--- title: "Multidimensional Model Databases (SSAS) | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "06/13/2017" ms.prod: "sql-server-2014" ms.reviewer: "" ms.technology: "analysis-services" ms.topic: conceptual helpviewer_keywords: - "SQL Server Management Studio [Analysis Services], databases" - "SQL Server Analysis Services, databases" - "SSAS, databases" - "Analysis Services, databases" - "databases [Analysis Services], designing" - "Business Intelligence Development Studio, databases [Analysis Services]" - "databases [Analysis Services]" ms.assetid: 78b2f22a-b7bd-4a2b-b6fc-0bff4d2b3168 author: minewiskan ms.author: owend manager: craigg --- # Multidimensional Model Databases (SSAS) An [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database is a collection of data sources, data source views, cubes, dimensions, and roles. Optionally, an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database can include structures for data mining, and custom assemblies that provide a way for you to add user-defined functions to the database. Cubes are the fundamental query objects in Analysis Services. When you connect to an Analysis Services database via a client application, you connect to a cube within that database. A database might contain multiple cubes if you are reusing dimensions, assemblies, roles, or mining structures across multiple contexts. You can create and modify a [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database programmatically or by using one of these interactive methods: - Deploy an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project from [!INCLUDE[ssBIDevStudioFull](../../includes/ssbidevstudiofull-md.md)] to a designated instance of [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)]. This process creates an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database, if a database with that name does not already exist within that instance, and instantiates the designed objects within the newly created database. When working with an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database in [!INCLUDE[ssBIDevStudio](../../includes/ssbidevstudio-md.md)], changes made to objects in the [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project take effect only when the project is deployed to an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] instance. - Create an empty [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database within an instance of [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)], by using either [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE[ssBIDevStudioFull](../../includes/ssbidevstudiofull-md.md)], and then connect directly to that database using [!INCLUDE[ssBIDevStudioFull](../../includes/ssbidevstudiofull-md.md)] and create objects within it (rather than within a project). When working with an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database in this manner, changes made to objects take effect in the database to which you are connecting when the changed object is saved. [!INCLUDE[ssBIDevStudioFull](../../includes/ssbidevstudiofull-md.md)] uses integration with source control software to support multiple developers working with different objects within an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project at the same time. A developer can also interact with an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database directly, rather than through an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project, but the risk of this is that the objects in an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database can become out of sync with the [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project that was used for its deployment. After deployment, you administer an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database by using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)]. Certain changes can also be made to an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database by using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)], such as to partitions and roles, which can also cause the objects in an [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database to become out of sync with the [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] project that was used for its deployment. ## Related Tasks [Attach and Detach Analysis Services Databases](attach-and-detach-analysis-services-databases.md) [Backup and Restore of Analysis Services Databases](backup-and-restore-of-analysis-services-databases.md) [Document and Script an Analysis Services Database](document-and-script-an-analysis-services-database.md) [Modify or Delete an Analysis Services Database](modify-or-delete-an-analysis-services-database.md) [Move an Analysis Services Database](move-an-analysis-services-database.md) [Rename a Multidimensional Database (Analysis Services)](rename-a-multidimensional-database-analysis-services.md) [Set the Compatibility Level of a Multidimensional Database (Analysis Services)](compatibility-level-of-a-multidimensional-database-analysis-services.md) [Set Multidimensional Database Properties (Analysis Services)](set-multidimensional-database-properties-analysis-services.md) [Synchronize Analysis Services Databases](synchronize-analysis-services-databases.md) [Switch an Analysis Services database between ReadOnly and ReadWrite modes](switch-an-analysis-services-database-between-readonly-and-readwrite-modes.md) ## See Also [Connect in Online Mode to an Analysis Services Database](connect-in-online-mode-to-an-analysis-services-database.md) [Create an Analysis Services Project (SSDT)](create-an-analysis-services-project-ssdt.md) [Querying Multidimensional Data with MDX](mdx/querying-multidimensional-data-with-mdx.md)