System and method for sparsity removal

1. A method implemented by at least one computer to remove sparse data in a response to a query to a multidimensional database, the method comprising:

establishing, by at least one computer, a cross-tab with sparse data, the cross-tab comprising a first dimensional axis and a second dimensional axis, the second dimensional axis being orthogonal to the first dimensional axis;

selecting, by the at least one computer, a member in the first dimensional axis for sparsity removal in the second dimensional axis;

selecting, by the at least one computer, a first set expression on the second dimensional axis in a first context of the selected member;

collecting, by the at least one computer, a second context of the second dimensional axis;

generating, by the at least one computer, a filter set expression based on the collected second context, the filter set expression including data removal criteria to remove null or zero data; and

submitting, by the at least one computer, a query with the filter set expression to the multidimensional database,

wherein the second dimensional axis is a cross-join axis further comprising an inner set expression, and wherein the method further comprises:

initializing, by the at least one computer, a tuple with the first set expression;

collecting, by the at least one computer, a third context from the inner set expression;

updating, by the at least one computer, the tuple to reflect the second context and the third context; and

generating, by the at least one computer, the filter set expression based on the tuple.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second dimensional axis has a summary member and wherein the summary row is exempt from the data removal criteria.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a default measure to the tuple.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a slicer context to the tuple.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second dimensional axis further comprises an outer set expression to the inner set expression, further comprising removing all members of the inner set expression when the outer set expression is removed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a member in the first dimensional axis is performed on a client.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a first set expression is performed by a server.

8. A business intelligence analysis system comprising a client computer and a server computer, the server computer responding to a query to a multidimensional database from the client computer, the system comprising:

means for establishing a cross-tab with sparse data, the cross-tab comprising a first dimensional axis and a second dimensional axis, the second dimensional axis being orthogonal to the first dimensional axis;

the client computer comprising:

means for selecting a member in the first dimensional axis for sparsity removal in the second dimensional axis;

the server computer comprising:

means for selecting a first set expression on the second dimensional axis in a first context of the selected member;

means for collecting a second context of the second dimensional axis;

means for generating a filter set expression based on the collected second context, the filter set expression including data removal criteria to remove null or zero data; and

means for submitting a query with the filter set expression to the multidimensional database,

wherein the second dimensional axis is a cross-join axis comprising an inner set expression, and

wherein the server computer further comprises:

means for initializing a tuple with the first set expression;

means for collecting a third context from the inner set expression;

means for updating the tuple to reflect the second context and the third context; and

means for generating the filter set expression based on the tuple.

9. A computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computer to:

establish a cross-tab with sparse data, the cross-tab comprising a first dimensional axis and a second dimensional axis, the second dimensional axis being orthogonal to the first dimensional axis, and the second dimensional axis being a cross-join axis comprising an inner set expression;

select a member in the first dimensional axis for sparsity removal in the second dimensional axis;

select a first set expression on the second dimensional axis in a first context of the selected member;

collect a second context of the second dimensional axis;

generate a filter set expression based on the collected second context; the filter set expression including a data removal criteria to remove null or zero data; and

submit a query with the filter set expression to a multidimensional database,

initialize a tuple with the first set expression;

collect a third context from the inner set expression;

update the tuple to reflect the second context and the third context; and

generate the filter set expression based on the tuple.

10. The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the computer program further comprises code means for adding a default measure to the tuple.

11. The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the computer program further comprises code means for adding a slicer context to the tuple.