BI Semantic Model

@LynnLangit

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Insights = Better BI Storage/Query/Display

Modeling

• PowerPivot Improvements

• BISM for SSAS

Query

• Columnstore• DAX• XMLA

Display

• Excel• SharePoint• PowerView

What is …

• What is it• Why to use it• Who will use it• When / where to install it• How to use it• What else?

SQL Server Analysis Services Modes

• UDM (Multidimensional / Data Mining) Also called OLAP cubes

• BISM (Tabular) Business Intelligence Semantic Model

• PowerPivot for SharePoint

What is the BISM?

• New model for SQL Server Analysis Services• Complimentary to the UDM (OLAP cube)• Must be installed ‘tabular model’ in SSAS

Only one model type per SSAS instance

• Similar to PowerPivot, but on a server Uses Vertipaq

Why Use BISM?

• Quick and simple to set up (flexible model) Fast – in memory by default w/Vertipaq Connects to many types of data Overcomes the limits of desktop Excel client Granular (role-based) security model

• Integrates with PowerView (data source in SPS)

Data Sources for BISM

Some Example Data Markets

• Windows Azure Data Market• DataMarket.com• Factual.com• InfoChimps

When to use the BISM?

• PowerPivot for personal BI Excel desktop + PowerPivot add-in

• PowerPivot on SPS for team BI Excel Services + SharePoint Enterprise

• BISM on SSAS for corporate BI Tabular models created in SSDT Tabular models viewed in one of the clients

Excel Power Pivot / Pivot Tables SharePoint Reports SharePoint PowerView

Installing BISM

• SQL Server 2012 • BI or Enterprise Editions• Install SSAS in Tabular mode

• Build models in Excel –AND-using SSDT • Stand-alone –OR-• Add-in to Visual Studio 2010

• Not installed by default

How to Use BISM?

• Design in SSDT (or import from PowerPivot)• Models can be opened in Excel PowerPivot,

SharePoint or • Can be used as data sources for SSRS in

SharePoint….

Parts of BISM

• Tabular Model Project in SSDT• New or Import• BISM – new or from PowerPivot via Excel

• Workspace Database (in memory by default)

• Views in BISM• Data & Calculation• Diagram• Toolbars—create KPI, etc…• Perspectives are supported as well

Enhancing Models

• Sort or Filter Table data• Add Relationships

(diagram view)• Add Hierarchies (diagram

view)• Adding Calculated

Columns via DAX• Adding Measures and

KPIs via DAX

Diagram View of BISM in SSDT

• Manage Relationships• Create Hierarchies

Using DAX with BISM modeling

• Data-expression Query Language Excel-like simplified version of MDX Excel ‘plus’ adds

Navigate relationships Dynamic calculation of measures Table-valued functions Date/Time intelligence (functions, ex. MTD, QTD, YTD)

BISM Models and Excel

• Can be created in Excel (and imported into SSDT)• Can be viewed in Excel (PivotTables) while modeling in

SSDT

Enhancing the Model – Advanced View

Enhancing the Model – Advanced View 2

• Set the Table Behavior Row ID Uniqueness Default Label Default Image

About Query Modes

• InMemory is the default• Query Mode (SSDT) / Direct Query Mode (SSMS)• Direct Query mode can use Columnstore indexes• Direct Query mode supports only a single data source• Not all DAX functions work in Direct Query mode – c-link

SSAS Server Settings for Tabular Mode

Adding Security Roles

• Map groups to BISM roles

Deployment of BISM in SSDT to SSAS

• Query Mode default is ‘In-Memory’

• Cube Name default is Model

Connecting to a deployed BISM model

• Administration in SSMS• View in Client

Excel / PowerPivot SharePoint PowerView

DAX or MDX?

• MDX issuing clients (Excel) can talk to both multidimensional models and tabular models running in VertiPaq (in-memory) mode.

• MDX cannot be used to talk to DirectQuery models. • DAX issuing clients (Power View) can talk to tabular

models (both kinds - VertiPaq and DirectQuery)• DAX cannot be used to talk to multidimensional models.

This functionality is on the roadmap, but will not be present at RTM

Connect in SSMS

Tips, Tricks & Gotchas

• Installation• SSAS in either

Tabular –or- UDM mode

• Needs prerequisites• Development

• One BISM model per project

• DAX, not MDX• Try it out in Excel

while developing in SSDT

Trying out BISM

Samples• SQL 2012 tutorial - here• CodePlex samples – here

Tips, Tricks, Gotchas for BISM

Must install it correctly when installing SSAS

3rd party tool – BISM Normalizer

Monitoring Resource Usage

• Can use Profiler• Extended Events for monitoring• Can use DMVs• SSAS Operations Guide

What about the UDM?

• UDM / Data Mining is fully supported in SSAS• Must be installed in this mode

Mutually exclusive to Tabular mode

• But, should you use it anymore?

Resources

Team Blog - here

Other blogs

About DAX – MVP blog - here

Next Steps

• Install SSAS Tabular mode

• Learn PowerPivot and DAX

• Build a Tabular model

Related Session(s)

• SQL BI SQL 366 - Understanding Analysis Services in SQL Server 2012 SQL 422 – Integrating Spreadsheets with Enterprise Data SQL 245 - Why Data Warehousing Projects Fail SQL 384 - Data Quality Services (DQS) and Master Data Services in SQL

Server 2012

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