SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Course

Topics covered on the 3 day SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services course

What is Microsoft Business Intelligence?

• Defining Microsoft Business Intelligence
• Why Use OLAP?
• Understanding the Cube Structure
• Dimensions and Measures
• OLAP Schemas
• Building and Viewing a Sample Cube
• The AdventureWorksDW2008 Source Database
• Deploying a Cube with BIDS
• Viewing the Results in BIDS
• Viewing a Cube Using Excel
• Cubes in Reporting Services

OLAP Modeling

• Selecting a Modeling Tool
• Understanding OLAP Modeling
• Putting it all Together
• Understanding Dimensional Modeling
• Dimension Types
• Understanding Cube Modeling
• Modeling with BIDS
• Understanding the BIDS Interface
• Cube Wizard Modeling Options
• A Note about ETL

Using SSAS in BIDS

• Understanding BIDS
• Offline vs. Online Mode
• Creating Data Sources
• Creating Data Source Views
• Creating a Cube Using the Wizard
• Refining Dimensions and Measures
• Working with Your Cube

Intermediate SSAS

• Refining Attribute Relationships
• Creating KPIs
• How KPIs are Implemented in SSAS
• Customizing the KPI Templates
• Other KPI Considerations
• Creating Perspectives
• Creating Translations
• Localizing Measure Values
• Currency Localization
• Creating Actions

Advanced SSAS

• Working with Multiple Fact Tables
• Linked Objects
• Dimension Usage Configurations
• Using Advanced Dimension Types
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• Snowflake Dimensions
• Degenerate Dimensions
• Parent-Child Dimensions
• Many-to-Many Dimensions
• Role Playing Dimensions
• Writeback Dimensions
• Working with Changing Dimensions
• More about Error Handling for Dimension Attribute Loads
• Change Data Capture
• Using the Business Intelligence Wizard
• Managing Properties
• Dimension Properties
• Hierarchy Properties
• Attribute Properties
• Cube Properties
• Measure Properties

Cube Storage and Aggregation

• Basic Storage: MOLAP
• About XMLA
• Three Storage Modes
• About Aggregations
• Viewing Aggregation Designs
• Customizing Aggregations
• The Aggregation Design Wizard
• The Usage-Based Optimization Wizard
• Using Profiler
• Advanced Storage: MOLAP, HOLAP, or ROLAP
• Using Partitions with Advanced Storage Options
• ROLAP Dimensions
• Implementing Proactive Caching
• Notification Settings for Proactive Caching
• Using Partitions: Relational or SSAS
• Relational Table Partitioning in SQL Server 2008
• How to Implement OLTP Partitioning
• Other Capabilities of OLAP Partitions
• Cube and Dimension Processing Options

Introduction to MDX Queries

• Understanding MDX
• MDX Structure Names
• MDX Syntax Rules
• Writing your First MDX Query
• About Members, Tuples, and Sets
• Working with MDX Functions
• Common MDX Functions Explained
• MDX Functions or Keywords Added or Revised in SSAS 2005

MDX Expressions

• Working with the Calculations Subtab
• Adding Calculated Members
• Examine a Calculated Measure
• Why Use Calculated Members?
• Adding MDX Scripts
• Adding Named Sets
• Adding .NET Assemblies
• Why Use External Assemblies?

Introduction to Data Mining

• Understanding Data Mining Concepts
• Data Mining Terminology
• Understanding Your Business Questions
• Data Mining Algorithm Classifications
• Implementing Data Mining
• Understanding Data Mining Algorithms
• Data Mining Algorithm Features
• Mining Model Algorithms
• Creating Data Mining Structures
• Content and Data Types
• Separating Test and Training Data
• Other Model Properties
• Reviewing Data Mining Structures and Models
• Mining Structure Subtab
• Mining Models Subtab
• Mining Model Viewers
• Mining Accuracy Charts
• Mining Prediction Viewers
• Understanding Mining Structure Processing
• Using SSIS to Process Mining Models
• SSIS and Data Mining
• Working with the DMX (Data Mining Extensions) Language
• A Simple DMXQuery

SSAS Administration

• Implementing SSAS Security
• Reducing the Attack Surface
• Data Source Connection Methods
• Implementing Database Roles
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• Other Security Considerations
• Managing with Scripts
• Implementing XMLA Scripts
• Using Schema Rowsets
• Using Scripts to View SSAS Statistics
• Deploying and Synchronizing Databases
• Deploying by Using BIDS
• Using the Deployment Wizard
• Using the Synchronize Database Wizard
• Understanding SSAS Backup and Restore
• SSAS Database Backups

Advanced Administration and Optimization

• Using SSIS with Analysis Services
• Using SSIS to Process Partitions
• Using SSIS to Process Mining Models
• Other SSIS Analysis Services Tasks
• Improving Availability and Scalability
• Understanding Clustering
• Improving Scalability
• Performance Optimization
• Impacting Performance

Introduction to SSAS Clients

• Using Excel 2007 as an SSAS Client
• Creating Connections
• Implementing PivotTable Reports
• Excel 2007 PivotChart Reports
• Additional Excel 2007 OLAP Tools
• Implementing Excel 2007 as a Data Mining Client
• Configuring the Add-in
• Using the Data Preparation Section
• Examining the Connection Section
• Using the Data Modeling Section
• Using the Accuracy and Validation Section
• Using the Model Usage Section
• Management and Help Sections
• Using the Data Mining Templates for Visio
• Using SQL Server Reporting Services
• Build an SSRS Report
• View the SSRS Report
• Design the SSRS Report
• Deploy the SSRS Report
• Report Builder
• Implementing SharePoint Server BI Features
• Excel 2007 Web Services
• SharePoint Server Data Connection Libraries
• SharePoint Server KPIs
• Other SharePoint Server BI Capabilities