SSAS Tabular: Building Data Models

SSAS Tabular Models Course

I am very pleased to announce that my 3rd course, ‘Building SSAS Tabular Models‘ is released on Pluralsight.

The course covers the following modules:

Getting Started with SSAS Tabular Models

Get an introduction to SSAS and tabular models. Some of the concepts discussed are:

Why we need SSAS if the Data warehouse is already available?
Why Tabular, if Microsoft already has a mature product in the multidimensional model?
Introduction to VertiPaq and DirectQuery engine models
Setting up SSAS & SSDT
And so on..

Importing Data into Tables

Here we look at different ways to import data from different sources. We also discuss the best practices to be followed when bringing the data into your model.

Building Tabular Relationships and Measures

In this module, we discuss different tabular relationships you can create between tables. In addition to that, we also talk about handling scenarios like Role-playing dimensions, Bidirectional cross-filters, and suggestions on the modeling practices to be followed while building relationships.

We also build several measures along the way.

Improving the Usability of the Model

How your SSAS tabular model is adopted in your organization is hugely related to how usable the model is. So, in this module, we will add different usability features like Calculation groups, detailed rows aggregation, KPI, Hierarchies, Perspectives, and Translations that enhance a model’s usability for the end-user.

Deploying the Tabular Model

Once the model is built, deployment is the way you bring the model onto a different server for consumption. This module explores different techniques for deployment, like generating scripts, & automating deployment. In addition to deploying the model to the on-premises server, we will also deploy to Azure Analysis Services.

Selecting the Right Processing Operations for Your Model

We will begin with partitions. Because partitions go hand-in-hand with processing. And then outline different processing strategies to process the data in SSMS and SSDT. We will end the module by discussing different processing strategies and understand how to do incremental loading.

Connecting to Data Sources with DirectQuery

DirectQuery is the alternative way to connect to your model, in addition to the in-memory mode provided by the VertiPaq engine. In this module, we will cover DirectQuery, discuss its pros and cons, and end with some tips on when to use DirectQuery over VertiPaq models.

So, What’s Next?

Here are some clips from the course uploaded on YouTube.

Calculation Groups in SSAS Tabular Models

SSAS Tabular Models - Calculation Groups

Ragged Hierarchies in SSAS Tabular Models

SSAS Tabular Models - Parent-child Hierarchy (Ragged)

Processing SSAS Tabular Models

And, view the trailer of the course here. If you are convinced, take the entire course with a free Pluralsight subscription.

With the course, you also get all the code material I used in the course in the Discussion files section. You have a discussion forum, where you can post your doubts. I will make sure to reply to you as soon as possible.

In addition, you also get MCQs to test your understanding

To view the list of all my courses on Pluralsight, check out this page. I would love to know your feedback. Please comment on how you like the course. Check out the resources I used to produce this course.

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