Pivot table without server side on-line analytical processing service

1 . A method of generating a local version of a portion of a relational database on a machine based on an analysis of a multidimensional relational database comprising the step of:

generating ( 330 ) a multidimensional temporary file on the local machine;

accessing ( 340 , 350 ) a relational database to obtain data;

populating ( 360 ) the temporary file with the obtained data from the relational database; and

setting ( 370 ) a connection between the temporary file and a software program.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the software program makes use of pivot tables.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a temporary file further comprises:

building a connection string for the temporary file.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the connection string is an ActiveX Data Object MultiDimensional.

5 . The method of claim 3 wherein generating a temporary file further comprises:

creating a connection object for the temporary file.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the connection object is an ActiveX Data Object Database.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining in if a statement defining the temporary file is empty; and

if the statement is empty:

obtaining the statement from another source.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining if a relational database connection string is empty; and

if the string is empty:

obtaining information from another source; and

building a connection string for the relational database.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the temporary file is a multidimensional file.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the temporary file is an on-line analytical processing system multidimensional file.

11 . A method of refreshing a multidimensional temporary file containing a snapshot of data contained in a multidimensional relational database on a remote server, comprising:

releasing a connection between the temporary file and an associated software program ( 420 );

obtaining from the relational database an updated version of the snapshot of data currently designated for the temporary file( 450 ); and

reconnecting the connection between the temporary file and the associated software program( 460 ).

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein obtaining from the relational database further comprises:

building a connection string for the temporary file; and

creating a connection object for the temporary file.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the connection string is a multidimensional object.

14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the connection object is an ActiveX Data Object Database.

15 . A system for interfacing with data in a multidimensional relational database located remote from the system comprising:

a software program ( 230 );

a multidimensional temporary file ( 240 ); and

a data provider( 220 ) configured to provide connectivity between the software program, the relational database and the temporary file.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the temporary file is a multidimensional on-line analytical processing (MDXOLAP) file.

17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the MDXOLAP file is a cube file.

18 . The system of claim 15 wherein the software program further comprises:

at least one component configured to operate as a pivot table; and

wherein the pivot table is configured to obtain data from the temporary file.

19 . The system of claim 15 wherein the data provider is an ActiveX Data Object Multidimensional (ADOMD) data provider.

20 . The system of claim 15 wherein the multidimensional relational database is a Sequential Query Language Database.