Article ID: 969235 - Last Review: May 18, 2009 - Revision: 1.0

FIX: Error message when you run an MDX query in SQL Server 2008 Analysis Service: "The Extract function was called with hierarchy '' that does not exist in the set"

View products that this article applies to.
Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2008 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 2008 fix release.
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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services:
  • In a Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) query, you use the Filter function to return an empty set.
  • The empty set is filtered by using one of the following functions:
    • The TopCount function
    • The BottomCount function
    • The Head function and the Order function
  • You use the Extract function on the empty set.
In this scenario, when you run the MDX query, you receive the following error message:
The Extract function was called with hierarchy '' that does not exist in the set.
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RESOLUTION

The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 2 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1. For more information about this cumulative update package, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
970315  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970315/LN/ ) Cumulative update package 2 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1
Note 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 2008 fix release. Microsoft recommends 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:
970365  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/970365/LN/ ) The SQL Server 2008 builds that were released after SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 was released
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 hotfixes are created for specific SQL Server service packs. You must apply a SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 hotfix to an installation of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1. By default, any hotfix that is provided in a SQL Server service pack is included in the next SQL Server service pack.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use CASE...WHEN function or the IIF function to check whether the set is empty before you call the Extract function.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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REFERENCES

For 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  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/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  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822499/ ) New 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  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ ) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
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Keywords: 
kbsurveynew kbexpertiseadvanced kbqfe kbfix KB969235
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