Excel Excel OLAP features and limitations Pivot tables, charts, named sets, cube formulas, online/offline cubes and so much more Best of combined PowerPivot with Analysis Services cubes Demo: Excel with Analysis Services Cubes Reporting Services with Analysis Services Cubes Reporting Services OLAP features and limitations BIDS and Report Builder 3.0 Analysis Services and OLE DB providers MDX Query Designer Filters, parameters, groups, sorts, charts, aggregates and KPIs Demo: Using BIDS Reporting Services Projects Resources
OLAP@Work Excel 97 Add-In Excel 2007 Excel Add-In Pivot Table Services Office Web Components Excel 2007/2010 Online/Offline cubes Allows multiple Fact tables Named sets, filters and visual totals Interactive charts and filters Slicers KPIs, Conditional formatting and server defined formatting Drill-through and custom actions Cube formulas, convert to formulas Sparklines, data bars More columns and rows 16,384 columns 1,048,576 rows Excel 2010 PowerPivot Add In Powerful VertiPaq in-memory analytics Mash ups from a variety of sources Rows limited only by memory and disk space Excel 2010 PowerPivot Warning! Excel pivot tables are inflexible but can be extended using VBA and convert to formulas features To see MDX use a Profiler trace or CodePlex PivotTableExtender Excel applies different MDX syntax and Pivot Table versions Be prepared for challenging issues and research known issues Do a proof-of-concept BEFORE committing to requirements
Data tab From Other Sources Cube or Perspectives
Excel Services Security Drill-Through Limits Connection String
Define security within the cube Test security views of data on the cube by toggling between users Test security views of data when in Excel using the Roles property of the connection string or logging in under that user Click Users Icon Define Cube Role Security Set Role to Test in Connection Select Role to Test
OLAP and Pivot Features Measures, Dimensions, KPIs Pivot Chart Filters Pivot Table Fields
Add Slicer styles and customize settings Choose Cube Dimension for Slicer Connect Slicers to multiple pivot table objects and charts
Report pivot table design theme templates Pivot table dimensions, named sets, KPIs and measures fields Interactively expand or collapse hierarchies Slicers can be connected to multiple pivot tables and chart objects Multiple selection, custom label and value filters with optional Visual Totals Excel issues derived MDX queries SELECT FROM (SELECT ) for filters Some calculated members do not work with filters and non-visual totals in Excel 2007 versions Show or hide selected dimension fields Optional hover over Property display in tooltips Conditional formatting Default and custom sorting and grouping VBA can be used to extend features
Advanced Conditional Formatting and Icons No longer limited to 3 conditions Able to choose icons Note that Analysis Services defined icons are not transferred; need to redefine them in Excel Can filter by conditional format
Drill through is a cube defined Action Actions access in Excel 2007/2010 Returned data can be customized Max detail rows to return can be controlled at connection level Other cube Actions supported Show Details Excel feature Displays lowest level of row granularity in the cube Different than Drill to Detail cube Action Show Details
Personal Named Sets Manage Personal Named Sets Define with Excel selection or MDX Named Set displayed in PivotTable field list
7 new cube formula functions Escape the pivot table restrictions Can use anywhere in workbook outside pivot table Nice intellisense prompting
Allows OLAP pivot table data to be converted to linked tabular data for working around limited pivot table report display formats Additional custom columns and functions can be created, can repivot but no longer have nice cube OLAP pivot table data controls Convert to Formulas Cells now reference OLAP Cube Formulas
OLAP Tools Offline OLAP Offline OLAP stores OLAP pivot table view data locally in cube (.cub) files Select Offline OLAP and step through the Create Offline Cube Data File wizard Pivot table defined filter settings are pre-applied to wizard Only fields used in the pivot table will be shown in the field list while offline Skipped dimension levels, KPIs and distinct count measures not supported Online/Offline connection can be toggled Offline cubes allow advanced filtering not enabled with Online Requires the OLE DB Analysis Services Provider connection
Excel
PowerPivot mash-ups allow combining the best of both options Consider potential of mixed Analysis Services cube Actuals data with PowerPivot Excel source Forecast data
Slicers Cube or PowerPivot data source options SSAS Cube Query mashed up with PowerPivot Forecast data sourced by Excel
Same technique in PowerPivot to break out of pivot table format Note linked Excel source pivot table needs to stay consistent to maintain cell references; ok to refresh source but do not re-pivot PowerPivot GETPIVOTDATA Formulas Free form report layout referencing cell in PowerPivot pivot table
Fabulous Excel OLAP Add-In on CodePlex (32-bit only) http://www.codeplex.com/olappivottableextend View MDX Private calculated members Settings options Accessed by right-clicking in Pivot Table
Check all of the Excel PivotTable Option Settings Show calculated members not under Measures set Show Calculated Members to True PivotTable Options>Display Tab>Show Calculated Members from OLAP Server Parent-Child Dimensions using Role Security change Show Properties in ToolTips to False PivotTable Options>Display Tab> Show Properties in ToolTips Windows Firewall Need to open 2 tcp ports 2382 and 2383 or it may block connections
SSRS 2005 MDX Query Designer, Date Picker and Multiple Value Parameters SSRS 2008R2 Maps, Indicators, Report Builder 3.0, Shared Data Sets, Report Parts Gallery SSRS 2000 2008 new architecture improves performance and scalability Report Builder 3.0 huge improvements Ability to use multiple OLAP report parameters and cascading parameters Flexible report design with Tablix Enhanced data visualization (Dundas) Analysis Server aggregates, custom aggregates, calculated measures, extended properties Cell set and row set (flattened) format results with different OLAP providers Report upon PowerPivot sources when deployed via SharePoint SSRS 2008 Tablix, Report Builder 2.0 and Data Visualization Warning! More flexible than Excel - still clunky with parameters Toggling between MDX query design views clears custom MDX Measures do need to be on columns but there are workarounds Research known issues and consider hybrid workarounds Do a proof-of-concept BEFORE committing to requirements
Report authoring Visually design reports & layout via the Report Designer Report management Manage report categorization, data sources, security, subscriptions via the Report Manager Model design End user report creation Enable end users to create their own Adhoc reports via the Report Builder Design semantic models that map to real business entities via the Model Designer 24
Reporting Services provides Managed enterprise reporting Ad-hoc reporting Web-based reporting Report Authoring with BIDS and greatly improved Report Builder 3.0 Enhanced report design controls such as Matrix Ad-hoc reporting control through Report Models Expanded data visualization controls (Dundas) Supports a wide range of data sources SQL Server, Oracle, Teradata, DB2, SAP NetWeaver BI, Hyperion Essbase, web service, XML and others Manages and Delivers Reports Report Manager and Configuration Manager My Reports personalization feature Custom Application and Web Service Extensions High-Performance Report Processing Caching Snapshots Subscriptions
Reporting Services can be configured with SharePoint Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 MOSS SharePoint 2007 and 2010 Report Libraries, Report Explorer and Report Viewer web parts Create dashboards with varied data sources Common filtering of reporting web parts to pass parameters Integration requires SQL Server and Reporting Services Add-in for SharePoint Two modes Full Integrated Mode and Partial Full Integrated Mode offers shared storage, security and centralized access to reports; report server still performs processing, rendering, and delivery Partial Integrated allows Reporting Services Server to stay in Native Mode Full integrated mode Report, Report Model and Data Source content types in Document Library Report Viewer web part can be connected to SharePoint filters Report Builder accessible via right click on a report Version Control, check in/check out Manage subscriptions Alerts
Strengths Composite SharePoint dashboard application development Ease of passing parameters between web parts without custom code Integrated security, defined in one location Report Library versioning, workflow and Report Management menus Weaknesses Integration is not supported if SharePoint is enabled for Anonymous access URL addressing is different Linked reports are not supported Security extension issues My Reports feature is not supported Batching is not supported Note Endpoint referencing can be used to leverage features from both modes
.NET Windows Form Controls and ASP.NET Controls Remote (Server) Mode and Local Mode Remote Mode Reporting Services parameter controls All export formats supported Easier than Local Mode when working with Analysis Services cubes Local Mode Requires creation of parameter controls and passing of parameter values Only exports to Excel and PDF Challenging when working with Analysis Services cubes New Report Viewer features in 2008 Templates create a blank report with form and a ReportViewer control Report wizard and improved Expression Editor with code samples ReportViewer controls now compress PDF exports
Typically BIDS for developers and Report Builder for business users BIDS only report design features Custom report controls,.net assemblies Source code control integration Report Builder 3.0 HUGE usability improvements!!! Improved, flexible report design capabilities that previously were BIDS only features New optional Report Model use Shared and multiple data sources Query designer is available for SQL Server data sources Click-Once user deployment after manually configuring server settings
Report Builder 3.0 New Features Getting so much better with each release! Improved overall usability Ad-hoc reporting tool for non-technical business users or power users Publish new reports to SharePoint or edit existing reports New reusable Report Parts and the Gallery New shared datasets offer a way to share a query for multiple reports Dataset query can include dataset parameters Query results can be cached for specific parameter combinations SharePoint List Data Extension Improved visualizations Sparklines, indicators and basic thematic mapping Rendering Reports to Data Feeds Cube reporting appears to be almost identical to 2.0 with the exception of the new general features previously noted
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Analysis Services Data Provider Supports query parameters Includes Analysis Server aggregates and extended properties Limited to row set (flattened) result formats with static columns and dimension placement on rows* Parent-child hierarchies merged into one column requiring use of a SSRS Recursive Parent Group property Less coding to build reports OLE Provider for Analysis Services Does not support query parameters, requires expression queries Cell set result format allows dynamic columns and dimensions on rows Keeps parent-child hierarchy formats but is inflexible with grouping layout Requires extra coding to build reports * Third-party Intelligencia Query can mitigate some provider issues SOURCE: Applied Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services 2008 by Teo Lachev and MSDN
Row set format flattened
Filters and Parameters Measures, KPIs, Dimensions and Named Sets Calculated Members
MDX editor Warning! Toggling between MDX query design views might clear custom MDX. Save custom MDX outside of the designer.
Developed by Mosha Pasumansky MDX query testing MDX query statistics Analyze and debugging MDX formatting Clear cache Nice visuals for seeing what is really happening
Query filters and dataset filters Query filters preferred; MDX Query Designer has a filter feature Keep in mind dataset filters are applied after the data is retrieved from data source Parameters OLAP sources require cube UniqueMember name parameter values i.e. [Date].[Date].[Date].&[20090106] Date picker requires parameters as Date data type Data sets can be used from different data sources Prune data sets that will be used as parameters Show hidden data sets wizards create Nice cascading parameters features Groups Multiple level row and column groups Advanced recursive parent option for displaying parent child hierarchies Sorting Basic sort at the group level Interactive sort at the cell level Query filter Hidden Datasets Data set filter Parameter
New scale breaks improve visual display of wide value ranges Trend charts can be created using calculated series formulas Multiple axes and chart areas Drill actions can be used for interactive navigation Report sections using bookmarks Another report URL Miscellaneous new features Missing values indicators Custom colors
Subreports Master report passes subreport parameter via the subreport properties Parameter names on master and subreport should match Linked Reports Another report URL Bookmark Document maps provide quick link to a specific report section
Server Aggregates Server based aggregates are defined by the data provider Aggregate Do not confuse with Reporting Services aggregate scope based functions like Sum Server aggregates can only be used in simple group expressions To display server aggregates with detail rows, change dataset Subtotal options KPIs Displayed in MDX Query Designer below Measures Three types of values: KPI Value, Goal and Status
Reporting Services
Date Range Parameters with Calendar Control @DateSet Parameter Expression needs to be in UniqueName format STRTOSET(@DateSet)
Default Values also need to be formatted in unique member format Expression formula ="[Date].[Calendar Date].[Year].&["+CSTR(Year(Today))+"] Reference other data set queries using HEAD and TAIL in MDX <<TAIL HEAD>> (FILTER([Date].[Date].[Date].members, Not IsEmpty ([Measures].[STP Volume])), 1) Expression Formulas HEAD and TAIL in Queries Map Default
Calculated Members can be used in MDX queries WITH MEMBER Measures.[HighValueAccts] AS Sum([Accounts].[Rating].&[HighValue],[Measures].[TransactionCount]) MEMBER Measures.[Specialists] AS Sum([Broker].[Group].&[Specialist], [Measures].[TransactionCount] SELECT {Measures.[HighValueAccts], Measures.[Specialists]} on 0, {StrToMember(@StartPeriod):StrToMember(@EndPeriod)} on 1 FROM SetClear
Recursive parent group property for displaying Parent-Child hierarchies with the Analysis Services provider Row Group Properties
Single Sign On Security when Analysis Services hosted on a different server Kerberos used to delegate user identity from Reporting Services to Analysis Services Trusted Account approach with EffectiveUsername connection string setting Custom security application development For reports with custom, parameterized MDX, first hard code parameter values, then lay out the report and finally go back to create real parameters in MDX Consider a hybrid approach of mixing OLTP data sets and OLAP data sets to work around issues that may be impossible with an OLAP only approach Use MDX query filters for returning a subset of data for report parameters