Book Image

Microsoft Tabular Modeling Cookbook

By : Paul te Braak
Book Image

Microsoft Tabular Modeling Cookbook

By: Paul te Braak

Overview of this book

Business Intelligence Semantic Models (BISM) is a technology that is designed to deliver analytical information to users through a variety of mechanisms that include model structure, definition, and design. This book demonstrates how to create BISM models so that information can be presented to users in an intuitive and easy-to-use format. Once the model is defined, we also show you how it can be managed and maintained so that the data in it remains current and secure. Microsoft Tabular Modeling Cookbook is an all-encompassing guide to developing, managing, creating, and using analytical models using the Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM). This title covers a range of modeling situations and common data analysis related problems to show you the techniques required to turn data into information using tabular modeling. Microsoft Tabular Modeling Cookbook examines three areas of tabular modeling: model development, model management and maintenance, and reporting. This book is a practical guide on how to develop semantic models and turn business data into information. It covers all phases of the model lifecycle from creation to administration and finally reporting. It also shows you how to create models which are designed to analyze data. All sections of BISM modeling from development to management and finally reporting are covered. The sections on development examine a wide range of techniques and tricks required to build models, including moving data into the model, structuring the model to manipulate the data, and finally the formulas required to answer common business questions; all of these are discussed in this book in detail. Finally, the book examines methods of reporting on the data within the model, including the creation of data-driven workbooks and reports for a powerful end user experience.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Microsoft Tabular Modeling Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Calculating running totals – totals to date


Running totals are used to provide point-in-time balances where the source data is transactional, and the balance is determined by performing an aggregate on all the values that exist before the current date.

Traditionally, the aggregation of data from the start of the transactional activity has been burdened with performance problems, and model designers have used point-in-time snapshots to reduce the number of calculations required. However, the xVelocity engine in tabular models is very efficient at managing this type of transaction and a simple calculation based on all prior data, could be a viable option when determining totals to date in your model. This recipe shows you how to add a running total to a model.

Getting ready

This recipe determines balances to date for data, and continues with the same type of sales data that has been used in prior chapters. Open the workbook Sales Book - Time Calcs.xls and import the Sales Header, Sales Detail...