End to End Business Intelligence Boot Camp

Prerequisites
An understanding of the benefits of business intelligence.

About This Course
This Five-day instructor-led course is a complete high-level tour of the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack. It introduces students to the SQL 2012 Business Intelligence and SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence services including PerformancePoint Service, Excel Services, Business Connectivity Services, Visio Services and the Business Intelligence Center focusing on their interdependency.

Each of the modules is stand-alone allowing for customization of the course for those audiences that may not have an interest in a certain service.

Each concept is demonstrated with a video before the exercise on that concept, so first you will have the short lecture then see the concept demonstrated then do it yourself. Remember if you can’t do it you didn’t learn it. Each of the videos, and there are approximately 13 hours of them, is intended as a take-away from the class for each student.

Audience Profile
This course is intended for Project Managers, Business Intelligence Developers, SQL Server Developers and IT Professionals that will be involved with the design, development and maintenance of SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence solutions. The course introduces each of the services and minimizes or eliminates any coding.

At Course Completion

• Browse the data within the cube using SQL Server Management Studio.
• Browse data using Visual Studio 2013.
• Connect to a tabular source, import tables, and explore the data.
• Successfully Navigate SQL Server Data Tools.
• Successfully Navigate SQL Server Management Studio.
• Run the Import Export Wizard.
• Create a Project.
• Add and Configure Connections to the Control Flow.
• Add and Configure Execute SQL Tasks.
• Connect and Configure Precedence Constraints.
• Add and Configure Data Flow Tasks.
• Use the Destination Assistant.
• Copy a Package and Reuse Project Connection Managers.
• Add and Configure a Data Conversion Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Conditional Split Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Multicast Transformation.
• Add and Configure an Aggregate Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Derived Column Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Sort Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Lookup Transformation.
• Successfully Deploy a Project.
• Create a Sample or Test Database.
• Successfully Navigate and Use Key Objects.
• Create a Server Side Time Dimension.
• Create a Data Source.
• Create a Data View.
• Successfully Navigate a Cube.
• Successfully Navigate and Configure Partitions.
• Use the Aggregation Design Wizard.
• Create and Configure a Data Profiling Task.
• Configure Proactive Cache.
• Deploy and Process a Project.
• Build a Cube.
• Understand the Functionality of MDX.
• Write MDX.
• Understand How to Use MDX to Navigate Hierarchies.
• Write MDX Navigating Hierarchies.
• Understand Working with Time in MDX.
• Write MDX Working with Time.
• Creating a Tabular Project.
• Import Data Using the Table Import Wizard.
• Manually Add a Relationship.
• Create Measures.
• Create Calculated Columns.
• Create Hierarchies.
• Create Perspectives.
• Create KPIs.
• Process Data.
• Deploy a Solution.
• Connect to a Tabular Model Using Excel.
• Locate, Access and Use Report Manager.
• Use Report Designer.
• Create and Configure Data Sources.
• Create and Configure Datasets.
• Create and Configure a Basic Report.
• Create and Configure Graphics.
• Create and Configure Maps
• Create and Configure Report Parts.
• Create and Configure a Model.
• Create and Configure Entities.
• Create and Configure Members.
• Create and Configure Attributes.
• Create a Business Rule.
• Deploy a Model.
• Load Data.
• Create a Subscribing View.
• Use the Data Mining Add-in for Excel.
• Explore the options and settings available within the new SharePoint 2013 Central Administration.
• Create a new web application and business intelligence site while exploring the features of both.
• Create a SharePoint library to hold Excel workbooks and explore trusted file locations.
• Utilize the Power View add-in for Excel.
• Add Web Apps to a webpage.
• Explore the Dashboard Designer interface and know how to create and configure a data source.
• Create and configure a standard KPI and a scorecard.
• Create and configure a leaf KPI and a scorecard.
• Create two blank KPI’s and then roll them into an objective KPI.
• Create and configure an analytic chart and an analytic grid, add them to a dashboard, deploy them to SharePoint, and explore the options available.
• Create and configure a filter.
• Create and configure a cascading filter.
• Create a Time Intelligence filter, and use it in a scorecard.
• Create a cascading filter.
• Navigate and utilize some of the management features within Dashboard Designer.
• Create a new dashboard.
• Create a drawing, upload the document to the Student BI Site documents library, and view the drawing in a browser.
• Create a data-connected drawing and upload the document to the Student BI Site documents library.
• Create an objective scorecard and matching strategy map, place them in a dashboard, and then upload the dashboard to the Student BI Site.
• Use PowerPivot within Excel to import a table from SQL Server.
• View the relationships existing within the imported tables from SQL Server and then import an additional table and configure a relationship between it and the existing.
• Hide columns they don’t want reflected in the resulting PivotTable.
• Create a PivotTable within an existing worksheet.
• Assign administrators and permissions on the BDC Metadata Store.
• Create and configure a new external content type.
• Create an external list.
• Navigate the Report Builder 3.0 interface.
• Create an embedded data source connecting into a database.
• Create an embedded data source connecting into an OLAP database.
• Create a shared data source using Reporting Services.
• Create a shared dataset using the shared connection created in the previous exercise.

Module 1: Course Overview
This module explains how the class will be structured and introduces course materials and additional administrative information.

Lessons

• Introduction
• Course Materials
• Facilities
• Prerequisites
• What We’ll Be Discussing

Lab 1: Course Overview

• None

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Successfully log into their virtual machine.
• Have a full understanding of what the course intends to cover.

Module 2: The Business Intelligence Stack
In this module we will first look at the three different ways in which business intelligence can be viewed. Then, we’re going to look at the services SQL 2012 provides us and how they apply to business intelligence. We will then move to SharePoint 2013 and look at the SharePoint services to examine their relevance and how we can use them in business intelligence to surface data. In this section we will also cover the new business intelligence features available within the SharePoint 2013 release. Finally, we will take a brief look at PowerPivot, examining the new features and their significance. PowerPivot is covered in more detail in a later module.

Lessons

• Business Intelligence in Three Ways
• SQL 2012 Business Intelligence
• SharePoint 2010 Business Intelligence
• PowerPivot

Lab 1: The Business Intelligence Stack

• SQL 2012 Multidimensional Model Basics
• SQL 2012 Tabular Model Basics

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Browse the data within the cube using SQL Server Management Studio.
• Browse data using Visual Studio 2013.
• Connect to a tabular source, import tables, and explore the data.

Module 3: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2012
In this module we will give an overview of ETL and discuss two approaches that should be considered prior to implementation. We will also go over the SQL Server Data Tools application and explain the concept of Packages, Tasks, and Containers with further instruction on how to use these tools and others. In the following list of topics you will see two topics that are part of SQL Server Integration Services ETL although not covered in this module. They are SQL Server Integration Services Data Profiler and Data cleansing which are covered later in the course.

Lessons

• What’s New?
• Overview of Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL)
• SSIS Tools
• Change Data Capture
• SQL Server Integration Services Scripting
• Variables, Parameters, and Expressions
• Package Deployment

Lab 1: SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2012

• Explore the SQL Server Data Tools
• Explore SQL Server Management Studio and Back Up a Database
• Run the Import Export Wizard
• Create a Project for the Exercises
• Add Connections to the Control Flow
• Add Execute SQL Tasks and Connect Precedence Constraints
• Add Data Flow and Use the Destination Assistant
• Copy a Package and Reuse Project Connection Managers
• Data Conversion
• Conditional Split
• Multicast
• Aggregate
• Derived Column and Sort
• Lookup
• Project Deployment

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Successfully Navigate SQL Server Data Tools.
• Successfully Navigate SQL Server Management Studio.
• Run the Import Export Wizard.
• Create a Project.
• Add and Configure Connections to the Control Flow.
• Add and Configure Execute SQL Tasks.
• Connect and Configure Precedence Constraints.
• Add and Configure Data Flow Tasks.
• Use the Destination Assistant.
• Copy a Package and Reuse Project Connection Managers.
• Add and Configure a Data Conversion Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Conditional Split Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Multicast Transformation.
• Add and Configure an Aggregate Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Derived Column Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Sort Transformation.
• Add and Configure a Lookup Transformation.
• Successfully Deploy a Project.

Module 4: SQL 2012 Business Intelligence Semantic Model (Multidimensional Mode)
In this module we cover the basics of using multidimensional mode and the tools available. In data warehousing there are two commonly acknowledged approaches to building a decision support infrastructure, and you can implement both using the tools available in SQL Server Analysis Services 2012 multidimensional. We will go over these two approaches and we will also cover key concepts for using multidimensional mode.

Lessons

• The Data Warehouse/Data Mart
• The Tools
• Key Concepts
• Data Sources
• Data Views
• Cubes
• Data Profiler
• Proactive Cache
• Deployment
• Wizards

Lab 1: SQL 2012 Business Intelligence Semantic Model (Multidimensional Mode)

• Create a Sample or Test Database
• Explore the Key Objects
• Creating a Server-Side Time Dimension
• Create a Data Source and Data View
• Explore the Cube
• Partitions
• Aggregations
• Data Profiler
• Proactive Cache
• Deploy and Process
• Build a Cube

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a Sample or Test Database.
• Successfully Navigate and Use Key Objects.
• Create a Server Side Time Dimension.
• Create a Data Source.
• Create a Data View.
• Successfully Navigate a Cube.
• Successfully Navigate and Configure Partitions.
• Use the Aggregation Design Wizard.
• Create and Configure a Data Profiling Task.
• Configure Proactive Cache.
• Deploy and Process a Project.
• Build a Cube.

Module 5: Microsoft Multidimensional Expressions
There are some striking differences between SQL and MDX, and you should be aware of these differences at a conceptual level. The principal difference between SQL and MDX is the ability of MDX to reference multiple dimensions. Although it is possible to use SQL exclusively to query cubes, Analysis Services MDX provides commands that are designed specifically to retrieve data as multidimensional data structures with almost any number of dimensions. We will go over key concepts in multidimensional space and browse some basic MDX statements with specific coverage on navigating hierarchies and working with time.

Lessons

• Concepts in Multidimensional Space
• Basic MDX Statements
• SQL Server Management Studio MDX Query Editor
• Navigating Hierarchies
• Working with Time
• MDX Calculations

Lab 1: Microsoft Multidimensional Expressions

• Explore MDX
• Write MDX (Optional)
• Explore MDX – Immediate Relatives
• Write MDX – Immediate Relatives (Optional)
• Working with Time
• Writing MDX – Working with Time (Optional)

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the Functionality of MDX.
• Write MDX.
• Understand How to Use MDX to Navigate Hierarchies.
• Write MDX Navigating Hierarchies.
• Understand Working with Time in MDX.
• Write MDX Working with Time.

Module 6: SQL 2012 Business Intelligence Semantic Model (Tabular Mode)
If you are starting an Analysis Services 2012 project with no previous Multidimensional or OLAP experience, it is very likely that you will find tabular much easier to learn than multidimensional. Not only are the concepts much easier to understand, especially if you are used to working with relational databases, but the development process is also much more straightforward and there are far fewer features to learn. Building your first tabular model is much quicker and easier than building your first multidimensional model. It can also be argued that DAX is easier to learn than MDX, at least when it comes to writing basic calculations, but the truth is that both MDX and DAX can be equally confusing for anyone used to SQL. In this module we cover the basics of using tabular mode and the tools available.

Lessons

• The Tabular Model
• Data Analytic Expressions (DAX)
• The Editor
• Data Connections
• Creating a Tabular Project
• Relationships
• Measures and Calculated Columns
• Hierarchies
• Perspectives
• KPIs
• Partitions
• Processing
• Deployment

Lab 1: SQL 2012 Business Intelligence Semantic Model (Tabular Mode)

• Creating a Project and Importing Data
• Manually Add a Relationship
• Create Measures and Calculated Columns
• Create Hierarchies
• Create a Perspective
• Create a KPI
• Process Data and Deploy
• Connect to a Tabular Model

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Creating a Tabular Project.
• Import Data Using the Table Import Wizard.
• Manually Add a Relationship.
• Create Measures.
• Create Calculated Columns.
• Create Hierarchies.
• Create Perspectives.
• Create KPIs.
• Process Data.
• Deploy a Solution.
• Connect to a Tabular Model Using Excel.

Module 7: SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services
In this module we will cover the new and exciting features available in SQL 2012 Reporting Services. Report Lifecycles are discussed along with the tools available to create just about any type of report you can think of. Effective reporting is a key element in business intelligence and this module covers all the basics.

Lessons

• Report Lifecycles
• Installation Modes
• Report Creation Tools
• Data Sources
• Datasets
• Basic Reports
• Graphics
• Maps
• Report Parts

Lab 1: SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services

• Using Report Manager
• Using Report Designer
• Data Sources and Datasets
• Basic Reports
• Graphics
• Basic Maps
• Basic Maps with Color
• Report Parts

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Locate, Access and Use Report Manager.
• Use Report Designer.
• Create and Configure Data Sources.
• Create and Configure Datasets.
• Create and Configure a Basic Report.
• Create and Configure Graphics.
• Create and Configure Maps
• Create and Configure Report Parts.

Module 8: Master Data Services
It is often said that Master Data Management (MDM) enables an enterprise to create and use a “single version of the truth”. Master data management applies almost all industries and covers a broad category of corporate data. This module covers Master Data Management and explains what it is and why it is important. Along with covering system roles and the differences between master data and transactional data, we also go over key concepts in Master Data Services and the benefits of proper implementation.

Lessons

• What is Master Data Management?
• System Roles
• Master Data vs. Transactional Data
• Master Data Services ETL
• Master Data Services Key Concepts

Lab 1: Master Data Services

• Create a Model
• Create Entities
• Create Members
• Create Attributes
• Create a Business Rule
• Deploy Model
• Load Data
• Create a Subscribing View

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create and Configure a Model.
• Create and Configure Entities.
• Create and Configure Members.
• Create and Configure Attributes.
• Create a Business Rule.
• Deploy a Model.
• Load Data.
• Create a Subscribing View.

Module 9: Data Mining/Predictive Analytics
Data Mining using SQL Server 2012 uses the concept of a SQL Service not an application. Because it is a service and not an application the software has the ability to scale unlike an application. In this module we explain the concept of data mining and how it can be a valuable tool in your business intelligence arsenal.
This module is a subset of the course on Data Mining which is in-development.

Lessons

• Definitions for Our Purpose
• Problems Addressed
• Business Analytics
• CRISP-DM
• Key Concepts
• Microsoft Data Mining Process
• Data Mining Tasks
• Microsoft Algorithms
• Matching the Tasks to the Algorithm
• Data Mining Add-in for Excel
• PowerPivot for Excel

Lab 1: Data Mining/Predictive Analytics

• Using the Data Mining Add-in for Excel

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use the Data Mining Add-in for Excel.

Module 10: SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center
In this module, we will explore the new and improved 2013 SharePoint Central Administration site. We are going to cover specifically the new 2013 Business Intelligence Center template within SharePoint. We are also going to cover some things that generically apply to SharePoint that you can use within business intelligence. Permissions and Roles will be illuminated and the included Document Library and List apps will be explained.

Lessons

• User Interface
• Libraries and Lists (Apps)
• Permissions
• Quick Architecture
• Central Administration

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 Business Intelligence Center

• Introduction to the Business Intelligence Center
• Libraries, Lists, and Content Types
• Permissions and Sharing
• Central Administration Tour and Web Application Creation

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explore the options and settings available within the new SharePoint 2013 Central Administration.
• Create a new web application and business intelligence site while exploring the features of both.

Module 11: SharePoint 2013 Excel Services
In this module, we will go over all the new 2013 Excel Services features, and we will explore the core components of Excel Services. We will cover Excel Web Access and it’s capabilities along with any differences you may encounter in the browser as opposed to the desktop client. There is coverage of the Power View add-in for Excel, and then lastly we will explain the save and share process and have a look at best practices.

Lessons

• New 2013 Excel Services Features
• Core Components
• Excel Web Access (EWA)
• What Excel Web Access is Not
• SharePoint Libraries to Store Workbooks
• Power View Excel 2013 and SharePoint 2013
• Excel Web Access Web Part
• Excel Interactive View
• Best Practices

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 Excel Services

• Creating a Library to Hold Excel 2013 Workbooks
• Power View
• Creating a Web Part Page and Adding an Excel Web Part

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a SharePoint library to hold Excel workbooks and explore trusted file locations.
• Utilize the Power View add-in for Excel
• Add Web Apps to a webpage.

Module 12: SharePoint 2013 PerformancePoint 2013
In this module, we will give you an overview of the new 2013 PerformancePoint Services features. Dashboard Designer is explored along with many of the objects and connections available within.

Lessons

• What’s New?
• PerformancePoint Object Hierarchy
• Dashboard Designer
• Dashboards (Web Part Page)
• Indicators
• Data Sources
• Key Performance Indicators as PerformancePoint Objects
• Scorecards
• Filters
• Dashboards (Web Part Page) Revisited
• Dashboard Designer Management

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 PerformancePoint 2013

• Dashboard Designer Introduction
• Dashboard (Web Part Page Creation)
• Data Sources SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)
• Data Sources SQL, List, Excel Services
• KPI Basics Connect to a List and SQL
• KPI Multidimensional Scoring Patterns
• KPI Using Dimensional Slicers
• KPI Change the “Worst” Value
• Objective KPI
• Configure Time Intelligence
• Analytic Charts or Grids
• Other Reports
• Reporting Services Report
• KPI Details Report
• Connected Scorecards
• Combining Connected and Standard KPIs
• Scorecard Settings
• MDX Query (Optional)
• Member Selection Filter
• Named Set Filter
• Time Intelligence Filter
• Cascading Filters
• Dashboards (Web Part Pages)
• Dashboard Designer Management

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explore the Dashboard Designer interface and know how to create and configure a data source.
• Create and configure a standard KPI and a scorecard.
• Create and configure a leaf KPI and a scorecard.
• Create two blank KPI’s and then roll them into an objective KPI.
• Create and configure an analytic chart and an analytic grid, add them to a dashboard, deploy them to SharePoint, and explore the options available.
• Create and configure a filter.
• Create and configure a cascading filter.
• Create a Time Intelligence filter, and use it in a scorecard.
• Create a cascading filter.
• Navigate and utilize some of the management features within Dashboard Designer.
• Create a new dashboard.

Module 13: SharePoint 2013 Visio Services
Visio drawings can be extremely effective and in this module we cover the shared service that allows users to share and view them. We will go over all the new 2013 Visio Services features and also discuss data-connected drawings and how to configure them. There is also a section on viewing drawings within a browser.

Lessons

• What’s New in Visio Services 2013?
• Visio Graphics Service
• Visio Drawings in the Browser
• Visio Graphics Web Access Part
• Visio Drawings with Data Connections

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 Visio Services

• Visio Drawing in the Browser
• Visio Services Data-Connected Drawing
• PerformancePoint Dashboard Strategy Maps

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create a drawing, upload the document to the Student BI Site documents library, and view the drawing in a browser.
• Create a data-connected drawing and upload the document to the Student BI Site documents library.
• Create an objective scorecard and matching strategy map, place them in a dashboard, and then upload the dashboard to the Student BI Site.

Module 14: PowerPivot
PowerPivot is not a feature of SharePoint business intelligence, however, an Excel workbook with PowerPivot can be saved to a SharePoint site and then used in a business intelligence scenario. This module is intended as an overview of the product only and covers all the new features available in the 2013 release of the add-in.

Lessons

• PowerPivot and Excel 2013
• PowerPivot and SharePoint
• Enterprise Business Intelligence and PowerPivot
• Enriching Data

Lab 1: PowerPivot

• Import Data from SQL
• Review and Edit the Imported Relationships
• Hide Unused Columns
• Create a PivotTable

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use PowerPivot within Excel to import a table from SQL Server.
• View the relationships existing within the imported tables from SQL Server and then import an additional table and configure a relationship between it and the existing.
• Hide columns they don’t want reflected in the resulting PivotTable.
• Create a PivotTable within an existing worksheet.

Module 15: SharePoint 2013 Business Connectivity Services
In this module we will explore the new features available within SharePoint 2013 Business Connectivity Services, how to configure the security, and clarify the terminology.

Lessons

• What is Business Connectivity Services?
• BCS Terminology
• Business Connectivity Services and Apps From SharePoint 2013
• Using SharePoint Designer with BCS
• Surfacing the BCS Data

Lab 1: SharePoint 2013 Business Connectivity Services

• Setting Permissions on the BDC Store
• Creating an External Content Type
• Creating an External List

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Assign administrators and permissions on the BDC Metadata Store.
• Create and configure a new external content type.
• Create an external list.

Module 16: Dashboards
This module borrows from the three-day Microsoft course on Dashboards number 50596A. Monitoring, analyzing, and managing dashboards are discussed along with details on how to use them most effectively. This module does not cover Dashboard Designer as it is covered in more detail in the PerformancePoint Services module. Coverage of the Microsoft Report Builder 3.0 tool is brief as this course focuses on the SharePoint space.

Lessons

• Dashboard Design
• Capabilities Summarization
• Three Types of Dashboards
• Successful Dashboards
• Tables or Graphs
• Types of Graphs
• Choosing a Chart Type
• Key Performance Indicators
• Pitfalls In Dashboard Design
• Microsoft Report Builder 3.0
• Plan Your Reports
• Datasets
• SharePoint Web Parts

Lab 1: Dashboards

• Explore the Report Builder 3.0 Interface (Optional)
• Create an Embedded Data Source into SQL 2012 Engine (Optional)
• Create an Embedded Dataset into SQL 2012 Engine (Optional)
• Create an Embedded Data Source into SQL 2012 Analysis Services (Optional)
• Create an Embedded Dataset into SQL 2012 Analysis Services (Optional)
• Create a Shared Data Source Using Reporting Services (Optional)
• Create a Shared Dataset Using the Shared Data Source (Optional)

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Navigate the Report Builder 3.0 interface.
• Create an embedded data source connecting into a database.
• Create an embedded data source connecting into an OLAP database.
• Create a shared data source using Reporting Services.
• Create a shared dataset using the shared connection created in the previous exercise.