---
title: "Object Element (XMLA) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/14/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.suite: ""
ms.technology: 
  - "analysis-services"
  - "docset-sql-devref"
ms.tgt_pltfrm: ""
ms.topic: "reference"
apiname: 
  - "Object Element"
apilocation: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"
apitype: "Schema"
applies_to: 
  - "SQL Server 2016 Preview"
f1_keywords: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine#Object"
  - "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-analysis#Object"
  - "microsoft.xml.analysis.object"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Object element"
ms.assetid: 99470537-2c4a-4072-9613-940c41c12487
caps.latest.revision: 16
author: "jeannt"
ms.author: "jeannt"
manager: "erikre"
---
# Object Element (XMLA)
  Contains an object reference used by the parent element.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```xml  
  
<Alter> <!-- or any of the parent elements in the Element Relationships table -->  
...  
   <Object>  
      <!-- One or more object identifiers, depending on the parent element -->  
   </Object>  
...  
</Alter>  
```  
  
## Element Characteristics  
  
|Characteristic|Description|  
|--------------------|-----------------|  
|Data type and length|None|  
|Default value|None|  
|Cardinality|See the table below.|  
  
|Ancestor or Parent|Cardinality|  
|------------------------|-----------------|  
|[Alter](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/create-element-xmla.md)|0-1: Optional element that can occur once and only once.|  
|All others|1-1: Required element that occurs once and only once.|  
  
## Element Relationships  
  
|Relationship|Element|  
|------------------|-------------|  
|Parent elements|[Alter](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/alter-element-xmla.md), [Backup](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/backup-element-xmla.md), [ClearCache](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/clearcache-element-xmla.md), [Delete](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/delete-element-xmla.md), [DesignAggregations](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/designaggregations-element-xmla.md), [Lock](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/lock-element-xmla.md), [NotifyTableChange](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/notifytablechange-element-xmla.md), [Process](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/process-element-xmla.md), [Subscribe](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/subscribe-element-xmla.md), [Synchronize](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/synchronize-element-xmla.md)|  
|Child elements|Required Analysis Services Scripting Language (ASSL) elements. Specified by listing the ID elements of the object and its ancestors (excluding the **Server** object.) For example, the following **Object** element identifies a partition:<br /><br /> `<Object>`<br /><br /> `<DatabaseID>Adventure Works DW Multidimensional 2012</DatabaseID>`<br /><br /> `<CubeID>Adventure Works</CubeID>`<br /><br /> `<MeasureGroupID>Internet Sales</MeasureGroupID>`<br /><br /> `<PartitionID>Inernet_Sales_2001</PartitionID>`<br /><br /> `</Object>`|  
  
## Remarks  
 The order in which identifiers appear is not important.  
  
 For **Alter** elements, the instance of [!INCLUDE[msCoName](../../../includes/msconame-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] is used as the default object if the **Object** element is not specified.  
  
## See Also  
 [Properties &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/xml-elements-properties.md)