Book Image

Tabular Modeling with SQL Server 2016 Analysis Services Cookbook

By : Derek Wilson
Book Image

Tabular Modeling with SQL Server 2016 Analysis Services Cookbook

By: Derek Wilson

Overview of this book

SQL Server Analysis Service (SSAS) has been widely used across multiple businesses to build smart online analytical reporting solutions. It includes two different types of modeling for analysis services: Tabular and Multi Dimensional. This book covers Tabular modeling, which uses tables and relationships with a fast in-memory engine to provide state of the art compression algorithms and query performance. The book begins by quickly taking you through the concepts required to model tabular data and set up the necessary tools and services. As you learn to create tabular models using tools such as Excel and Power View, you’ll be shown various strategies to deploy your model on the server and choose a query mode (In-memory or DirectQuery) that best suits your reporting needs. You’ll also learn how to implement key and newly introduced DAX functions to create calculated columns and measures for your model data. Last but not least, you’ll be shown techniques that will help you administer and secure your BI implementation along with some widely used tips and tricks to optimize your reporting solution. By the end of this book, you’ll have gained hands-on experience with the powerful new features that have been added to Tabular models in SSAS 2016 and you’ll be able to improve user satisfaction with faster reports and analytical queries.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Tabular Modeling with SQL Server 2016 Analysis Services Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Customer Feedback
Preface

Connecting to Excel from SQL Server Data Tools


SQL Server Data Tools also has the built-in feature to Analyze in Excel. When prompted you must select the role or user that you want to connect to the model. Users would not typically leverage SQL Server Data Tools. Therefore, this feature allows you to test the perspectives and security to ensure it is working as designed.

How to do it...

  1. Open Visual Studio and the Crash_Data_Solution.

  2. Click on the Analyze in Excel icon.

  3. On the Analyze in Excel Window, select the role that you want to use. In this case, keep Current Windows User and click OK.

  4. Excel opens using the permissions of the account you selected by creating a new workbook and pivot table.

  5. Select MAJOR_CAUSE as rows and YQMD as columns, and finally add Count_of_Crashes as values to ensure you have successfully connected to the model.

How it works...

This recipe allows you to connect to Excel and explore the data the same way your users see the model. While using SQL Server Data Tools...