Introduction to Business Intelligence and Data Modelling
As SQL Server database professionals, delegates may be required to participate in, or perhaps even lead, a project with the aim of implementing an effective enterprise BI solution. Therefore, it is important that they possess a good understanding of the various elements that comprise a BI solution, the business and IT personnel typically involved in a BI project, and the Microsoft products that can be used to implement the solution.
Lessons:
- Introduction to Business Intelligence
- The Microsoft Enterprise BI Platform
Lab: Exploring a BI Solution
Creating Multidimensional Databases
This module provides an introduction to multidimensional databases and introduces the core components of an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube.
Lessons:
- Introduction to Multidimensional Analysis
- Creating Data Sources and Data Source Views
- Creating a Cube
- Overview of Cube Security
Lab: Creating a Multidimensional Database
Working with Cubes and Dimensions
This module describes how to create and configure dimensions and dimension hierarchies in an Analysis Services multidimensional data model.
Lessons:
- Configuring Dimensions
- Defining Attribute Hierarchies
- Sorting and Grouping Hierarchies
Lab: Working with Cubes and Dimensions
Working with Measures and Measure Groups
This module describes measures and measure groups. It also explains how they can be used to define fact tables and associate dimensions with measures.
Lessons:
- Working with Measures
- Working with Measure Groups
Lab: Configuring Measures and Measure Groups
Introduction to MDX
This module describes the fundamentals of MDX and explains how to build calculations, such as calculated members and named sets.
Lessons:
- MDX Fundamentals
- Adding Calculations to a Cube
- Using MDX to Query a Cube
Lab: Using MDX
Customising Cube Functionality
This module describes how to enhance a cube with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), actions, perspectives, and translations.
Lessons:
- Implementing Key Performance Indicators
- Implementing Actions
- Implementing Perspectives
- Implementing Translations
Lab: Customising a Cube
Implementing an Analysis Services Tabular Data Model
This module describes Analysis Services tabular data models and explains how to develop a tabular data model using the SQL Server Data Tools for Business Intelligence (BI) add-in for Visual Studio.
Lessons:
- Introduction to Tabular Data Models
- Creating a Tabular Data Model
- Using an Analysis Services Tabular Data Model in an Enterprise BI Solution
Lab: Implementing an Analysis Services Tabular Data Model
Introduction to Data Analysis Expression (DAX)
This module explains the fundamentals of the DAX language. It also explains how delegates can use DAX to create calculated columns and measures, and how they can be used in your tabular data models.
Lessons:
- DAX Fundamentals
- Using DAX to Create calculated Columns and Measures in a Tabular Data Model
Lab: Creating Calculated Columns and Measures by using DAX
Implementing Reports with SQL Server Reporting Services
This module introduces Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services and discusses the tools and techniques that a professional BI developer can use to create and publish reports.
Lessons:
- Introduction to Reporting Services
- Creating a Report with Report Designer
- Grouping and Aggregating Data in a Report
- Showing Data Graphically
- Filtering Reports Using Parameters
Lab: Creating a Report with Report Designer
Automating Report Execution and Delivery
This module describes how to apply security and report execution settings, and how to create subscriptions to deliver reports.
Lessons:
- Managing Report Security
- Managing Report Execution
- Delivering Reports with Subscriptions and Data Alerts
- Troubleshooting Reporting Services
Lab: Implementing Report Subscriptions
Delivering BI with SharePoint PerformancePoint Services
This module introduces Microsoft SharePoint Server as a platform for BI, and then focuses on building BI dashboards and scorecards with PerformancePoint Services.
Lessons:
- Introduction to SharePoint Server as a BI Platform
- Planning Security for a SharePoint Server BI Solution
- Planning for PerformancePoint Services
Lab: Implementing PerformancePoint Services
Performing Predictive Analysis with Data Mining
This module introduces data mining, describes how to create a data mining solution, how to validate data mining models, how to use the Data Mining Add-ins for Microsoft Excel, and how to incorporate data mining results into Reporting Services reports.
Lessons:
- Overview of Data Mining
- Using the Data Mining Add-in for Excel
- Creating a Custom Data Mining Solution
- Validating a Data Mining Model
- Connecting to and Consuming Data Mining Data
Lab: Using Data Mining to Support a Marketing Campaign
