BI Semantic ModelIn SQL Server 2012@LynnLangit

3 Core Areas

Breakthrough Insights

Mission-Critical

Cloud on your terms

Breakthrough Insights = Better BIPo

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Sem

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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 SSAS3rd 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 - hereOther blogs

About DAX – MVP blog - here

Next Steps

• Install SSAS Tabular mode

• Learn PowerPivot and DAX

• Build a Tabular model

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SQL Server 2012