In SQL Server Analysis Services, you can automatically create a Date Dimension without having an underlying data store (table) of dates. The other day one of our applications could not process measures for certain transactions for year 2011. The date dimension ended at 2010.

To extend the date dimension further (remember there is no underlying source table), open SQL Server Management Studio, connect to Analysis Services and right click the Date Dimension to view its properties.

Click the Script button. This will produce the xmla script with an Alter statement in a new tab. Scroll down until you find CalendarEndDate shown here as 31 December 2010.

Change this to the new end date eg <CalendarEndDate>2020-12-31T00:00:00Z</CalendarEndDate>, and click the Execute button from the toolbar to update the Server. Right click and Process the Date Dimension.

If you right click and browse the date dimension you will now see the Date dimension extends to the new end date specified in the altered xmla script.

Any cube(s) that have facts recorded against these dates can now also be processed.