Pro SQL Server 2012 BI Solutions

by Randal Root

Business intelligence projects do not need to cost multi-millions of dollars or take months or even years to complete! Using rapid application development (RAD) techniques along with Microsoft SQL Server 2012, this book guides database administrators, SQL programmers, and report specialists in creating practical, cost-effective business intelligence solutions for their companies and departments. Pro SQL Server 2012 BI Solutions provides practical examples of cost-effective business intelligence projects. Readers will be guided through several complete projects that build a foundation for real-world solutions. Even with limited experience using Microsoft's SQL Server, Integration Server, Analysis Server, and Reporting Server, you can leverage your existing knowledge of SQL programming and database design to provide users with thebusiness intelligencereports they need. Provides recipes for multiple business intelligence scenarios Progresses from simple to advanced projects using several examples Shows Microsoft SQL Server technology used to complete real-worldbusiness intelligenceprojects What you'll learn How to plan and implement cost-effectivebusiness intelligenceprojects How to create practical data warehouse databases How to extract, transform, and load data with Integration Services How to develop OLAP cubes and dimensions on Analysis Server How to create Reporting Server reports using both SQL and MDX How to applyperformance-tuning techniques to get the most from your solutions Who this book is for

Pro SQL Server 2012 BI Solutions is aimed at database administrators, SQL programmers, and report developers who create business intelligence solutions for midsized businesses and departments. Table of Contents Business Intelligence Solutions A Big Picture Overview Planning Solutions Designing a Data Warehouse Creating aData Warehouse ETL Processing with SQL Beginning the ETL Process with SSIS Concludingthe ETL Process with SSIS Beginningthe SSAS Project Configuring Dimensions with SSAS Creating and Configuring SSAS Cubes Additional Cube and Dimension Configurations Creating Reports with SQL Queries Reporting with MDX Queries Reportingwith Microsoft ExcelCreating Reports with SSRS Configuring Reports with SSRS Testing and Tuning BI Solutions Approve, Release, and Prepare

836 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2012

Reviews

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy-to-follow textbook that explains the process of designing and implementing a BI solution using SQL Server and Visual Studio. Lots of screenshots, and chapter exercises with clear instructions.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of Randal will get you started with SSIS, SSAS and SSRS in no time! Depending on your level of experience, you will be running a simple, yet full ETL, OLAP and reporting service within a day to week. More concretely, you will learn how to tackle a BI project, which steps you have to follow, how to identify data sources, bring them together (SSIS) and make them available for analysis (SSAS and SSRS).

Mind that this book is mostly technology-focused. This means you will learn to use Microsoft ETL and OLAP tools. It will not provide you with the necessary insights and skills to successfully deliver a BI project. For that purpose, there are other books out there (e.g. Kimballs book on datawarehousing).

[Suvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

well written