP
486 Crystal Reports 2008 SP3 User's Guide
Creating and Updating OLAP Reports 19
OLAP reporting with Crystal Reports