Presentation from Code Mastery-Chicago. Steve Hughes, Principal Consultant

1. Creating a Tabular Model
Using SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services
Steve Hughes
Practice Lead, Data and BI

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. Some Notes on DirectQuery
» Why?
» SQL Server data source only
» No calculated columns
» DAX support in the model is “limited”, basically can’t be used
» Results have been different between DirectQuery and native Tabular
» Cause by semantic differences between xVelocity and SQL Server
» Why Not?
» Security can be implemented at source and in model
» No data refresh required

12. New Features in Both PowerPivot and Tabular
» Hierarchies
» KPIs
» Perspectives
» Diagram View (YAY)
» New DAX functions
» And more…

13. The Tabular Model
Creating the tabular model in SSAS

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

15. Wrap Up
Q & A and my contact info

16. Steve Hughes
» Practice Lead 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

17. Thanks for joining us