Overview

A data cube is a powerful analysis tool, which allows you to quickly and easily slice and dice data across multiple dimensions, in a single view. You can connect to a cube with a data analysis tool, such as Excel, Power BI, or Tableau. For more information on the cubes available for UW enterprise data, refer to Use Cubes.

UW-IT’s Reporting & Analytics team provides an Excel template for each data cube available, which allows you to connect to the cube immediately, without additional configuration. However, these templates have limitations, and may not work for users from UW-Bothell or UW-Tacoma (users not on the UW-Seattle Campus domain). . 

If you are affiliated with UW Medicine (or its affiliates), UW Bothell, or UW Tacoma and are unable to connect to an existing cube template, consider implementing one or more of the following solutions:

1. If you are not connected to the UW-Seattle network, you must use Husky OnNet.
2. If you are not logging into your computer via the NETID (Seattle) domain, try using the RunAs command. For detailed instructions, refer to Connecting to the Enterprise Data Warehouse - Using the RunAs Command.
3. Additionally, you may need to create or update an Excel Template, as described in the procedure below.

Updating a Cube Template

Note: This procedure uses the Finance Cube FY 2025 as an example data source, but these steps can be applied to any of the available cubes.

1. Download and install Husky OnNet.
   
2. Download the template from the applicable resource page.
3. Open the Excel file and click Enable Editing.
   
   
4. Click Enable Content.
   
   
   
5. Navigate to the data tab and then click Data > Properties.
   
   
   The Connection Properties window displays.
   
   
6. Click the Definition tab.
   
   
   
7. Remove this line from the connection string: Integrated Security = SSPI; Remove the semicolon after SSPI, and do not remove anything else from the connection string. Click OK.
   
   
   Click here for an example

   If you are using the UW Finance Cube FY 2025, then the new connection string will look like this:
   
    Provider=MSOLAP.8;Persist Security Info=True;Initial Catalog=UW Finance Cube FY 2025;Data Source=cubes.uw.edu;MDX Compatibility=1;Safety Options=2;MDX Missing Member Mode=Error;Update Isolation Level=2
   
   Note: You can replace the connection string in your Excel file with the one we provided above, however, you must make sure the correct cube is referenced in the "Initial Catalog=" section. Replace “UW Finance Cube FY 2025” from our example with the exact name of the applicable cube. If needed, you can refer to the screenshot in step 11 for a list of cube names.
        
   
   
   
   
   
8. Click Yes if you receive the following warning message.
   
   
   
9. Click OK if you receive the following error message.
   
   
   The Analysis Services Connection window displays.

 

10. Enter your UWNetID credentials using this format for your User ID: “netid\YourNetID”. Click Next.
    
    
11. Select the applicable cube from the list and then click Finish. Note - In this example we used "UW Finance Cube FY 2025", but your case may be different. Confirm that you are selecting the appropriate cube.
     

 

12. Save the file to your computer.
    
13. Open this file any time you need to access the cube.
    
    Note: If you receive this error when you reopen the file and refresh the data (or add new fields to your pivot tables), click OK then repeat Steps 10 through 12 to resolve the issue.
    
    

 

Need Help?

For answers to frequently asked questions and instructions on how to receive help, please visit our Help: BI Portal page.