Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services Tabular
USQLAT
2 days
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Introducing Analysis Services Tabular
In a world where self-service business intelligence becomes more and more important it becomes crucial to understand the power of Online Analytical Processing (OLAP). In this introduction we show the key importance of OLAP systems and discuss the key differences between two OLAP systems that Microsoft Analysis Services provides: Tabular and multi-dimensional.
- What is Online Analytical Processing?
- Microsoft Analysis Services
- Difference between multi-dimensional and tabular
Building Tabular models
Tabular models are developed in Visual Studio. We can start creating models from scratch or we can use models business people already made in Excel and import them in Visual Studio. Not only do you learn to build a basic model, this module also discuss how to extend the model with objects such as display folders, key performance indicators, meta-data translations and more!
- Creating SSAS Tabular projects in Visual Studio
- Importing PowerPivot databases
- Creating databases from scratch
- Linking tables
- Building hierarchies
- Extending the model with KPIs, translations, ...
- Working with Direct Query
- LAB: Building a tabular model in Visual Studio
Enhancing Tabular models with DAX
A tabular model becomes more useful to the business if it already contains business concepts such as year-to-date calculations, percentage of parent calculations and similar pieces of derived data often used in reports and analysis. In tabular Analysis Services models we have to encode this derived calculations using the Data Analysis eXpression language: DAX. This module shows you how DAX can be used to encode many business concepts into your model.
- Why do we need DAX?
- Deriving columns with DAX
- Referencing columns and tables
- Related and RelatedTable
- Building DAX measures
- Row versus filter context
- Using CALCULATE
- Implementing Time intelligence
- LAB: Creating measures and calculated columns with DAX
Administering Analysis Services
For an enterprise solution it is crucial that what has been build by the developers is well maintained as well. This involves taking backups of the deployed models, applying row level security such that business users can only see the objects relevant to their job, refreshing the data in the models (also called processing) and monitoring the models using Extended events, profiler, performance counters and dynamic management views.
- Backup and restore
- Securing the tabular model
- Processing
- Monitoring
- LAB: SSAS Tabular administration
This instructor-led course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to develop Tabular models in SQL Server Analysis Services 2022 (or earlier): Loading data from different sources, enrich data with business concepts (e.g. year-to-date) using DAX, define KPIs and hierarchies,... The course describes as well how to administer tabular databases: Backup, security, monitoring and automating the maintenance of Analysis Services Tabular.
This course is intended for both Business Intelligence developers who want to develop or enhance Analysis Services Tabular models, as well as for people who need to administer Analysis Services Tabular servers. The course is also handy for project managers or analysts who are not afraid of a hands-on introduction in the world of Analysis Services Tabular.
Attendees should know the basics on relational databases. Previous experience with OLAP or Analysis Services is not required.