At Code Mastery Boston Steve Hughes, Principal Consultant at Magenic, highlights: Basics of SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services, Multidimensional Model, VS PowerPivot, Creating a Tabular Model

1. Creating a Tabular Model
Using SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services
Steve Hughes
Principal Consultant, Magenic
May 2, 2012

2. Agenda
» Basics of SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services
» VS Multidimensional Model
» VS PowerPivot
» Creating a Tabular Model – AKA the Demo
» Wrap Up

3. SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services
Only two models, really?

4. How many models in SSAS?
» BISM (2012)
» Business Intelligence Semantic Model
» UDM (2005-2008 R2)
» Unified Dimensional Model
» Multidimensional Model
» Data Mining Model
» Tabular Model

5. Connectivity model or data model?
Third-party Reporting
Excel
SharePoint
applications Services PowerPivot Insights
» Connectivity
» BISM
» Data BI Semantic Model
Multi-
Data model dimensional
Tabular
» Tabular
Business logic
MDX DAX
» Multidimensional and queries
Direct
Data access ROLAP MOLAP VertiPaq Query
Databases LOB Applications Files OData Feeds Cloud Services

6. VS Multidimensional Models
What happened to my UDM and why isn’t it good enough?

7. Multidimensional model differentiators
» Tabular » Multidimensional
» In memory cache » File based storage
» Loose structure » Rigid structure
» Data does not need to move » It is best when data is put into a
from source star schema
» Relational model » Dimensional model
» DAX » MDX
» Simple » Complex
» Smaller » Larger

8. VS PowerPivot
Is a tabular model really PowerPivot for SQL Server?

9. PowerPivot differentiators
» Tabular » PowerPivot
» Visual Studio Project » Excel
» Deploy to SSAS » Deploy to SharePoint
» Size limited to memory » Size limited to 2GB
» Supports Partitioning xVelocity »No partitions
» DirectQuery and Vertipaq » Vertipaq only
» Server Admin tools (e.g. SSMS) » Excel and SharePoint “Admin”
» Row level & dynamic security » Workbook file security

10. Vertipaq is now xVelocity
» Vertipaq has been rebranded into xVelocity
» Vertipaq was too hard to spell and did not contain “x”. 
» xVelocity
» In memory, highly optimized data storage and querying engine
» Used in
» PowerPivot
» SQL Server Analysis Services – Tabular model
» SQL Server – Column data store

11. New Features in Both
» Hierarchies
» KPIs
» Perspectives
» Diagram View (YAY)
» New DAX functions
» And more…

12. The Tabular Model
Creating the tabular model in SSAS

13. Building the tabular model
» Source: AdventureWorks (not the DW version)
» Plan
» Create project
» Add data source
» Add measure
» Add partition
» And more …

14. Wrap Up
Q & A and my contact info

15. Steve Hughes
» Principal Consultant with Magenic
» Over 15 years with SQL Server
» Chair of Minnesota SQL Server User Group (PASSMN)
» PASS Regional Mentor for US-NorthEast Region
» Contact Info
» Blog: http://www.dataonwheels.com
» Twitter: @DataOnWheels
» Email: steveh@magenic.com

16. More SQL Learning Opportunities
» New England SQL Server User Group (http://nesql.org)
» 5/10/2012: How to not be a cranky DBA
» 6/14/2012: Reducing data integration TCO – SQL 2012 Best Practices
» Meets here – MS in Waltham
» Boston BI User Group (http://bostonbi.org)
» Meets on First Tuesday of each month
» Meets here – MS in Waltham
» SQL Saturday #142 – Waltham (http://sqlsaturday.com/142)
» 5/19/2012: 30 sessions on SQL Server
» Event is here – MS in Waltham

17. Thanks for joining us