---
title: "ReadDefinition Element (ASSL) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
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ms.technology: 
  - "analysis-services"
  - "docset-sql-devref"
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ms.topic: "reference"
apiname: 
  - "ReadDefinition Element"
apilocation: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"
apitype: "Schema"
applies_to: 
  - "SQL Server 2016 Preview"
f1_keywords: 
  - "ReadDefinition"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "ReadDefinition element"
ms.assetid: 1f250129-13b2-41b9-b083-b5aacddf0060
caps.latest.revision: 37
author: "Minewiskan"
ms.author: "owend"
manager: "erikre"
---
# ReadDefinition Element (ASSL)
  Determines whether members can read the definition of the database or the definition of objects in the database.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```xml  
  
<Permission> <!-- or one of the elements listed below in the Element Relationships table -->  
   ...  
   <ReadDefinition>...</ReadDefinition>  
   ...  
</Permission>  
```  
  
## Element Characteristics  
  
|Characteristic|Description|  
|--------------------|-----------------|  
|Data type and length|String (enumeration)|  
|Default value|*None*|  
|Cardinality|0-1: Optional element that can occur once and only once.|  
  
## Element Relationships  
  
|Relationship|Element|  
|------------------|-------------|  
|Parent elements|[CubePermission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/cubepermission-element-assl.md), [DatabasePermission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/databasepermission-element-assl.md), [DimensionPermission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/dimensionpermission-element-assl.md), [MiningModelPermission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/miningmodelpermission-element-assl.md), [MiningStructurePermission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/miningstructurepermission-element-assl.md), [Permission](../../../analysis-services/scripting/data-type/permission-data-type-assl.md)|  
|Child elements|None|  
  
## Remarks  
 The value of this element is limited to one of the strings listed in the following table.  
  
|Value|Description|  
|-----------|-----------------|  
|*None*|Access to the object definition is not allowed.|  
|*Basic*|Basic access to the object definition is allowed.<br /><br /> Note: This permission is required for creating local cubes, linking measure groups, and linking dimensions.|  
|*Allowed*|Full access to the object definition is allowed.<br /><br /> Note: This permission is required for executing a [Discover](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-methods-discover.md) XML for Analysis (XMLA) call using the DISCOVER_XML_METADATA parameter.|  
  
 The elements that correspond to the parents of **ReadDefinition** in the Analysis Management Objects (AMO) object model are <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.CubePermission>, <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.DatabasePermission>, <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.DimensionPermission>, <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.MiningModelPermission>, <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.MiningStructurePermission>, and <xref:Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Permission>.  
  
## See Also  
 [Role Element &#40;ASSL&#41;](../../../analysis-services/scripting/objects/role-element-assl.md)   
 [Properties &#40;ASSL&#41;](../../../analysis-services/scripting/properties/properties-assl.md)