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

Importing models into SQL Server Data Tools


Importing tabular models hosted in Excel to an SSAS tabular server may be an intermediate step in creating an enterprise-ready tabular database. If an Excel model is to be used as a prototyping mechanism it will more than likely have to be imported with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), so that the model can be saved, managed, and verified in a more robust manner. The tabular model can also be built from scratch using SSDT should a more traditional development environment be required, that is one where Excel is not used.

Tip

For the purposes of the tabular model (in as much as the model revolves around table relationships in calculations), there is no difference between developing in Excel through PowerPivot or SSDT. Indeed, on proof of concept and prototyping situations it is often a good idea to sit with the user, using the same tools as they use and build a model with them!

Getting ready

This recipe examines how to import an existing PowerPivot model...