Our training courses

Other training resources

Our training venues

Why we are different

SSAS Tabular Model training course

Two days (09:30 to 16:30 UK time each day)

This course is available in the following formats (all prices exclude VAT):

 

You can book a place on this course either online through this website, by phone, by email or by filling in our enquiry form.

You should be familiar with how relational databases work to attend this course. You'll also find the course more difficult if you haven't used pivot tables in Excel.

Course schedule

We don't have any dates scheduled for this online course. We may consider adding dates - it's always worth asking.

Alternatively, if you have a handful of like-minded people in your organisation, you could consider booking your own customised onsite course, whereby you get to pick the dates and venue!

Course Contents - PDF

SSAS - Tabular Model training course contents

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS to its friends) used to come in two distinct flavours: the (very) old fashioned multi-dimensional model, allowing you to build dimensions and cubes, and the newer tabular model (the subject of this course).

During the two days things you'll learn how to do include:

  • linking to data sources and creating a data model

  • using this as a basis for an Excel pivot table

  • creating calculated columns

  • creating basic measures using DAX

  • creating and use calendars

  • creating date calculations, using time-intelligence functions

SQL Server Analysis Services, Excel's PowerPivot tool and Power BI Desktop all store their data in the same underlying format, but only SSAS exposes its inner workings and allows you to set security on your data models and share them with others.

The contents of this course are as follows:

Visual Studio basics

  • Visual Studio windows
  • Setting startup options
  • Creating a project

Connecting to SQL Server

  • Creating and using connections
  • Filtering rows and columns

Creating a data model

  • Hiding from client tools
  • Renaming tables/columns
  • How column storage works
  • How processing works

Relationships

  • Diagram view
  • Creating relationships

Excel pivot tables

  • Analysing data in Excel
  • Connecting from Excel
  • Using Excel pivot tables

Power BI Desktop overview   if time

  • Importing from SSAS
  • Basic visualisations
  • How publishing works

Other data sources

  • Linking to Excel
  • Pasting in data

Calculated columns

  • Using IF and SWITCH
  • BLANK arithmetic
  • Linking tables using RELATED

Measures

  • Creating measures
  • SUMX, AVERAGEX, etc.

Changing query context

  • The CALCULATE function
  • Using FILTER

Prototyping using PowerPivot

  • Using PowerPivot
  • Importing PowerPivot models into SSAS
  • Constraints

Calendars

  • Creating a calendar table
  • Using multiple calendars

Date calculations

  • Working days
  • Period to date
  • Prior and parallel periods
  • Semi-additive measures

Hierarchies

  • Creating a hierarchy
  • Viewing hierarchies

KPIs

  • The parts of a KPI
  • Absolute and relative measures
  • Creating and viewing KPIs

Perspectives

  • Creating perspectives
  • Using in Excel

Security   if time

  • How security works
  • Creating roles
  • Filtering rows by role
Please see further up this page for what you should know beforehand (if anything) in order to attend this course.

Why Choose Us?

Here are some reasons to choose Wise Owl courses:

In addition, here are some benefits unique to classroom training:

And some benefits specific to online training:

  • Courseware manual posted to you in advance
  • Free half-hour pre-course check-up included
  • Our clever system means you can use our laptops (and we can see them)

What other people have said

Our thanks to everyone who agreed to share their thoughts. All of the following reviews are from the last 3 calendar years:

"Excellent course. Having used excel for many years, there were still some tips and best practice that had passed me by, having now learnt these they will save me time in the future. The tutor was great at explaining the technical terms and made things click (for example the text tip when you type a formula that shows you which part of the formula you are on). Thank you!"

Jody Gaisford (Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA))

"This course gets 10/10 for everything! I had an advantage by being the only one on the face to face course which meant that I was able to get one-on-one training. It was a very relaxed yet professional environment, I felt comfortable asking questions when unsure and the trainer was patient in explaining the answers, absolutely brilliant training! I cannot recommend this course enough."

Renee Tucker (University of Bolton)

"A great trainer and very knowledgeable! The confidence in his training was amazing and I knew that my understanding of SQL will be much better under his guidance. I liked how he was able to support anyone that was finding it hard or challenging, he didn't let anyone feel alone."

Raj Bains (PEI Group)

"I really enjoyed the course and I learned a lot from taking part. Our trainer was very well informed and made it very engaging, explaining concepts well. I took part as I wanted an opportunity to use commands in SQL that I sometimes lack confidence in using on our own datasets, as I fear it going wrong. Doing it in a safe environment built up the confidence to use them going forwards."

Katie Dowden (Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC))

"The training was informative and well paced. Plus the trainer was happy and willing to answer our questions and provide tips and tricks we maybe able to use."

Andrew Gardner (Ballyvesey Group)

There are lots more where these came from (or just refresh this page to change the quotes shown).

How our training courses work

Below are some notes on how Wise Owl courses work, to help you decide whether they're for you or not.

What you'll need

If you book on a classroom course, the only thing you need to bring to the course is ... yourself! We even provide a notepad and a suprisingly nice pen for you to take notes with.

For online training you'll need two things:

  1. A good internet connection (otherwise you'll have a frustrating time); and
  2. A second screen (a requirement, not a nice-to-have!)

You can see full details of our online course requirements here.

When you book a place

If you book a place on one of our courses:

  • For classroom courses we will send out a joining email. That's it!
  • For online courses we will get in touch to organise a half-hour pre-course check to iron out any connection problems before the course (rather than during it).

Whatever type of course you book, we will also send you out a reminder a few days before the course is due to take place - not that (we hope) you'll have forgotten!

What you won't need

For classroom training, you won't need a computer - we (obviously) will provide that. However, you're welcome to use your own laptop if you prefer, providing that you have the correct software installed.

For online training you will need a computer, but you won't need to have any software installed.  This is because you'll use Windows Remote Desktop to connect to our computers, and these will have all of the necessary files and software installed.

The start of the course

For online courses you will be able to join up to half an hour before the course begins. This will give you time to:

  • familiarise yourself with the set-up;
  • meet your trainer; and
  • get to know the other delegates!

For classroom training it's always nice if people arrive a bit early too, to give people time to meet each other (and drink coffee).

You'll be given a full colour courseware manual, an exercise booklet to go with the course and a USB stick for taking course files away (we'll post all this to you for online courses).

After the course

After the course finishes you'll receive a digital certificate proving your attendance (we will gladly send a paper copy on request also).

We don't have any formal arrangement for answering questions after the course, but if you get stuck on something and email your trainer they should (and nearly always do!) respond as quickly as their training schedule allows.

Related Courses

You might like to consider these related courses:

DAX for Power BI

Introduction

2 day course

Introduction to SSIS

Introduction

2 day course

This page has 0 threads Add a new post

Head office

Kingsmoor House

Railway Street

GLOSSOP

SK13 2AA

London

Landmark Offices

99 Bishopsgate

LONDON

EC2M 3XD

Manchester

Holiday Inn

25 Aytoun Street

MANCHESTER

M1 3AE

© Wise Owl Business Solutions Ltd 2024. All Rights Reserved.

End of small page here
Please be aware that our website uses cookies!
I'm OK with this Tell me more ...