Presentation to the MN BI User Group on August 23, 2021

1. Power BI / AAS data
model optimization 101
Dan English, Microsoft
- Data & AI Cloud Solution Architect
August 23, 2021

2. Speaker
Background
Dan English
Cloud Solution Architect
Microsoft
http://denglishbi.wordpress.com
@denglishbi
• Published Author / Contributing
Editor

3. Agenda
• Required Tools
• Steps / Process
• Model Review
• Best Practices
• Resources
• Questions

4. Required Tools
• DAX Studio
• Vertipaq Analyzer
• Tabular Editor
• Best Practice Analyzer
Optional
• Performance Analyzer (Power BI
Desktop)

5. Initial Step – get metrics & review
DAX Studio
• Connect to data model
• Export metrics (vpax file)
Vertipaq Analyzer
• Open vpax file
• Review tables, columns, DAX
expressions

6. Key items for Review
• Table sizes (typically target large / Fact tables)
• Column sizes, cardinality, and data types
• DAX Expressions
• Calculated columns
• DISTINCTCOUNT, basic math and division (use
DIVIDE), multiple measure references in a measure
(use variables)
• Evaluate which columns are not referenced in
DAX or used in relationships (from Fact table)

7. Best
Practices
Star Schema design
Only include what is needed for reporting / analysis
Perform logic / calculations downstream to source as much as
possible
Only load granularity needed for reporting
Watch out for precision and type of data
Reduce / simplify reporting
Naming and DAX model references

8. Downloads
• DAX Studio (portable zip version available too)
• Vertipaq Analyzer
• Tabular Editor
• Business Ops Installer (External Tools installer)
• One Tool to Install them ALL - (powerbi.tips)

9. Resources
• My CHECKLIST for troubleshooting Power BI Performance - YouTube
• Understand star schema and the importance for Power BI - Power BI |
Microsoft Docs
• Data models within Azure Analysis Services and Power BI | Azure Blog
and Updates | Microsoft Azure
• Best Practice Analyzer for Tabular Editor Update 5/20
• best practices | Search Results | (desertislesql.com) (3 part series)
• 10 Best practice tips to improve your Tabular Model performance |
BI4ALL - Turning Data Into Insights
• (11) Guy in a Cube - YouTube (best practice search)
• Improve Power BI Performance by Optimizing DAX | MAQ Software

10. Questions