Posted by
Andy Brown
on 11 January 2016
To create formulae in SSAS Tabular you need to learn DAX, the language used for creating measures. This blog shows the basic syntax of DAX, and explains how SSAS Tabular uses query context in a pivot table to aggregate data correctly.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 08 January 2016
It's often useful to make connections point to different Excel workbooks or SQL Server databases, depending on the value you set for variables or parameters. This blog shows the underlying principle - it's up to you then to apply this in your workplace!
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 05 January 2016
You can make pivot tables much easier to use by combining all of the aggregator columns into a single table, using the RELATED function. This blog also shows you how to work with blanks, including using the ISBLANK function to test whether matching values exist in linked tables.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 05 January 2016
Creating calculated columns in tabular models is deceptively similar to creating formulae in Excel. Deceptively, because the underlying language (DAX) is completely different, and you can make use of functions like SWITCH which have no Excel equivalent. This blog shows what calculated columns are, and how to create them.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 04 January 2016
You can import data into tabular models from virtually any data source, as shown by this tutorial.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 16 November 2015
The first - and most important - part of using Analysis Services (tabular mode) is to create a data model, incuding only those tables and columns you need. This lengthy blog shows you how to go about creating the perfect data model!
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 11 November 2015
Before you can get started with tabular SSAS, you need to check you have Analysis Services (tabular model) installed on your computer. This blog also shows you how to run and configure Visual Studio, and how to create your first tabular project.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 07 November 2015
From SQL Server 2012 onwards there is an alternative way of working with Analysis Services. Say goodbye to difficult-to-create cubes and dimensions, and embrace the new tabular model server mode instead! When finished this tutorial will cover everything you need to know, from creating your first data model to creating measures using DAX expressions.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 07 July 2023
If you're building a data warehouse, you'll want to know whether you should be creating cubes using the legacy multi-dimensional Analysis Services server mode, or creating data models in the new tabular mode. This blog gives Wise Owl's take on the subject.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 07 July 2023
Our tutorial on using tabular model (Analysis Services) is based on our Make-a-Mammal database. This blog shows how to install this database, and how to understand the tables and relationships that it contains.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 18 September 2015
A short blog explaining how the Parse Query property and BypassPrepare property for an SSIS task are related.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 04 September 2015
Arrows in your Integrated Services packages can go all over the place - learn how to control them in this short blog on formatting SSIS diagrams.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 08 February 2015
How can you encrypt data flowing within an Integration Services package? We don't think you can, but here are a couple of ideas.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 30 January 2015
This blog explains how to send an email to every person returned from a SQL query.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 30 January 2015
Referring to parameters by their numeric position in a list in SSIS is relatively easy, but there is a way to refer to them by name too, as explained in this blog.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 30 January 2015
SSIS makes it easy to loop over files, but it's less obvious how to get at file attributes such as the date created or last modified date. To do this you'll need a scripting task, as explained by this blog.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 04 December 2014
Using an existing flat file in SSIS is straightforward, but creating a new one can be a pain - this blogs gives some steps to follow.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 05 July 2014
Integration Services include a Slowly Changing Dimension transform, which is designed to make loading dimension data easier. This blog explains how it works, and discusses whether it achieves its objectives.
Posted by
Andrew Gould
on 09 June 2014
Using the Pivot operator in SQL Server allows you to create basic pivot tables from your query results. This blog teaches you how to create simple, static pivots, crosstab-style tables and exciting, dynamic pivot tables.
Posted by
Andy Brown
on 19 February 2014
This blog provides the SQL, C# and VB script needed for the Integration Services script components tutorial.