Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 fixes as one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 fix release.
Symptoms
Consider the following scenario:
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You have a PowerPivot workbook that was created by using a pre-Service Pack 1 (SP1) version of the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel add-in.
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You install the SQL Server 2012 SP1 PowerPivot for Excel add-in.
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You try to open the workbook.
In this scenario, you cannot open the workbook, and you receive the following error message:
Microsoft Excel: Measure group 'MeasureGroup' missing reference dimension for existing indirect relationship to dimension 'Dimension'
Additionally, when you click OK, the error message pops up again. After the error message pops up multiple times, the following error message is displayed:
"Powerpivot for Excel: Unable to connect to vertipaq engine. Reason: failed to connect to server. A connection cannot be made. Ensure the server is running. The handle is invalid. The "local cube file cannot be opened.
Resolution
Cumulative update information
Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2012 SP1
The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 3. For more information about how to obtain this cumulative update package for SQL Server 2012 SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
2812412 Cumulative update package 3 for SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1Note Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2012 SP1 fix release. We recommend that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
2772858 The SQL Server 2012 builds that were released after SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 was released
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Workaround
To work around this issue, delete and recreate all the table relationships on the path from the measure group table to the dimension table for which the issue is reported in the "missing reference dimension" error message.
References
For more information about how to install PowerPivot for Excel, go to the following MSDN website:
PowerPivot for Excel installationFor more information about the Incremental Servicing Model for SQL Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
935897 An Incremental Servicing Model is available from the SQL Server team to deliver hotfixes for reported problems For more information about the naming schema for SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
822499 Naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server software update packages For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
