SQL Server 2012 SP1 CU3 release fixes frequent SP1 issues

We normally don't comment much on Cumulative Update releases since the best source for this type of information is the blog of the SQL server release services team : https://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlreleaseservices/ .

However, adding to the SP1 issue that was described in previous blog by Guillaume Fourrat we observed two further SSAS related problems that affected several customers.

Issue 1:

 Powerpivot workbooks with corrupted table relationship(s) will raise the following error message when opened with SQL server 2012 SP1 Powerpivot add-in:

Microsoft Excel: Measure group 'MeasureGroup' missing reference dimension for existing indirect relationship to dimension 'Dimension'

Reason being that SP1 code introduced a check of table relationships as part of the model upgrade. Unfortunately the meant that affected workbooks could not be opened with SP1 Powerpivot add-in.

With the newly released SQL server 2012 SP1 CU3 Powerpivot add-in the broken table relationship(s) will be fixed automatically when workbook is opened uand you can open the problem workbooks without issues.

CU3 KB article with hotfix link: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2812412/en-us

 KB for Powerpivot workbook issue: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2801889

From SLQ Server 20121 SP1 CU3 you would need to install one of the following Powerpivot add-ins depending on excel bitness:

 64 bit:  2012_SP1_PPExcel_CU3_2812412_11_0_3349_x64

32 bit:  2012_SP1_PPExcel_CU3_2812412_11_0_3349_x86

Issue 2:

After SQL Server 2012 SP1 upgrade some of your MDX queries that used to work fine may suddenly fail with error message:

The MDX function failed because the coordinate for the 'AttributeName' attribute contains a set.

This issue is caused by a regression that was already introduced with SQL Server 2012 RTM CU2 fix.

However, since many customers do not install cumulative updates without a specific need (which is our recommendation), the issue became more widespread with SQL Server 2012 SP1 release.

If you observe this issue,then please install the SQL Server 2012 SP1 CU3 fix. Thereafter your problem queries should run successfully again.

CU3 KB article with hotfix link: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2812412/en-us

KB for MDX query issue: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2823086

Please note:

 SQL Server 2012 SP1 CU3 fix can introduce issues with SSIS packages (and thus also with maintenance plans).

see sql connect bug https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/781921

An "on demand" Hotfix for this problem can be downloaded from the following KB Article link: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2832017