1. Let’s Build a Tabular Model in Azure
Analysis Services is in Azure? Seriously!? Let's build a model!
Phillip Labry

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4. Phillip Labry Solution Architect IT development for over 25 years
Developer, DBA, BI Architect, Consultant
Experience with Manufacturing, Telecom, Banking, Retail, Government, Insurance, Healthcare, Consulting, Energy, Finance
Blog:

6. Today’s scenario

7. Today’s scenario

8. Basic Terms
Measure
Numeric value that can be aggregated (Sales Amount)
Fact
Collection of fields mainly consisting of Measures
Dimension
Table of values that describes a fact (people, places, things)
Star Schema
Dimension tables radiating out from a related fact table
Snowflake Schema
Dimensions related to other dimensions
Aggregate
A mathematical summarization of measures
Attribute
Another name for Column(used in Dimensions)

9. What is Analysis Services?
Analytical database designed to be business facing
Optimized for aggregating huge data sets
Two flavors: OLAP and Tabular
Two Query languages: MDX and DAX

10. Benefits of Azure Analysis Services
Scale up, down, in, out and pause
No hardware required
Inherent redundancy
Explore data from anywhere
Use the tools you love and know
SSMS, SSDT, Power BI, Excel

11. Why Azure Analysis Services?
Upsize from Power BI
Faster data refreshes
Adjust for peak workloads
New features quicker
Save on hardware costs, IT infrastructure
Data Security

12. Model Types
In Memory
Direct Query

13. Supported data sources – On Premises In Memory and Direct Query
SQL Server
PDW / APS
Oracle
Teradata

14. Supported data sources – On Premises In Memory only
Access Database
Exchange
OData Feed
SAP HANA
Active Directory
Folder
ODBC query
SAP Business Warehouse
Analysis Services
IBM Informix
OLE DB
SharePoint
Analytics Platform System
JSON document
Postgre SQL Database
Sybase Database
Dynamics CRM
Lines from binary
Salesforce Objects
XML table
Excel workbook
MySQL Database
Salesforce Reports

15. Supported data sources - Azure
In-memory
DirectQuery
Azure SQL Database
Yes
Azure SQL Data Warehouse
Azure Blob Storage No
Azure Table Storage
Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Data Lake Store
Azure HDInsight HDFS
Azure HDInsight Spark

16. BI Semantic Model: Vision (2012)
Data model
Business logic
and queries
Data access
ROLAP
MOLAP
xVelocity
Direct
Query
MDX
DAX
Multi-
dimensional
Tabular
Third-party
applications
Reporting
Services
Excel
PowerPivot
Databases
LOB Applications
Files
OData Feeds
Cloud Services
SharePoint
Insights
Power View

17. BI Semantic Model (Azure Analysis Services)

18. For Development DO NOT CHOOSE PRODUCTION SERVER FOR WORKSPACE
Use Developer Tier pricing
Remember to pause your machines

19. Dimensions Wide and shallow Describe facts Can contain hierarchies
Can contain calculated columns

20. Hierarchies Predefine common hierarchies for the users
Hierarchies are defined from largest group to smallest
Year
Quarter
Month
Hide columns used for hierarchies where appropriate

21. Fact Tables Deep and narrow Mostly measures(Numbers)
Keys to dimensions(Ints)
Natural repository for calculated measures

22. Calculated columns and Measures
Created in the model only
Calculated measures execute when called based on filter context
Calculated columns are created on data load and persist in memory

23. Requirements Azure account
Azure Active Directory Tenant(MS live accounts are not supported)
Directory integration between AAD and on premises AD is recommended but not required
Resource Group
Create a server

24. Demo

25. Current Pricing QPUS MEMORY (GB) Hourly Price Monthly Price B1 40 10
$0.43/hr
~$313.90 B2 80 20
$0.86/hr
~$627.80
Developer 3
$0.132/hr
~$96.36

26. Current Pricing QPUS MEMORY (GB) Hourly Price Monthly Price S0 40 10
$0.81/hr
~$591.30 S1
100 25
$2.03/hr
~$1,481.90 S2
200 50
$4.06/hr
~$2,963.80 S4
400
$8.11/hr
~5,920.30 S8
320 S9
640

27. Tips for development Clean table names on first import
Settle on column names before creating any calculated columns or measures
Flatten out snowflakes where possible
Avoid creating calculated columns for intermediate measures
Use views for source data
Use meaningful and verbose names
Use attribute properties and formatting

28. Current Azure Analysis Services challenges
Preview only
Backups
Limited source data
No Power BI connectivity

29. Additional resources https://www.sqlbi.com/

30. Thank you