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Ella Maschiach's BI Blog

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Introduction to DAX basics
As SQL Server 2012 and PowerPivot v2 release is getting closer and closer, knowing DAX becomes more of a necessity than a just an option. Via Kasper de Jonge ’s blog I had learned of a nice 30 minutes Introduction to DAX basics . You can download an example workbook and try your hand at creating a measure formula and adding up to adding filter context to your formula. The post also had a ling to the TechNet Wiki page for the DAX Resource Center which has loads of articles, downloads and videos, along...
SQL Server 2012 Denali Release Date
I was in the BI User Group meeting today (and if you're in Israel, why didn't you come too?) and heard something quite exciting. The speaker was Yossi Elkayam from Microsoft Israel and what he mentioned twice was that the release date for SQL Server 2012 Denali is March 2012. He was saying that while stating next month's meeting will preview the new release scheduled for the month after that. He also mentioned that PowerPivot version 2 will be released in proximity to the release of SQL...
Using a filter on a calculated field in Report Builder
A short and sweet tip on using Report Builder 1.0 So, my users are still using Report Builder 1.0. I recently discovered that using a filter on a automatically calculated field there doesn't work. I tried running a report where I ran a filter on a year generated filed of a certain date. In essence, I filtered on Year creation date = 2011. The report took ages to run so I took a look at it on the profiler to see the query that was run. Apparently, it wasn't even running the filter correctly...
#SQLFamily – putting a little love in your heart
I don't know if you've noticed it, but I don't blog all that much lately (I know blog, I know - but that doesn't mean I don't love you!). So as you may gather that if I do blog, it must be something that seems important to me. The SQL Server Team has recently blogged about an initiative they're doing with the Pragmatic Works Foundation . Pragmatic Works Foundation is a non-profit that provides free technical training to veterans, the jobless, and underemployed. In 2012 they're...
SQL Server 2012 Licensing Reviews and Views
Microsoft has recently announced the SQL Server 2012 Licensing . The main news is the new BI edition released with SQL Server 2012 which is positioned between the Standard edition and the Enterprise edition. You can read an SQL Server 2012 Licensing review on the Adatis blog which lists the pros and cons of the new edition and payment method. Amongst other things, they point out that: "The Business Intelligence edition strips away - Advanced Security (Advanced auditing, transparent data encryption...
Model Item Security and Identifying Attributes in Report Builder
I found myself needing to define Model Item Security on a Report Builder 1.0 Model I did some time ago. I followed the guidelines detailed in the Model Item Security page (you can read more also about Securing Models ). First of all, I would like to call to your attention that Model Item Security works only if your user isn't a Content Manager or Publisher (as noted in this article about Security in Report Builder 1.0 . Please note that it describes the process in the way it worked in SQL Server...
Why are rows (still) missing from a SSAS cube?
Not too long ago my boss Yaniv got a telephone from one of our customers saying that he thought a cube was missing some values from it. The thing is that at first that didn't sound logical to us because usually we would get an error on that. We expected the process of the cube to fail, or something of that sort. But not this time. Now, there's a few reasons why there are rows missing from a cube as recently blogged by Richard Lees. But our reason was slightly different. We were using a view...
Panorama Necto
We're currently using Panorama Nova View 6.2 in the municipality and we had a presentation of the upcoming version - Panorama Necto. So what's new? Well, first of all - now there's just one entry point to Panorama, both for the user and the developer. So that's one entry point instead of one for the flash, java, desktop and dashboard. We're still using the desktop environment in Panorama 6.2 and we've come across more than once that things work in the desktop but for some...
Query Performance and Partition Scans in SSAS
This blog is SUPER SUPER excited, because for the first time, after four years, we have a guest! I met Mr. Kobi Deutsch in the SQL Explore Convention held about two weeks ago. During a session we both took there, he mentioned something I wasn't aware and I thought maybe I'd bring it to you as well. So, I'm leaving the stage for Mr. Deutsch: Sometimes, when we check the MDX requests in the Profiler, we see that there is a partition that was scanned and loaded into memory although it is...
Error Processing a Cube: Key cannot be null. Parameter name: key
I recently opened a new project in SSAS 2008 R2. After finishing developing the cube, I deployed and processed it on the server. I got a really weird error message that meant, unfortunately enough, nothing to me: " Key cannot be null. Parameter name: key " So what's a girl to do? Well actually, I remember that every so often when I was developing a cube, I would have a problem with the data connection. The default I had defined for me when I opened a new connection was .Net Provider...
SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 download released
Yes, you read it right, Service Pack 1 to SQL Server 2008 R2 was just released. This service pack (as ever) is a bundle of all the cumulative updates thus far for SQL Server 2008 R2. It includes, amongst others, the following things: DMVs for increased supportability DAC Framework for improved database upgrades Disk space control for PowerPivot And while you're looking into the SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 download , you can also check out the Denali CTP3 download as well (they've been busy as...
BI Semantic Model – the new solution for SSAS and PowerPivot
TechEd North America 2011 wrapped up last week with big news about PowerPivot and SSAS. Just in case you haven't read it already somewhere else, I'll give you a very short re-cap. In SQL Server 2005, the UDM was supposed to encapsulate the solution for modeling your project. In SQL Server 11, codename Denali, it's going to be replaced by BISM - the Business Intelligence Semantic Model. All the reporting tools in the Microsoft BI Stack will work against this model. In Denali, you will...
How to not add another table to your DB (by using Excel!)
Hey blog, how are you? I know I haven't been here for quite some time now... I guess I needed a break. Some time for myself. And I know you were waiting here for me all that time. Being patient and understanding. Knowing that one day, I'll come back. Thank you. I missed you. I think this time, I'm here to stay. So, the topic for today is how to not work automatically and adding a table to your database. About a year ago, I created a report in SSRS for a user of mine on the distribution...
The pros and cons of Report Builder 3.0 over Report Builder 1.0
So yes, I'm still thinking about RB 1.0 vs. RB 3.0 . We've made the move a few months ago from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008 R2 . Most of our projects in the team, if they're not cubes, are Report Builder 1.0 models. I was really looking forward to seeing how we can move our users from Report Builder 1.0 to Report Builder 3.0 . My conclusion? Except for a few very specific cases - we can't. We actually still have Report Builder 1.0 as a click once application from our Report...
Recommended SSAS whitepapers
Vidas Matelis had put out a very good post with a great SSAS Whitepaper list. I strongly recommend you check it out as it summarizes some very important info about Management and Maintenance of SSAS. If you’re intrigued about what SSAS Maestro is, it's a program incorporated from lessons learned at SQLCAT and given by Solid Quality Mentors. The description sounds fascinating! I admit I’m slightly jealous at anyone going, but I believe the information will be gradually available to more and more...
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