User Defined
No matter how many different types of data sources are available, and how many are shipped with the icCube server, there will still be a need for specific requirements on accessing the raw data which OLAP cubes are built from.
Because of this, the icCube plugin framework allows you to add new types of data sources (details are available here). It will then make no difference to other cube builder components what data source you are using. They will use such data sources as native ones.
For example, below is a non-exhaustive list of cases where creating a new type of data source is appropriate:
1. No native icCube data source is available and for performance reasons you do not want to create a conversion tool to adapt your data to a supported data source.
2. No database server is available and your data are in a proprietary format.
3. No native icCube data source is available and no conversion is appropriate. For example, with data available as a stream (e.g. Yahoo prices).
Excel Sheets Data Source
It should be noted that the icCube support for Excel sheets as data sources is fully implemented as a plugin. The source code represents a fine starting point for implementing your own data source (details are available here).
Examples
The following cubes (as shipped with icCube) are built using a user-defined data source, sourcing its data from Excel sheets:
Next chapter: OLAP Dimensions describes how to create dimensions/hierarchies.