FIX: Unable to Count Fact Table Rows When Creating a Cube (297889)

SYMPTOMS

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

When you use the Cube Wizard to create a cube, Analysis Services begins counting the number of rows contained in the fact table and then, after three minutes, displays the following message:

Unable to count fact table rows. Please enter an approximate value for the Fact Table Size property.

RESOLUTION

SQL Server 2000

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (the Analysis Services Components - Sql2kasp1.exe). For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290211 INF: How to Obtain the Latest SQL Server 2000 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

SQL Server 2000

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services version 8.0. This problem was first corrected in the Analysis Services Components of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 1.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is by design. The default timeout for obtaining a row count on the fact table is three minutes. The timeout interval for obtaining a row count on the fact table is a registry setting that can be changed by the user.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To set the timeout interval for obtaining a row count to four minutes, follow these steps:

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
Locate and click the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\OLAP Server\Olap Manager Info
On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
Value name: CountQueryTimeout
Data type: REG_DWORD
Radix: click Decimal
Value data: 240
Quit Registry Editor.
Stop and then restart the MSSQLServerOLAPService Service