What's New in MicroStrategy 2021

MicroStrategy 2021 introduces new features that provide better performance and scalability to enhance the overall user experience. In addition, this release introduces new features across the analytics, mobility, and security platforms—making it easier for users to build applications faster.

Below are the new features exclusive to MicroStrategy 2021 and its subsequent updates. For a smooth upgrade, be sure to review the important version-specific information regarding changes in the release that could impact functionality and performance. For customers with an upgrade gap of more than one version, the Readme for all intermediate versions can be found in Product Documentation.

All 2021 updates include the features from the 2021 Platform Release.

Use the buttons below to view what's new in the 2021 monthly and platform releases.

2021 Update 3, November

MicroStrategy Mobile SDK

iOS

Mobile SDK certification with MobileIron to support iOS 15.

2021 Update 3, October

MicroStrategy Library

Export to PDF filter summaries include the full attribute and metric names.

MicroStrategy Library Mobile

iOS

Export entire dossiers to Excel.

MicroStrategy Mobile SDK

iOS

Certification of BlackBerry Dynamics Native EMM SDK for iOS 15.

MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK

iOS

Certification of Intune Native EMM SDK  for iOS 15.

MicroStrategy Packages for Python (mstrio-py)

  • A new CacheUpdateSubscription class in the subscription module.

  • Return a specific type of subscription object using list_subscriptions.

  • The inner structure of mstrio.distribution_services.subscription was changed. Make sure to import from mstrio.distribution_services or mstrio.distribution_services.subscription at most. Anything deeper is considered internal implementation detail and not guaranteed to remain stable.

  • New user and user_group arguments added to the list_security_filters function to allow filtering results by user or user group.

  • New list_security_filter method and security_filters property for the UserGroup class.

  • New list_security_filter method security_filters property for the User class.

2021 Update 3

MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence MicroStrategy Mobile
MicroStrategy Workstation MicroStrategy Web SDK
MicroStrategy Web MicroStrategy Embedding SDK
MicroStrategy Library MicroStrategy REST APIs
Federated Analytics Data Sources
MicroStrategy Command Manager Privileges

MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence

Add contextual dosser links to HyperIntelligence cards.

MicroStrategy Workstation

  • Create and edit user hierarchies.
  • View the system hierarchy of a project.
  • Manage and monitor jobs.
  • Create and edit cache update subscriptions.
  • Compare environment configurations.
  • Enable preview features to add information windows in dossiers. Information windows are dynamic popups that enhance the visual interactivity for the end-user.
  • Use a Multi-Metric KPI to provide a quick performance indication for two or more metrics.
  • Use a Comparison KPI to indicate the progress towards an objective, like sales and goal.
  • For every dossier object, experience an intuitive Format panel with visual cues, organized into three consistent tabs for visualization or object specific options, text and form, and container. Collapsible folders and toggles make it easy to find what you're looking for.
  • From the Layers panel, drag and drop existing visualizations and objects from the canvas into panels in dossier panel stacks.
  • Export entire dossiers to Excel.
  • Support a new MDX/OLAP data source of Kyligence for hierarchy reporting.
  • Applications have been renamed to projects.

  • Better control of how attributes are related in data import Intelligent cubes (also known as Super Cubes) with a single Attribute Relationship Model setting. This feature requires a data engine version of 2021 or above.

MicroStrategy Web

  • Use a Multi-Metric KPI to provide a quick performance indication for two or more metrics.
  • Use a Comparison KPI to indicate the progress towards an objective, like sales and goal.
  • For every dossier object, experience an intuitive Format panel with visual cues, organized into three consistent tabs for visualization or object specific options, text and form, and container. Collapsible folders and toggles make it easy to find what you're looking for.
  • From the Layers panel, drag and drop existing visualizations and objects from the canvas into panels in dossier panel stacks.
  • Support a new MDX/OLAP data source of Kyligence for hierarchy reporting.
  • Manage SAML configuration files in a Web browser.

MicroStrategy Library

Export entire dossiers to Excel.

Federated Analytics

MicroStrategy for Power BI

Support for OIDC authentication.

MicroStrategy Command Manager

Enable, disable, and list mobile telemetry settings of Platform Analytics statistics properties through Command Manager.

MicroStrategy Mobile

Manage SAML configuration files in a Web browser.

MicroStrategy Web SDK

Several APIs have been deprecated.

MicroStrategy Visualization SDK

Create a Format panel using a React-based framework.

MicroStrategy Embedding SDK

  • Author an embedded dossier.

  • Enable the selection of attribute elements.

MicroStrategy REST APIs

  • View a newly created migration package.
  • View content from an uploaded migration package.

Data Sources

See Platform Certifications for information about the latest supported and certified configurations.

  1. Gateway Certification

    • Azure PostgreSQL is certified. See KB485177 for more information.
    • Azure SQL Managed Instance is certified. See KB485172 for more information.

  2. OOTB Driver Updates

    • The latest ODBC trace file, drivers for SQL Server, IBM Db2, Redshift, Oracle, and SAP HANA gateways are out-of-the-box, optimizing security and performance.

  3. Security and Performance Enhancements

    • OAuth authentication is supported via ADFS authentication for Snowflake.
    • OAuth authentication is supported via Cognito for Amazon S3.
    • SSL is enabled by default for PostgreSQL in MicroStrategy Web and Workstation.
    • SSL is enabled by default for SQL Server in MicroStrategy Web and Workstation.
    • 13 functions have been pushed to the gateway side for PostgreSQL:
      • RunningStdevPFunction
      • MovingStdevPFunction
      • MovingStdevFunction
      • RunningStdevFunction
      • LagFunction
      • LeadFunction
      • ToNumberFunction
      • StrLastPositionFunction
      • StrBeginsWithFunction
      • StrEndsWithFunction
      • StrCharFunction
      • StrReplaceFunction
      • StrRepeatFunction

  4. Functionality Enhancements

    • Connect to the Salesforce Sandbox instance through the Salesforce Report connector.

Privileges

See Privileges by License Type for information about license types and associated privileges.

The Manage Application privilege has been added to the Server - Intelligence license.

2021 Update 2, August

The August release includes defect fixes for stability and user experience.

2021 Update 2, July

MicroStrategy Workstation

  • Create and edit consolidations.
  • Display a customized interface based on a user's assigned privileges.

2021 Update 2

MicroStrategy Application MicroStrategy Packages for Python
MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence MicroStrategy for Office
MicroStrategy Workstation MicroStrategy Embedding SDK
MicroStrategy Web MicroStrategy REST APIs
MicroStrategy Library Data Sources
MicroStrategy Library Mobile MicroStrategy Packages for Python
MicroStrategy Mobile Privileges

MicroStrategy Application

  • Enhanced OIDC authentication workflows for automatic and seamless login.
  • A time series visualization that enables common financial and market analysis workflows.
  • A modern grid visualization that allows you to include microcharts within cells and support one-click contextual linking.
  • Add rich formatting to text boxes to create compelling infographic dossiers.

MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence

  • Control the default on/off state of HyperIntelligence cards on HyperWeb and the MicroStrategy app.
  • Create Hyper cards with the Compact template ideal for landscape viewing and sharing via Twitter.
  • Generate a white-labeled HyperIntelligence for Web add-in via MicroStrategy Workstation.
  • Improved app accessibility with contrast-friendly colors.

MicroStrategy Workstation

  • Create and certify Python scripts.
  • Dedicated Python Script Gallery section with Python mstrio modules, sample Python scripts, Python code snippets, and built-in search for easy navigation.
  • Python Script Gallery tooltip with insight on how to use classes and functions, with usage examples.
  • A time series visualization that enables common financial and market analysis workflows.
  • A modern grid visualization that allows you to include microcharts within cells and support one-click contextual linking.
  • Add rich formatting to text boxes to create compelling infographic dossiers.
  • Intuitive Format panel with visual cues, organized into three consistent tabs for visualization or object specific options, text and form, and container. Collapsible folders and toggles make it easy to find what you're looking for.
  • Edit panel stacks with an intuitive tree structure in the Layers panel, use filters outside panel stacks to target dynamic text boxes, and copy and move panel stacks across chapters and pages.
  • Panels in dossier panel stacks are now executed on demand to improve performance.
  • Create and edit schedules.
  • Manage and monitor jobs.
  • Change ownership of subscriptions.
  • Create, edit, and manage security filters.
  • View component and dependent objects.
  • Create multiple types of objects such as filters, metrics, prompts, security filters, attributes, and facts in one place. To access this functionality, open the main Workstation window and click next to Objects.
  • View and edit Library Administration settings in Workstation.

MicroStrategy Web

  • A time series visualization that enables common financial and market analysis workflows.
  • A modern grid visualization that allows you to include microcharts within cells and support one-click contextual linking.
  • Add rich formatting to text boxes to create compelling infographic dossiers.

  • Intuitive Format panel with visual cues, organized into three consistent tabs for visualization or object specific options, text and form, and container. Collapsible folders and toggles make it easy to find what you're looking for.

  • Edit panel stacks with an intuitive tree structure in the Layers panel, use filters outside panel stacks to target dynamic text boxes, and copy and move panel stacks across chapters and pages.

  • Panels in dossier panel stacks are now executed on demand to improve performance.

  • Basic OIDC authentication support.
  • The Admin pages support basic authentication when SAML authentication is enabled for Web.

MicroStrategy Library

  • Enhanced OIDC authentication workflows for automatic and seamless login.
  • A time series visualization that enables common financial and market analysis workflows.
  • A modern grid visualization that allows you to include microcharts within cells and support one-click contextual linking.
  • Add rich formatting to text boxes to create compelling infographic dossiers.
  • Panels in dossier panel stacks are now executed on demand to improve performance.
  • Enhanced accessibility with a new F6 keyboard shortcut allowing for quick navigation between regions.
  • Improved ability to navigate throughout Dossier containers in a logical order using screen readers and keyboard controls.

MicroStrategy Library Mobile

iOS

  • Improved graph readability with y-axis word-wrap, nested labels, and bar chart label positioning.

    • Android

    Panels in dossier panel stacks are now executed on demand to improve performance.

    iOS and Android

    • Enhanced OIDC authentication workflows for automatic and seamless login.
    • A time series visualization that enables common financial and market analysis workflows.
    • A modern grid visualization that allows you to include microcharts within cells and support one-click contextual linking.
    • Add rich formatting to text boxes to create compelling infographic dossiers.

    MicroStrategy Mobile

    iOS and Android

    Basic OIDC authentication support.

    MicroStrategy Packages for Python (mstrio-py)

    • A new Schedule class in the mstrio.distribution_services.schedule subpackage.
    • A new ScheduleTime class in the mstrio.distribution_services.schedule subpackage, which is a local object used for specifying time related properties of schedule.
    • A new Event class in the mstrio.distribution_services.event subpackage.
    • The Subscription class has been modified to use Schedule objects.
    • A new datasources subpackage with Dbms, DatabaseConnections, DatasourceInstance, DatasourceLogin, DatasourceMap classes covering database management functionality.
    • New list_available_dbms, list_datasource_connections, list_datasource_instances, list_datasource_logins, and list_datasource_mappings functions that list all data source related objects.
    • A database_connections module that allows you to browse and manage database connections to the environment.
    • New ACL management functionality for all supporting objects by adding list_acl, acl_add, acl_remove, and acl_alter methods.
    • A SecurityFilter class and list_security_filters function in the mstrio.access_and_security.security_filter subpackage
    • A new Qualification class in the mstrio.access_and_security.security_filter subpackage, which is an object used to represent a security filter qualification.
    • New PredicateBase, PredicateForm, PredicateElementList, PredicateFilter, PredicateJointElementList, and LogicOperator classes in the mstrio.access_and_security.security_filter subpackage to represent predicates that can be used when creating a security filter qualification.
    • New ParameterBase, ConstantParameter, ObjectReferenceParameter, ExpressionParameter, PromptParameter, DynamicDateTimeParameter, and ConstantArrayParameter classes in the mstrio.access_and_security.security_filter subpackage to represent the parameters used in AttributeForm.
    • mstrio.admin.schedule has been replaced with the mstrio.distribution_services.schedule subpackage.
    • The schedules_id argument has been replaced by schedules in the create and alter methods of the Schedule class.
    • mstrio.distribution_services.schedule.ScheduleManager has been replaced with mstrio.distribution_services.schedule.list_schedules().

    See the mstrio-py help for more information.

    MicroStrategy for Office

    Generate the manifest file for the MicroStrategy for Office add-in from MicroStrategy Web.

    MicroStrategy Embedding SDK

    • Interact with panel stacks in dossiers.
    • Embed a single visualization.

    MicroStrategy REST APIs

    • Create and manage user hierarchy objects through the Modeling service.
    • Create and manage custom group objects through the Modeling service.
    • Create and manage consolidation objects through the Modeling service.
    • Create and import migration packages.
    • Retrieve SQL statements and query details.

    Data Sources

    See Platform Certifications for information about the latest supported and certified configurations.

    1. New Gateways
      • New Gateway Connector for Microsoft Dynamics 365.
      • New Gateway Connector for Databricks.
    2. OOTB Driver Updates

      • Exasol ODBC and JDBC drivers are shipped out-of-the-box.

    3. Security and Performance Enhancements

      • Oracle Cloud Wallet authentication files are supported end-to-end for Oracle Cloud environments.

      • Azure Active Directory is supported via SAML authentication tokens for Snowflake, Azure SQL Database (ODBC Driver), and Azure Synapse Analytics (ODBC Driver).

      • Azure Active Directory is supported via OIDC tokens for Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Azure SQL Database (ODBC Driver), and Azure Synapse Analytics (ODBC Driver).

      • Google Cloud Storage supports authentication via OAuth and Service Account workflows.

    4. Functionality Enhancements

      • Financial Force, Veeva CRM, and ServiceMax have been integrated through the Salesforce Connector.

    Privileges

    See Privileges by License Type for information about license types and associated privileges.

    The following privileges have been added to the Server - Intelligence license:

    • Create and edit content bundles

    • Certify Python Script

    The following privileges have been added to the Architect license:

    • Create package

    • Apply package

    2021 Update 1, May

    Workstation

    • Create and edit derived elements for a report.
    • Create and edit object prompts.

    Federated Analytics

    MicroStrategy Packages for Python (mstrio-py)

    • Modified file structure to organize modules in clean and readable way.
    • New and improved type hints across the code base.
    • New PrivilegeMode, IdleMode, GroupBy, ServiceAction, Rights, and Permissions enums.
    • A new Node class to be used for node management in place of a raw dict.
    • A new CubeCache class added to the mstrio.application_objects.datasets subpackage.
    • The load_cube method can load cubes by name.
    • New list_cube_caches, delete_cube_caches, and delete_cube_cache functions.
    • New create, update, get_sql_view, and publish methods for the OlapCube class.
    • A new unpublish method for the OlapCube and SuperCube classes.
    • A new list_reports function for the Report module.
    • New alter and list_properties methods for the Report class.
    • The id parameter replaces the report_id parameter in the Report class.

    See the mstrio-py help for more information.

    2021 Update 1, April

    MicroStrategy Workstation

    Create and edit value prompts.

    Federated Analytics

    MicroStrategy Packages for Python (mstrio-py)

    • The following have been added:

      • SuperCube and OlapCube in the mstrio.application_objects.datasets subpackage
      • list_all_cubes, load_cube, list_super_cubes, and list_olap_cubes functions that allow you to search for cubes by name and construct precise objects
      • user_id, user_full_name, user_initials to the Connection class
      • trust_id and database_auth_login parameters in the user.alter() method
      • More Cube object attributes similar to other MicroStrategy objects
    • Alter the name, description, and abbreviation properties of cubes.

    See the mstrio-py help for more information.

    2021 Update 1

    MicroStrategy Application MicroStrategy Mobile
    MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK
    MicroStrategy Workstation MicroStrategy REST APIs
    MicroStrategy Web MicroStrategy Cloud Platform
    MicroStrategy Library Data Sources
    MicroStrategy Library Mobile Privileges
    MicroStrategy Intelligence Server

    MicroStrategy Application

    • New zoom preferences to enable personalized readability.
    • Select the default open state of dossiers and documents in Library as Last Viewed by the end user or Last Saved by the author (reset to original view).
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.

    MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence

    • Performance and stability are optimized for HyperIntelligence cards that are enabled with pattern matching:
      • Improved pattern detection and card rendering performance on HyperWeb and HyperOffice for 8-10 million rows of data.
      • Decreased loading time when authoring a card based on a large dataset in MicroStrategy Workstation.
      • Improved speed when enabling a card on the HyperWeb extension.
    • Control text alignment when formatting card widgets.

    MicroStrategy Workstation

    • New Sankey Diagram visualization to compare data flow is available in the Custom area of the Visualization Gallery.
    • Add panel stacks from the top toolbar to enable additional flexibility on analytics workflows, while optimizing the use of screen real estate.
    • Improved graph readability with y-axis word-wrap, nested labels, and bar chart label positioning.
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.
    • Enable preview features to add Microcharts and Rich Text formatting for text boxes in dossiers.
    • Create and edit Distribution Services email subscriptions with multiple pieces of content.
    • Create and edit attribute objects, including form expressions, relationships, and display and sort information.
    • View user activity, additional property information, and SQL execution details from the cube monitor.
    • View, load, and unload applications. You can also view recent users and specify on which nodes' applications are loaded during server start up.
    • Execute Python scripts saved to your metadata from Workstation.
    • New dossier and document property that allows the administrator to choose the default open state of the content in Library as Last Viewed (available at both Environment and Application levels).

    MicroStrategy Web

    • New Sankey Diagram visualization to compare data flow is available in the Custom area of the Visualization Gallery.
    • Add panel stacks from the top toolbar to enable additional flexibility on analytics workflows, while optimizing the use of screen real estate.
    • Improved graph readability with y-axis word-wrap, nested labels, and bar chart label positioning.
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.
    • New dossier and document property that allows the author to choose the default open state of the content in Library as Last Viewed or Last Saved.
    • Enhanced sharing workflow that enables search to return all users and user groups that contain the key term.

    MicroStrategy Library

    • Select the default open state of dossiers and documents in Library as Last Viewed by the end user or Last Saved by the author (reset to original view).
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.
    • SAML Admin Groups govern the Library admin pages when SAML authentication is enabled.

    MicroStrategy Library Mobile

    iOS

    • Download and view Excel and CSV files with native in-app support.
    • Select the default open state of dossiers and documents in Library as Last Viewed by the end user or Last Saved by the author (reset to original view).
    • Select and copy individual grid cells contents and URLs to the clipboard.
    • New Waterfall chart supports Show Difference and Show Sum modes to display data intuitively, as well as an option to hide or show the connection line.
    • Enhanced Pie and Ring charts with optimized use of container blank space, improved data labels with leader lines, and option to show percentage.
    • Sort Pie and Ring charts in ascending and descending order.
    • Hide or show the Metrics header text in a grid visualization.
    • Use compound grid visualizations to filter data in other visualizations.
    • Certification of native integration with Intune and AppConfig compliance.
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.

    Android

    • Use a document or dossier as the home screen to build powerful mobile experiences.
    • Select the default open state of dossiers and documents in Library as Last Viewed by the end user or Last Saved by the author (reset to original view).
    • Select and copy individual grid cells contents and URLs to the clipboard.
    • New Waterfall chart supports Show Difference and Show Sum modes to display data intuitively, as well as an option to hide or show the connection line.
    • Enhanced Pie and Ring charts with optimized use of container blank space, improved data labels with leader lines, and option to show percentage.
    • Sort Pie and Ring charts in ascending and descending order.
    • Hide or show the Metrics header text in a grid visualization.
    • Use compound grid visualizations to filter data in other visualizations.
    • Drop-down selectors in documents support multi-selection.

    MicroStrategy Intelligence Server

    • Memory usage breakdown information is logged in the DSSErrors.log to help troubleshoot Memory Contract Manager denial state or shut down due to an extended timeout limit of the denial state.

    • Improved cube loading time by up to 50% through persisting and loading attribute indexes from disk. See KB48489 for more information.

    MicroStrategy Mobile

    iOS

    Certification of native integrations with AirWatch, MobileIron, BlackBerry Dynamics, and AppConfig compliance.

    Android

    Certification of native integrations with AirWatch and AppConfig compliance.

    MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK

    Preconfigure Library Mobile for Android.

    MicroStrategy REST APIs

    • Reload (update) the schema and manage the schema lock.
    • Create and manage attribute objects and relationships through the Modeling service.
    • Create and manage fact objects through the Modeling service.
    • Create and manage table objects through the Modeling service, including user free-form SQL to create logic tables.
    • Create and manage security filters through the Modeling service, including filter definition and user assignment.
    • Create and manage derived elements through the Modeling service.
    • Create and manage prompt objects through the Modeling service, including expression, object, attribute element, and value prompts.
    • Dossier API enhancements to enable interaction with filters and selectors.
    • Create, update, and delete Distribution Services devices, events, transmitters, and contacts via APIs.
    • Create, update, list, and delete devices for email and FTP device types.
    • Create, update, list, and delete events.
    • Create, update, list, and delete transmitters for email, FTP, file, print, iPhone/iPad, and Android.
    • Create, update, list, and delete contacts.
    • Schedule enhancement to support multiple days of the week or month, choosing first or last weekday of the week or month (excluding holidays), and choosing last day of the month.
    • Update multi-content subscriptions.
    • Datasource management API enhancements to configure job prioritization.

    MicroStrategy Cloud Platform

    Improvements to MicroStrategy Backup and Restore (MSTRBak) to aid in the process of migrating customers into MicroStrategy Cloud, including:

    • Additional database support when using Oracle and SQL Server databases, so you can leverage MicroStrategy Backup and Restore.
    • New incremental update mode ("-u") to improve the experience during cutover to a parallel, upgraded environment.

    Data Sources

    See Platform Certifications for information about the latest supported and certified configurations.

    1. Gateway Certification
      • Oracle Cloud 21c
      • Exasol 6.2
      • Exasol 7.0
    2. OOTB Driver Updates
      • The latest drivers for SQL Server, IBM Db2, MongoDB, and Salesforce gateways are out-of-the-box, optimizing security and performance.
    3. Functionality Enhancements
      • Set the Max Metric Alias Size VLDB property for the following gateways:
        Gateway Max Metric Alias Size

        SQL Server 2012

        SQL Server 2014

        SQL Server 2016

        SQL Server 2017

        SQL Server 2019

        		 128

        Azure Synapse

        		 128

        Db2

        		 128

        PostgreSQL

        63
        Oracle 12c 30

        Oracle 12cR2

        Oracle 18c

        Oracle 19c

        Oracle 21c

        128

        Redshift

        127

        Teradata 15.x

        Teradata 16.x

        Teradata 17

        128
        Google BigQuery 128

        Snowflake

        256

    Privileges

    See Privileges by License Type for information about license types and associated privileges.

    The Use Hyper SDK privilege is required to use Hyper SDK. See KB484951 for more information.

    The Use Freeform SQL Editor privilege has been migrated from the Client - Architect license to the Server - Intelligence license. You can grant this privilege to the user and it won't occupy a Client - Architect license. Although it is listed under Client-Architect in the User Editor, it is mapped to the Intelligence license when the Intelligence server does a compliance check.

    The Enable on-premise data access via gateway agent privilege has been added to the Server - Intelligence license.

    2021 Platform, February

    MicroStrategy Application

    Download the MicroStrategy app from the MicroStrategy download site.

    MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence

    Ability to support and enforce mobile security policies through any EMM platform that supports the AppConfig standards on HyperMobile for Android.

    MicroStrategy Workstation

    • Configure Okta as an OIDC authentication provider.
    • View all database instances and set security access.
    • Browse, filter, and search schema objects by ID.

    Data Sources

    See Platform Certifications for information about the latest supported and certified configurations.

    New SAP ECC Data Gateway.

    MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK

    Preconfigure Library Mobile for Android.

    2021 Platform

    MicroStrategy Desktop MicroStrategy Integrity Manager
    MicroStrategy Application MicroStrategy Mobile
    MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK
    MicroStrategy Workstation MicroStrategy Mobile SDK
    MicroStrategy Web MicroStrategy Visualization SDK
    MicroStrategy Library MicroStrategy Embedding SDK
    MicroStrategy Library Mobile MicroStrategy REST APIs
    MDX MicroStrategy Cloud Platform
    Federated Analytics Installation
    MicroStrategy for Office Data Sources
    MicroStrategy Intelligence Server Privileges
    MicroStrategy Platform Analytics

    MicroStrategy Desktop

    MicroStrategy 2021 does not include a separate Desktop application. Soon, Workstation will be available to use for free, offline workflows, just as Desktop previously worked. Advanced functionality in Workstation will only be enabled when you connect to a MicroStrategy environment.

    MicroStrategy Application

    MicroStrategy is the new premiere viewing platform that brings the power of analytics right to the desktop—all at a faster speed. Get the instant response experience with new features unique to the app such as Smart Download and Automatic Refresh that predict and proactively download the content you need both online and offline.

    • Search for and view HyperIntelligence cards in the MicroStrategy app.
    • Share bookmarks to keep your team updated with more in-depth insights.
    • Collaborate with direct messages that allow users to start discussions with individuals or groups.
    • Search for objects both inside and outside of Library with Global Search.
    • Add dossiers or documents to the Favorites section for quick navigation.
    • Create uniquely named and personalized groups to organize content.
    • Search for keywords to find specific data highlighted in a dossier or document.
    • Improved color contrast with a more accessible primary blue and overall color palette

    MicroStrategy HyperIntelligence

    • Create and apply thresholds to the card header.
    • Support for derived metrics on the card editor.
    • Ability to replace datasets without sacrificing card design on the card editor.
    • Embed HyperIntelligence on web-based applications using Hyper SDK.

    • Ability to support and enforce mobile security policies through any EMM platform that supports the AppConfig standards on HyperMobile for iOS.

    MicroStrategy Workstation

    • macOS High Sierra is no longer supported. Only macOS Mojave (version 10.14) and Catalina (version 10.15) are supported.
    • Enable single sign-on with OpenID Connection (OIDC) authentication for Azure.
    • Monitor and manage user connections from the User Connection Monitor.
    • Monitor and manage database connections from the Database Connection Monitor.
    • Monitor and manage subscriptions from the Subscription Monitor.
    • Monitor and manage Intelligent Cubes from the Intelligent Cube Monitor.

    • Additional server and project-level administrative settings migrated from Developer to Workstation. See the following topics for more information:

      • Edit Server-Level Governing Settings
      • Edit Server-Level Security Settings
      • Edit All Server-Level Settings
      • Edit Application-Level Cache and Intelligent Cube Settings
      • Edit All Application-Level Settings
    • Secure text input through parameterized queries. See KB484512 for more information.
    • Improved performance when using percentile functions. See KB484742 for more information.
    • Enhanced formatting properties when creating documents.

    • Dossier enhancements, including:

      • Create dossier-level filters to filter data across multiple chapters or an entire dossier.
      • Visualization Gallery moved to top toolbar to showcase nine new one-click Bar charts, three new one-click Line/Area charts, and provide more authoring space.
      • Compare two or more metric values in a Bar chart using a common scale with the new Synchronized Axis Bar chart or right-mouse-clicking on a dual-axis chart.
      • Enhanced Pie and, new out-of-the-box, Ring chart with optimized use of container blank space, improved data labels with leader lines, and option to show as a percentage.

      • Allow multiple selections for data labels in pie, circle, and bar charts.

      • Sort pie and ring charts in ascending or descending order.
      • New Waterfall chart supports Show Difference and Show Sum modes to display data intuitively, as well as an option to hide or show the connection line.

      • Build Geospatial Service visualizations with the following new styles:

        • Border: Display only geographic borders and no terrain details. Use a background color or image to make the data pop.
        • Focused: Focus only on the geographic area where you have data, without surrounding areas distracting the view.
      • New Format panel option to disable panning, zooming, tilting, and rotating of Geospatial Service visualizations.
      • New Format panel option to disable the Geospatial Service visualization toolbar.
      • Sort and filter the attributes/metrics in the Dataset panel with new one-click filtering options for derived metrics, geo-attributes, unused objects, objects used on selected visualization, and more.
      • Create dynamic default filters based on the First N / Last N element(s).
      • Support passing filter selections and answer prompts while linking from text boxes and images.
      • Change the fill color opacity for text boxes, grids, and containers to customize transparency.
      • Add shapes to the canvas from the top toolbar to visually group elements, help frame a visualization, or create a layered effect.
      • Smarter labels for most visualizations to improve readability and design.
      • Additional visualization formatting flexibility through x-axis label rotation and word wrap.
      • Enhanced grid sorting to support working with totals, as well as allowing users to specify nested, absolute, and level grid sorting on metrics.
      • Hide or show the Metrics header text in a grid visualization.
      • Select and copy individual grid cells contents and URLs to the clipboard.
      • Customize the position of hierarchical attribute parent elements above or below child elements in grids. This feature only applies to MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.
      • Import measures as regular dimensions when using Oracle Essbase MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.

      • Support a new MDX/OLAP data source of Kyvos 2020.2.4 for hierarchy reporting.

      • Add metrics to rows in compound grids.
      • Use compound grid visualizations to filter data in other visualizations.
      • Enable vertical scrolling in free-form layout dossiers.
      • Hide or show visualization containers for mobile views in free-form layout.
      • Use the keyboard to move and delete, disable auto-snapping, and select all layers under free-form layout dossiers.
      • Export dossiers to PDF while in presentation mode.

    MicroStrategy Web

    • Secure text input through parameterized queries. See KB484512 for more information.
    • Export hierarchy reports to Excel with the hierarchy structure and levels preserved.
    • A new feature flag called Customize the Position of Parent Elements appears on the General Preferences page. Administrators can turn on this feature flag to allows users to customize the position of hierarchical attribute parent elements above or below child elements in dossier grids. The default setting is Off.
    • Improved performance when using percentile functions. See KB484742 for more information.

    • Dossier enhancements, including:

      • Create dossier-level filters to filter data across multiple chapters or an entire dossier.
      • Visualization Gallery moved to top toolbar to showcase nine new one-click Bar charts, three new one-click Line/Area charts, and provide more authoring space.
      • Compare two or more metric values in a Bar chart using a common scale with the new Synchronized Axis Bar chart or right-mouse-clicking on a dual-axis chart.
      • Enhanced Pie and, new out-of-the-box, Ring chart with optimized use of container blank space, improved data labels with leader lines, and option to show as a percentage.

      • Allow multiple selections for data labels in pie, circle, and bar charts.

      • Sort pie and ring charts in ascending or descending order.
      • New Waterfall chart supports Show Difference and Show Sum modes to display data intuitively, as well as an option to hide or show the connection line.

      • Build Geospatial Service visualizations with the following new styles:

        • Border: Display only geographic borders and no terrain details. Use a background color or image to make the data pop.
        • Focused: Focus only on the geographic area where you have data, without surrounding areas distracting the view.
      • New Format panel option to disable panning, zooming, tilting, and rotating of Geospatial Service visualizations.
      • New Format panel option to disable the Geospatial Service visualization toolbar.
      • Sort and filter the attributes/metrics in the Dataset panel with new one-click filtering options for derived metrics, geo-attributes, unused objects, objects used on selected visualization, and more.
      • Create dynamic default filters based on the First N / Last N element(s).
      • Support passing filter selections and answer prompts while linking from text boxes and images.
      • Change the fill color opacity for text boxes, grids, and containers to customize transparency.
      • Add shapes to the canvas from the top toolbar to visually group elements, help frame a visualization, or create a layered effect.
      • Smarter labels for most visualizations to improve readability and design.
      • Additional visualization formatting flexibility through x-axis label rotation and word wrap.
      • Enhanced grid sorting to support working with totals, as well as allowing users to specify nested, absolute, and level grid sorting on metrics.
      • Hide or show the Metrics header text in a grid visualization.
      • Select and copy individual grid cells contents and URLs to the clipboard.
      • Customize the position of hierarchical attribute parent elements above or below child elements in grids. This feature only applies to MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.
      • Import measures as regular dimensions when using Oracle Essbase MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.

      • Support a new MDX/OLAP data source of Kyvos 2020.2.4 for hierarchy reporting.

      • Add metrics to rows in compound grids.
      • Use compound grid visualizations to filter data in other visualizations.
      • Enable vertical scrolling in free-form layout dossiers.
      • Hide or show visualization containers for mobile views in free-form layout.
      • Use the keyboard to move and delete, disable auto-snapping, and select all layers under free-form layout dossiers.
      • Export dossiers to PDF while in presentation mode.
    • Enhanced security when using the MicroStrategy Connector. To take advantage of the improved MicroStrategy Connector, enable CORS settings on your Library Server.

    MicroStrategy Library

    • Share bookmarks to keep your team updated with more in-depth insights.
    • Collaborate with direct messages that allow users to start discussions with individuals or groups.
    • Search for objects both inside and outside of Library with Global Search.
    • Add dossiers or documents to the Favorites section for quick navigation.
    • Create uniquely named and personalized groups to organize content.
    • Enable or disable the view of the Comments and Discussion panel across environments.
    • Improved PDF generation response time when exporting from a dossier.
    • Select and copy individual grid cells contents and URLs to the clipboard.
    • Export dossiers with Table of Contents and grid pagination.
    • Enable auto-fit for column width when exporting a document or dossier grid to Excel.
    • Enhanced grid sorting to support working with totals, as well as allowing users to specify nested, absolute, and level grid sorting on metrics.
    • Customize the position of hierarchical attribute parent elements above or below child elements in grids. This feature only applies to MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.
    • Export hierarchy reports to Excel with the hierarchy structure and levels preserved.
    • Improved color contrast with a more accessible primary blue and overall color palette
    • Seamlessly re-direct Library sessions to a healthy node when the current Intelligence server node is hanging or crashing.
    • Allow the Library server to communicate with the MicroStrategy Modeling service when auto-configuration has failed.

    MicroStrategy Library Mobile

    iOS

    • Use a document or dossier as the home screen to build powerful mobile experiences.
    • New universal MicroStrategy Library app that can be installed on both the iPhone and iPad.
    • View Library in low-light environments with support for Dark Mode in iOS.
    • Select and change text sizes within dossier grids.
    • Share bookmarks to keep your team updated with more in-depth insights.
    • Collaborate with direct messages that allow users to start discussions with individuals or groups.
    • Search for objects both inside and outside of Library with Global Search.
    • Add dossiers or documents to the Favorites section for quick navigation.
    • Create uniquely named and personalized groups to organize content.
    • Download multiple versions of PDF and Excel files in one single location for future reference and version comparison.
    • Deep link to Library from other applications.
    • Library Mobile certification for iOS 14.
    • Export dossiers with Table of Contents and grid pagination.

    Android

    • Support for tap, tap and hold, and double tap touch gestures.
    • Support for swiping gestures between dossiers pages.
    • Support for multi-select touch gestures to select multiple objects.
    • Share bookmarks to keep your team updated with more in-depth insights.
    • Collaborate with direct messages that allow users to start discussions with individuals or groups.
    • Search for objects both inside and outside of Library with Global Search.
    • Library Mobile certification for Android OS 11.
    • Deep link to Library from other applications.
    • Export dossiers with Table of Contents and grid pagination.
    • Customize the position of hierarchical attribute parent elements above or below child elements in grids. This feature only applies to MDX/OLAP sources for hierarchy reporting.

    MDX

    • Ability to control aggregation behavior on metrics defined with a SCOPE statement with SSAS data sources for hierarchical reporting (MDX).
    • Added support for Secure Network Communications (SNC) authentication method against SAP WH (MDX).
    • Improved performance on hierarchical reporting against OLAP sources (MDX) through parallel execution of multiple MDX queries.
    • Add dossiers with hierarchical reporting via Live connection to OLAP sources (MDX) to History List caching for faster response time.

    Federated Analytics

    MicroStrategy for Power BI

    • Improved import performance.
    • Import data in your defined locale.

    MicroStrategy for Tableau

    • Improved import performance.
    • Use the suggested default MicroStrategy Library URL.

    MicroStrategy for RStudio

    RStudio Server Open Source Edition 1.2 is certified.

    MicroStrategy Packages for Python (mstrio-py)

    • Support for standard and LDAP authentication using a proxy server.
    • Manage server, server configuration, and cluster details.
    • Use Python modules to manage schedules and subscriptions.
    • Manage Library content, including dossiers and documents.
    • Use sample scripts to manage applications and create users, user groups, and user security.

    See the mstrio-py help for more information.

    MicroStrategy for Office

    • Import data from compound grid visualizations to Excel.
    • View imported object and source information such as prompt answers, filters, attributes, metrics, owner, certification status, last modified date, etc., of imported data in the add-in side panel.
    • Select a new import destination if the original selected range is unavailable.
    • Support for OIDC authentication for Azure.

    MicroStrategy Intelligence Server

    • Replace a slice of data in an Intelligent Cube using a single incremental cube refresh step.
    • The VLDB property, Attribute to Join When Key From Neither Side can be Supported by the Other Side becomes obsolete once you upgrade your data engine version to 2021. See KB484738 for more information.
    • Improve report and cube performance against the data warehouse by using an attribute form caching Intelligence cube.

    • Keep up to two times more In-Memory Cubes active on existing hardware using Smart Memory Usage on Intelligence Server.

    MicroStrategy Platform Analytics

    Configure Platform Analytics to use a custom respository database name.

    MicroStrategy Integrity Manager

    New modern, user-friendly page for SQL comparison in dossiers, documents, and reports.

    MicroStrategy Mobile

    iOS

    • MicroStrategy Mobile certification for iOS 14.
    • Mobile SDK certification with AppConfig for iOS 14.

    MicroStrategy Library Mobile SDK

    iOS

    • When you customize Library Mobile SDK for iOS, you must have an Apple Mac, running Xcode® 12.0 with the Apple iOS SDK 14, to develop and compile your application.

    • Deep link to Library from other applications.
    • Preconfigure Library Mobile for iOS.

    Android

    • The Library Mobile SDK for Android is certified to work with Android 11 (API level 30). When you customize Library Mobile for Android, you must have Android SDK 30 to develop and compile your application. Android Studio 3.6 and up is supported.

    • Deep link to Library from other applications.

    MicroStrategy Mobile SDK

    iOS

    When you customize MicroStrategy Mobile SDK for iOS, you must have an Apple Mac, running Xcode® 12.0 with the Apple iOS SDK 14, to develop and compile your application.

    Android

    The MicroStrategy Mobile SDK for Android is certified to work with Android 11 (API level 30). When you customize MicroStrategy Mobile for Android, you must have Android SDK 30 to develop and compile your application. Android Studio 3.6 and up is supported.

    MicroStrategy Visualization SDK

    Configure the display of the Change Visualization context menu.

    MicroStrategy Embedding SDK

    • Custom error handling.
    • Apply multiple filters after a dossier is rendered.
    • Show or hide the shareDossier function.

    MicroStrategy REST APIs

    • Identify applications to load on server startup.
    • Manage filter objects through the Modeling service.
    • Create and edit email subscriptions.
    • List available recipients for a given user, including Shared List and Personal Addresses.
    • Execute a single subscription on demand.
    • Create, update, and delete schedules.
    • Manage data sources with a complete set of REST APIs.
    • Ability to request DateTime data to be returned from reports, cubes, and dossiers in the ISO 8601 format.
    • Ability to update page-by selections for reports.
    • Enhancement to APIs returning data from reports and cubes to allow the modification of attribute and metric template positioning.
    • Enhancement to APIs that execute reports, cubes, and dossiers to allow the request for asynchronous executions.
    • Monitor and manage cubes. This includes viewing and changing the status of a cube.
    • Additional server and application level settings from MicroStrategy Developer are available in MicroStrategy Workstation.
    • Ability to request object lineage information.
    • Create, list, and delete multi-content subscriptions.

    MicroStrategy Cloud Platform

    Improved scalability of deployments across AWS and Azure, including:

    • A new One-Node Enterprise deployment type for production-quality single node deployments that leverage scalable file storage and high availability MD instances
    • The availability of one-click hotfix upgrades to M2019 Update 7 and M2020 Update 3
    • The ability to stop/start/resize individual nodes within a cluster for improved vertical scalability

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)

    Security enhancements, including:

    • Option to deploy environments with only Private IPs
    • Automatic, default SSL encryption between I-server and Web server in MCP deployments for 11.3 and beyond
    • Improved load balancer encryption to TLS 1.2 protocol

    Enhanced global availability of MCP deployments recently expanding into the following regions:

    • Middle East (Bahrain)
    • Canada Central
    • Sao Paulo
    • EU (Stockholm)

    Azure

    Security enhancements, including:

    • Option to deploy environments with only Private IPs
    • Automatic, default SSL encryption between I-server and Web server in MCP deployments for 11.3 and beyond
    • Improved load balancer encryption to TLS 1.2 protocol

    Enhanced global availability of MCP deployments recently expanding into the following regions:

    • South Central US (Texas)
    • Canada Central
    • Asia Southeast
    • Japan East
    • South Africa (North)

    Installation

    • The Windows and Linux debug installation log file MSTRInstall.log has been renamed to MSTRDebugInstall.log to help distinguish it from the high-level install.log. Additionally, the file has been moved to the Log directory to centralize all log collection.
    • The MicroStrategy Repository is now an independent component that can selected for use during installation for Platform Analytics and Collaboration Server. If you want to use your own certified Postgres database, or if you have already installed the MicroStrategy Repository on another machine, a new screen allows you to connect to a remote repository instead.
    • Administrators can now use the Recheck button for Windows and Linux installations when missing requirements are identified. Now, the requirements can be installed, and without leaving the same installer screen, administrators can recheck these requirements and proceed when they have all been satisfied.
    • MicroStrategy now supports and bundles Adopt OpenJDK11 with the Linux and Windows platform installers. Fresh installations or upgrades to 2021 are automatically upgraded, with no further action needed. For your hosted J2EE web application servers, you must upgrade to JDK11 before deploying the new 2021 WAR files. You may also use Oracle JDK11, which is supported.

    Data Sources

    See Platform Certifications for information about the latest supported and certified configurations.

    1. Gateway Certification

      • Teradata 17
      • Oracle Cloud 19c
      • Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse
      • SAP HANA 2.0 SPS05
      • PostgreSQL 12 & 13
      • IBM DB2 11.5
      • IBM Integrated Analytics System 1.0
      • MongoDB 4.x
      • Cloudera Data Platform 7.1
      • Yellowbrick 4.0

    2. New Gateways

      • New Cloud Object Storage Connector supporting AWS S3, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 and Google Cloud Storage for files in Parquet, Avro, and ORC formats.
      • New Gateway Connectors for Kyvos, Yellowbrick, IBM Integrated Analytics System (IAS).
      • New OData Connectors for SAP S/4 HANA, SAP BW/4 HANA.
      • Azure SQL Data Warehouse is now Azure Synapse Analytics and is certified with MicroStrategy. See the Microsoft documentation for more information.

    3. OOTB Driver Updates

      • Teradata drivers are bundled out-of-the-box with MicroStrategy installation (Teradata Driver 17).
      • Snowflake drivers are bundled out-of-the-box with MicroStrategy installation (Snowflake Driver 3.12.11 (JDBC) and 2.21.2 (ODBC)).
      • SAP Hana Drivers are bundled out-of-the-box with MicroStrategy installation (SAP Hana Driver 2.6).
      • MicroStrategy 2021 ships the latest drivers for all gateways MicroStrategy ships out-of-the-box optimizing security and performance.

    4. Gateway Deprecation

      • Some connectors are deprecated.

    5. Security and Performance Enhancements

      • Support Kerberos, certificate-based authentication, and scram-sha-256 for password encryption of PostgreSQL. See KB484539, KB484540, and KB484541 for more details.
      • TLS configuration is supported in GUI and command line mode for all gateways that MicroStrategy ships out-of-the-box in the Connectivity Wizard. (SAP HANA excluded) See KB42495 for more information.
      • Secure SQL Execution using parameterized queries has been enabled by default for the following data sources: Amazon Redshift, IBM Db2, Oracle, Teradata, PostgreSQL, SAP HANA, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, MySQL, Yellowbrick, MemSQL, IBM IAS, IBM IPS, IBM Netezza, and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Compatible. See KB484512 for more information.
      • Implement unified quoting with Diamond and Platinum gateways as well as select gold gateways - PostgreSQL, Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, Yellowbrick, IBM Integrated Analytics System, IBM Netezza, and IBM Performance Server for PostgreSQL.
      • The calculation of the DateDiff function has been pushed to the gateway side for SQL Server, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Amazon Redshift. To incorporate this change, you must update your metadata and schema. This change increases performance when executing reports and live dossiers or when publishing cubes against SQL Server or Amazon WH when DateDiff calculations are used.
      • The calculation of the Percentile function has been pushed to the gateway side for all Diamond and Platinum data sources. To incorporate this change, you must update your metadata and schema. This change increases performance when executing reports and live dossiers or when publishing cubes when Percentile calculations are used.
      • Snowflake - Improved live connections (report/cube) throughput performance by up to three times by updating the default Intermediate Table Type to Derived Table.

    6. Functionality Enhancements

      • Extended Connectivity Wizard DSN creation for Google BigQuery, Apache Spark SQL, Hive, Impala, Teradata and Snowflake.
      • Google BigQuery gateway now supports Billing Project and Catalog Browsing by Namespace.
      • Seamless Authentication for JDBC and ODBC Drivers Leveraging OAuth Workflow. For example, Snowflake and Google. BigQuery.
      • New report searching functionality for Salesforce Report gateway connector. See KB484556 for more information.
      • Network proxy support for MicroStrategy Community Connectors.
      • Support HTTP connection (proxy connection) for relational gateways.

    Privileges

    See Privileges by License Type for information about license types and associated privileges.

    A few privileges have been migrated between license groups.

    • The following privileges have been moved from Client-Web to Client-Reporter:
      • Web add to History List
      • Web execute datamart report
    • The following privileges have been moved from Server-Intelligence to Server-Reporter:
      • View History List
      • Save personal prompt answers
    • The following privilege has been moved from Client-Web to Server-Distribution:
      • Web subscribe to History List