PerformancePoint 2013 and MDX (6 days)

Code: 55061
Course duration: 6 days
Price:

Course Duration: 6 Days

About This Course

This six-day instructor-led course provides students with the necessary knowledge to work with PerformancePoint 2013 Services. The new and improved Business Intelligence Center is explored, and all the exciting new features within the SharePoint 2013 release are covered.

The focus of this course is on the SharePoint 2013 business intelligence platform and not on the SQL business intelligence services.

PowerPivot and Dashboards have included modules.

Using the current set of tools that Microsoft has available the average user can with minimum training utilize drag-and-drop to get the answers to questions such as: sales by quarter, reseller gross profit, and products purchased by geography. They can also create graphical reports and KPIs all without writing a single line of code! (Microsoft course 50561A)

But what if you need questions like this answered?

►What are the top 5 customers by country over the last 8 quarters?

►What is our reorder point based on inventory levels?

►What are our best customers in terms of volume and gross profit?

►What effect does shipping cost have on profitability on a geographical distribution?

►How do we calculate the year-to-date value?

►How do we do year-over-year growth?

►When looking at manufacturing how do we account only for workdays?

Enter Microsoft Multidimensional Expressions (MDX). This instructor-led course is designed to take a person from the very beginning, think “Hello World” in programing to journeyman. The first chapters (1-4) get you well-grounded then from there we expand out. You won’t know how to do every MDX query. You won’t look at every function. But you will understand the patterns and from them you can examine examples and build on them to code your own sophisticated queries. The MBAs will love you!

Audience Profile

This course is intended for power users, business intelligence developers, and IT professionals that will be involved with the design, development and maintenance of SharePoint 2013 business intelligence solutions.

If the past is any indicator of the future then this course will be attended mainly by SQL professionals, Microsoft Analysis Services cube and report developers, and business intelligence professionals coming from competing platforms. But you do not need those skills. The course was not written assuming those skills.

Why this course may be for you:

►Your company is moving or implementing Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services.

►Your organization is implementing department business intelligence with a data mart.

►You want to develop a skillset in high demand.

►The current reports from the cubes do not provide the answers.

►Your organization wants you to get grounding in MDX so you can build out advanced analytics.

►Your boss said so.

At Course Completion

  • Browse the data within the cube using SQL Server Management Studio.
  • Browse data using Visual Studio 2013.
  • Connect to a tabular source, import tables, and explore the data.
  • Explore the options and settings available within the new SharePoint 2013 Central Administration.
  • Create a new web application and business intelligence site while exploring the features of both.
  • Create a SharePoint library to hold Excel workbooks and explore trusted file locations.
  • Utilize the Power View add-in for Excel.
  • Create an Excel workbook with a parameter and save it to a SharePoint document library.
  • Add Web Apps to a webpage.
  • Explore the Dashboard Designer interface and know how to create and configure a data source.
  • Create and configure a standard KPI and a scorecard.
  • Create and configure a leaf KPI and a scorecard.
  • Create two blank KPI’s and then roll them into an objective KPI.
  • Create and configure an analytic chart and an analytic grid, add them to a dashboard, deploy them to SharePoint, and explore the options available.
  • Create and configure a filter, and tie the filter into both the analytic chart and analytic grid created earlier.
  • Create and configure a cascading filter and then tie it into a new analytic chart and grid.
  • Create a Time Intelligence data connection, a Time Intelligence filter, and create a report using both.
  • Create four copies of the Objective Scorecard, configure settings in each of the four copies, and deploy them to SharePoint in a dashboard.
  • Create a new leaf KPI and use that KPI in two new scorecards, one with a filter configured, and one without.
  • Create an objective scorecard and matching strategy map, place them in a dashboard, and then upload the dashboard to the Student BI Site.
  • Use PowerPivot within Excel to import a table from SQL Server.
  • View the relationships existing within the imported tables from SQL Server and then import an additional table and configure a relationship between it and the existing.
  • Hide columns they don’t want reflected in the resulting PivotTable.
  • Create a PivotTable within an existing worksheet.
  • Navigate the Report Builder 3.0 interface.
  • Create an embedded data source connecting into a database.
  • Create an embedded data source connecting into an OLAP database.
  • Create a shared data source using the Report Manager.
  • Create a shared dataset using the shared connection they created in the previous exercise.
  • Create a new dashboard and explore three different ways to connect the Web Apps.
  • Be at a mid-level of competence in MDX.
  • Have an overview of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack.
  • Have an understanding of the available technologies.
  • Understand the difference between multidimensional and flat or tabular space.
  • Understand the importance of schemas in SQL Server Analysis Service.
  • Understand basic syntax of MDX.
  • Have a working knowledge of dimensions.
  • Have the ability to explain what a tuple does.
  • Understand why SSAS cells are important and their properties.
  • Construct an MDX set.
  • Utilize built-in set functions.
  • Understand the importance of navigation to reporting.
  • Locate a cells relatives.
  • Use navigational functions in reporting.
  • Control sorting of reports.
  • Filter the results of a report.
  • Understand how to combine sets.
  • Understand how to utilize expressions.
  • Understand how to use MDX functions in calculations.
  • Understand variances through the WITH clause.
  • Understand how to use sets in expressions.
  • Understand how to work with statistical functions.
  • Understand the use of time in SSAS.
  • Understand how to perform time-based calculations.
  • Navigate time dimensions.
  • Use a calculated measure in a time dimension.
  • Understand how to sum and aggregate data over time.
  • Combine techniques from the other modules and expand where necessary.
  • Understand how to approach and solve MDX problems.
  • Understand how to use MDX in a SQL Server Reporting Services report.
  • Understand MDX in PerformancePoint Services 2010.
  • Understand how to use MDX in a Business Intelligence Development Studio editor.
  • Understand MDX calculations in Form view.
  • Understand how to create KPIs.

Module 1: Course Overview

This module explains how the class will be structured and introduces course materials and additional administrative information.

Lessons

  • Introduction
  • Course Materials
  • Facilities
  • Prerequisites
  • What We'll Be Discussing

Lab 1: Course Overview

  • None
After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Successfully log into their virtual machine.
  • Have a full understanding of what the course intends to cover.

Module 2: The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

In this module we will first look at the three different ways in which business intelligence can be viewed. Then we’re going to look at the services SQL 2012 provides us and how they apply to business intelligence. We will then move to SharePoint 2013 and look at the SharePoint services to examine their relevance and how we can use them in business intelligence to surface data. In this section we will also cover the new business intelligence features available within the SharePoint 2013 release. Finally, we will take a brief look at PowerPivot, examining the new features and their significance. PowerPivot is covered in more detail in a later module.

Lessons

  • Business Intelligence in Three Ways
  • SQL 2012 Business Intelligence
  • New 2013 SharePoint Business Intelligence Features
  • New 2013 PowerPivot in Excel Features

Lab 1: The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

  • SQL 2012 Multidimensional Model Basics
  • SQL 2012 Tabular Model Basics

Module 3: The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Browse the data within the cube using SQL Server Management Studio.
  • Browse data using Visual Studio 2013.
  • Connect to a tabular source, import tables, and explore the data.

Module 4: SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center

In this module, we will explore the new and improved 2013 SharePoint Central Administration site. We are going to cover specifically the new 2013 Business Intelligence Center template within SharePoint. We are also going to cover some things that generically apply to SharePoint that you can use within business intelligence. Permissions and Roles will be illuminated and the included Document Library and List apps will be explained.

Lessons

  • New 2013 SharePoint Central Administration
  • New 2013 Business Intelligence Center
  • Permissions and Roles
  • Included Document Library and List Apps

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center

  • SharePoint 2013 Central Administration
  • SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center (Optional)

Module 5: SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Explore the options and settings available within the new SharePoint 2013 Central Administration.
  • Create a new web application and business intelligence site while exploring the features of both.
  • Create a SharePoint library to hold Excel workbooks and explore trusted file locations.
  • Utilize the Power View add-in for Excel.
  • Create an Excel workbook with a parameter and save it to a SharePoint document library.
  • Add Web Apps to a webpage.

Module 6: PerformancePoint 2013

In this module, we will cover in-depth 2013 PerformancePoint Services features. Dashboard Designer is explored along with many of the objects and connections available within.

Lessons

  • New 2013 Overview of PerformancePoint Services
  • Dashboard Designer
  • Data Sources
  • Indicators
  • KPIs
  • Visual Reports
  • Filters
  • Scorecards
  • Dashboards

Lab 1: PerformancePoint 2013

  • PerformancePoint Services Dashboard Designer Introduction and Data Source Configuration
  • Standard or Blank KPI Demonstration
  • Leaf KPI Demonstration
  • Objective KPI Demonstration
  • Visual Reports
  • PerformancePoint Filters
  • PerformancePoint Cascading Filters
  • Time Intelligence Filters
  • Scorecard Settings
  • Scorecards Filtered Using the Wizard
  • PerformancePoint Dashboards

Module 7: PerformancePoint 2013

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Explore the Dashboard Designer interface and know how to create and configure a data source.
  • Create and configure a standard KPI and a scorecard.
  • Create and configure a leaf KPI and a scorecard.
  • Create two blank KPI’s and then roll them into an objective KPI.
  • Create and configure an analytic chart and an analytic grid, add them to a dashboard, deploy them to SharePoint, and explore the options available.
  • Create and configure a filter, and tie the filter into both the analytic chart and analytic grid created earlier.
  • Create and configure a cascading filter and then tie it into a new analytic chart and grid.
  • Create a Time Intelligence data connection, a Time Intelligence filter, and create a report using both.
  • Create four copies of the Objective Scorecard, configure settings in each of the four copies, and deploy them to SharePoint in a dashboard.
  • Create a new leaf KPI and use that KPI in two new scorecards, one with a filter configured, and one without.
  • Create a new dashboard with two pages and review editing options.

Module 8: PowerPivot

PowerPivot is not a feature of SharePoint business intelligence, however, an Excel workbook with PowerPivot can be saved to a SharePoint site and then used in a business intelligence scenario. This module is intended as an overview of the product only and covers all the new features available in the 2013 release of the add-in.

Lessons

  • New 2013 PowerPivot Features
  • PowerPivot and Excel
  • PowerPivot and SharePoint
  • Enterprise Business Intelligence and PowerPivot
  • Importing Data
  • Enriching Data
  • SharePoint Sharing

Lab 1: PowerPivot

  • Import Data from SQL
  • Review and Edit the Imported Relationships
  • Hide Unused Columns
  • Create a PivotTable

Module 9: PowerPivot

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Use PowerPivot within Excel to import a table from SQL Server.
  • View the relationships existing within the imported tables from SQL Server and then import an additional table and configure a relationship between it and the existing.
  • Hide columns they don’t want reflected in the resulting PivotTable.
  • Create a PivotTable within an existing worksheet.

Module 10: Dashboards

This module borrows from the three-day Microsoft course on Dashboards number 50596A. Monitoring, analyzing, and managing dashboards are discussed along with details on how to use them most effectively. This module does not cover Dashboard Designer as it is covered in more detail in the PerformancePoint Services module. Coverage of the Microsoft Report Builder 3.0 tool is brief as this course focuses on the SharePoint space.

Lessons

  • Dashboard Migration
  • Three Types of Dashboards
  • Successful Dashboards
  • Tables or Graphs
  • Types of Graphs
  • Choosing a Chart Type
  • Key Performance Indicators
  • Pitfalls In Dashboard Design
  • Microsoft Report Builder 3.0
  • Plan Your Reports
  • Datasets
  • New 2013 SharePoint Designer Features
  • SharePoint Web Apps

Lab 1: Dashboards

  • Explore the Report Builder 3.0 Interface (Optional)
  • Create an Embedded Data Source into SQL 2012 Engine (Optional)
  • Create an Embedded Data Source into SQL 2012 Analysis Services (Optional)
  • Create a Shared Data Source Using the Report Manager (Optional)
  • Create a Shared Dataset Using the Shared Data Source (Optional)
  • Three Methods for Connecting Dashboard Web Apps
After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Navigate the Report Builder 3.0 interface.
  • Create an embedded data source connecting into a database.
  • Create an embedded data source connecting into an OLAP database.
  • Create a shared data source using the Report Manager.
  • Create a shared dataset using the shared connection they created in the previous exercise.
  • Create a new dashboard and explore three different ways to connect the Web Apps.

Module 11: Reviewing The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

n/a

Lessons

  • What Business Intelligence Can Do for Your Organization
  • What to Watch Out for in Implementation
  • The Scope and What Types of Tools Address Each

Lab 1: Reviewing The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

  • Examine and Run a Pre-Built SQL Integration Services Package That Performs an Extract Transform and Load into a Data Mart

Module 12: Reviewing The Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Have an overview of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Stack.
  • Have an understanding of the available technologies.

Module 13: Getting Started with MDX

We walk then run. Learn this and you won’t trip.

Lessons

  • Multidimensional VS. Tabular Space
  • Data Warehouse Data Mart
  • MDX Introduction
  • The Editors

Lab 1: Getting Started with MDX

  • Familiarization with the SQL Server Management Studio Query Editor
  • Familiarization with the Business Intelligence Development Studio Query Editor
  • SQL Profiler
  • Basic MDX

Module 14: Getting Started with MDX

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand the difference between multidimensional and flat or tabular space.
  • Understand the importance of schemas in SQL Server Analysis Service.
  • Understand basic syntax of MDX.

Module 15: The All-Important Dimensions; The Bearers of Truth

n/a

Lessons

  • Dimensions
  • Dimension Attributes
  • Hierarchies
  • Referencing Members
  • Tuples
  • Cells
  • Sets
  • Set Functions

Lab 1: The All-Important Dimensions; The Bearers of Truth

  • Dimension Properties
  • Dimension Attributes
  • Single Dimension Hierarchies
  • Multidimensional Hierarchies
  • The AllMember Function
  • The Members Function
  • Referencing Members
  • Syntax Errors
  • Partial Tuple References
  • Multiple Axis
  • Crossjoin
  • Autoexists
  • Exists
  • Removing Duplicate Tuples

Module 16: The All-Important Dimensions; The Bearers of Truth

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Have a working knowledge of dimensions.
  • Have the ability to explain what a tuple does.
  • Understand why SSAS cells are important and their properties.
  • Construct an MDX set.
  • Utilize built-in set functions.

Module 17: Navigation and the Secrets Of Relatives

n/a

Lessons

  • Navigation in Reporting
  • Relatives
  • Navigational Functions
  • Controlling Sorting
  • Filtering the Results
  • How to Combine a Set

Lab 1: Navigation and the Secrets Of Relatives

  • Navigating a Hierarchy
  • Locating Immediate Relatives
  • Siblings
  • Cousin
  • Lead
  • Tail
  • Head
  • Premember
  • Lastchild
  • Firstchild
  • Combining Relative Functions
  • Using the Members Function Effectively
  • Hierarchize Function

Module 18: Navigation and the Secrets Of Relatives

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand the importance of navigation to reporting.
  • Locate a cells relatives.
  • Use navigational functions in reporting.
  • Control sorting of reports.
  • Filter the results of a report.
  • Understand how to combine sets.

Module 19: MDX Calculations

n/a

Lessons

  • Expressions
  • Calculated Members
  • Formatting Output Through the WITH Clause
  • Dynamic Expressions
  • IIF Function
  • Statistical Functions
  • Determining Which Tuples Satisfy a Parameter in a Report

Lab 1: MDX Calculations

  • Explore Variations of the WITH Clause
  • Create Members
  • Calculate Percentages
  • Advanced Formatting

Module 20: MDX Calculations

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand how to utilize expressions.
  • Understand how to use MDX functions in calculations.
  • Understand variances through the WITH clause.
  • Understand how to use sets in expressions.
  • Understand how to work with statistical functions.

Module 21: Working with Time, Multiple Calendars, and Divergent Horizons

n/a

Lessons

  • Time Dimension
  • Multiple Calendars
  • Time-Based Functions
  • ParallelPeriod
  • OpeningPeriod
  • ClosingPeriod
  • LastPeriod
  • Year-To-Date
  • Calculated Measures and a Time Dimension
  • Comparing Periods
  • Sum Function
  • Aggregate Function
  • Max and Min Function in Time

Lab 1: Working with Time, Multiple Calendars, and Divergent Horizons

  • ParallelPeriod
  • OpeningPeriod
  • ClosingPeriod
  • LastPeriod
  • Year-To-Date
  • Calculated Measures and a Time Dimension
  • Comparing Periods
  • Sum Function
  • Aggregate Function
  • Max
  • Min
  • Use Crossjoin and ParallelPeriod

Module 22: Working with Time, Multiple Calendars, and Divergent Horizons

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand the use of time in SSAS.
  • Understand how to perform time-based calculations.
  • Navigate time dimensions.
  • Use a calculated measure in a time dimension.
  • Understand how to sum and aggregate data over time.

Module 23: Business Insights; Now Let’s Put It to Work and Get Some Situational Answers

n/a

Lessons

  • OR Logic
  • AND Logic
  • Combining OR and AND Logic From Different Hierarchies
  • Logical AND with Members From the Same
  • Using the NonEmpty Function
  • Moving Averages
  • Last Date with Data
  • ParallelPeriod for Multiple Dates
  • Testing Current Context
  • Options of the Descendants Function
  • Ranking Values

Lab 1: Business Insights; Now Let’s Put It to Work and Get Some Situational Answers

  • OR Logic
  • AND Logic
  • Combining OR and AND Logic From Different Hierarchies
  • Logical AND with Members From the Same
  • Using the NonEmpty Function
  • Moving Averages
  • Last Date with Data
  • ParallelPeriod for Multiple Dates
  • Testing Current Context
  • Options of the Descendants Function
  • Ranking Values

Module 24: Business Insights; Now Let’s Put It to Work and Get Some Situational Answers

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Combine techniques from the other modules and expand where necessary.
  • Understand how to approach and solve MDX problems.

Module 25: Where Else Will MDX Work? SQL Reports

n/a

Lessons

  • Create a SSRS Report
  • Create a Connection into the Cube
  • Create a MDX Query with the Query Designer
  • Create a Custom Query
  • Pass a Parameter
  • PerformancePoint Services Dashboard Designer (not installed PowerPoint and video demonstration)

Lab 1: Where Else Will MDX Work? SQL Reports

  • Create a SSRS Report
  • Create a Connection into the Cube
  • Create a MDX Query with the Query Designer
  • Create a Custom Query
  • Pass a Parameter

Module 26: Where Else Will MDX Work? SQL Reports

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand how to use MDX in a SQL Server Reporting Services report.
  • Understand MDX in PerformancePoint Services 2010.

Module 27: KPIs and MDX in The Business Intelligence Development Studio Editor

n/a

Lessons

  • Use Business Intelligence Development Studio to Create a Named Calculation in the Cube
  • Use Business Intelligence Development Studio to Create KPIs

Lab 1: KPIs and MDX in The Business Intelligence Development Studio Editor

  • Create a Named Calculation
  • Create a Leaf KPI
  • Create an Objective KPI
  • Utilize IIF Logic in a KPI

Module 28: KPIs and MDX in The Business Intelligence Development Studio Editor

After completing this module, students will be able to:
  • Understand how to use MDX in a Business Intelligence Development Studio editor.
  • Understand MDX calculations in Form view.
  • Understand how to create KPIs.

Prerequisites

  • A good idea of what direction their organization wants to go with business intelligence.
  • Basic Microsoft interface skills such as working with Excel.

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