Post on 18-Jan-2016
Self Service BI:
21st November 2009
Bob DuffyDatabase ArchitectProdata SQL Centre of Excellence
Project GeminiPowerPivot
Speaker Profile – Bob Duffy• SQL Server MVP
• MCA for SQL Server (aka SQL Ranger)
• MCM on SQL 2005 and 2008
• 18 years in database sector, 250+ projects
• Senior Consultant with Microsoft 2005-2008
• Regular speaker for TechNet, MSDN, Users Groups, Irish and UK Technology Conferences
• On MCM 2008 exam working group
• Database Architect at Prodata SQL Centre Excellence, Dublin
Agenda• Why Self Service BI• What is PowerPivot?• PowerPivot for Excel• PowerPivot for SharePoint
The BI road so far 2005/8
“Trad” 2005/8 BI Architecture
Problems with Traditional BI ?
#1 The Business User
“It has to stay in Excel. We just won’t use another tool.”
“We don’t know what is OLAP and dimensional modeling and we don’t care to know. Even relational modeling is a bit too hard.”
“Don’t ask us to design or model anything in advance. We should just be able to load our data in and work. Exactly as do in Excel.”
Can we compare the data to competitors data ?
Can we analyze this data by tomorrow ?
#2 The IT Perspective on using Excel
Arrrggg… #%^$%
“Spreadmarts”
“Stale Data” “Multiple Versions of the Truth”
“Unsanctioned Information”
“Rouge Applications”
“Ban Excel!”
“Data locked in Excel sheets”
“Unsecure”
Gemini Goals – Match Conflicting Twins…
Simple and Smart Tool
Scalable and robust
Infrastructure
PowerPivot
Business IT
What is PowerPivot?
>Excel-hosted client & reporting
>In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq)
>PowerPivot for SharePoint
>Operational Monitoring
PowerPivot for Excel…LoadingFilteringMashups
Introducing DAX• Expression Language based on Excel
Syntax• Essential for Calculated Columns and
Measures• Converted to MDX by PowerPivot AddIn• Example Functions:
• RELATED(), RELATEDTABLE()• Filter(Table, Condition)• Distinct(Column)• Concatenation “&”
• Notes:• Works on Columns NOT Rows• Consider “home” sheet carefully
Using DAX:Profit Analysis
Temperature Mashup
Wheres the data?
>Excel-hosted client & reporting
>In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq)
>PowerPivot for SharePoint
>Operational Monitoring
PowerPivot for SharePoint
• Sits under Excel Web Access (EWA)• Installation Gotchas
• Read the guides (on blogs)• Needs Domain Accounts• Easier with “new” farm• Use Windows 2008 x64sp2 (patch for R2 released)• Uses lots of RAM• Limit of 2GB size (blob)
• Needs Enterprise Edition
PowerPivot for SharePoint
What is PowerPivot?
>Excel-hosted client & reporting
>In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq)
>PowerPivot for SharePoint
>Operational Monitoring
Step 1 Monitoring Sandboxes
Step 2 Monitoring Servers
Step 3 Monitoring a Solution
SummaryExcel is user tool of choiceBalance between
User PowerIT Management
Bridges the Organizational DivideGemini is a part of the MS BI stack
Enables the Self-Service scenarioEnhances existing investments
CTP3 Available nowShip next year
References/BlogsOfficial Blog/Sitehttp://blogs.msdn.com/powerpivot/http://www.powerpivot.com/
Analysis Services Team Blogshttp://powerpivotgeek.comhttp://powerpivottwins.com/http://powerpivotpro.com/
General Sitehttp://www.powerpivot-info.com/
Online PowerPivot Labshttps://cmg.vlabcenter.com/default.aspx?moduleid=ad3bd3e9-8d2b-498d-94fa-e41e1b09730d
Thank You!