Month: May 2014

SQL Server reporting services: How to use the Split function in the SSRS expressions to get sub-string?

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Problem Statement:
How do you use SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) expression to get sub-string from the inputted text?

Solution:
I am going to show you few SSRS expressions that you can use in your SSRS reports:

SSRS SQL Server Reporting Services Expression SPLIT

Here’s the same in a text:

Input:SSRS Expression used:Output:
[Date].[Fiscal Year].&[2008]Split(Parameters!DateFiscalYear.Value,”&”)(1)[2008]
[Date].[Fiscal Year].&[2008]Split(Parameters!DateFiscalYear.Value, “.”)(2)&[2008]
[Date].[Fiscal Year].&[2008]Split(Split(Split(Parameters!DateFiscalYear.Value, “&”)(1),”[“)(1),”]”)(0)2008
[Date].[Fiscal Year].&[2008]Parameters!DateFiscalYear.Value.Split(“&”)(1)[2008]

Conclusion:
In this post, you saw how to use the split function in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) expressions to get a sub-string.

SQL Server Analysis services MDX: How to write a query that works as LIKE operator in SQL?

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Problem Statement:

In MDX, How to search for a sub-string using something similar to LIKE operator in SQL?

Solution:

here’s an example using Contoso Sales Cube, please use this to get started for your scenario:

Note the use of INSTR function.


select
[Measures].[Sales Amount]
on 0,
Filter(
[Geography].[Region Country Name].[Region Country Name]
,instr([Geography].[Region Country Name].CURRENTMEMBER.MEMBER_CAPTION,'United')>0)
on 1
from
[Sales]

SSAS MDX analysis services like SQL

Also,
if you are looking for NOT LIKE then replace >0 with =0 and you should get the desired results.

Conclusion:
In this post, you saw how to write a MDX query that does sub-string search for you similar to LIKE and NOT LIKE operators in SQL.

SQL Server reporting services: How to add a seconday axis on a chart?

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Problem Statement:

Need a chart on a SQL Server Reporting Services chart with a secondary axes.

Need measure #2 on a secondary axes:

SQL Server Reporting Services Secondary AxesSolution:

1. In the Design Mode > Open the Chart Date Pane > For Measure #2, navigate to Series properties:

SQL Server Reporting Services Series Properties Chart Data2. From the Series Properties Dialog box, navigate to “Axes and Chart Area” and choose the option “Secondary” under vertical axes.

SSRS Secondary Axis Axes3. Click OK to go back to the design mode and preview the report to test it:

SSRS SQL SERVER SECONDARY AXIS LINE CHART BAR CHART

4. Make sure to rename the axis title of the secondary axis, format the number to make it consistent with the report layout.

Note:

SSRS Version needed: SQL Server 2008 and above.

Conclusion:

In this post, you saw how to add a secondary axis on a SSRS Chart.

PASS Business Analytics VC Meeting–May 29

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RSVP URL: http://bit.ly/PASSBAVC052914

SSAS Tabular Model: How to change the query used for tables?

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Problem:

How do I change the query that’s being used to populate tables in SSAS Tabular Model?

Solution:

Here are the steps that you need to follow:

1. After you’ve the solution open in SQL Server Data Tools, go to menu > Table Properties

SSAS Tabular model change query

2. On the Edit Table Properties, you can change the query. you can also change the tables if that’s what you have used using the “switch to” box on the right side of the dialog box.

SSAS Tabular model change table query connection

3. If you need to change the server name or instance, used then you will need to modify the connection, for that go back to menu bar and click on Model > Existing Connections. you should be able to edit the connection from here:

SSAS Tabular model edit query table connectionConclusion:

In this post, you saw how to change the query used for the tables in SSAS Tabular models.

SQL Server reporting services: How to Add Trademark special symbol in Text?

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Problem Statement:

The goal of this blog post is to share a quick tip on SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS): How to add Trademark TM special symbol in Text?

Solution:

In SSRS, you can put following code in the Expressions:

[code language=”SQL”]

="Text"& ChrW(8482) &" Dashboard"

[/code]

Output:
SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS Trademark special symbol

PASS Business Analytics Conference – Day #2 Keynote

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what an inspiring keynote by David McCandless! Here are some the things that I noted:

1. Play with your data, get your hands dirty

“Data is the new Soil” – David McCandless

2. set the context while communicating what data is trying to tell.
Example: China has the largest army but compared it to their population they are 120ish! So measuring just the army size does not give you necessary context & sometimes it can meaningless

3. Data visualizations help you combine the language of the mind (numbers) with language of the eye (visuals)! Humans are better at processing visuals.

4. Make sure your data is true & keep your personal bias out of analysis.

5. Other than making sure that the data integrity is achieved in visuals, they should be interesting and functional.

6. Design is about removing unwanted things & distilling the visual to it’s functional essence.

You can check out David’s work at http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/
Information is beautiful

PASS Business Analytics Conference – Live Blogging: Day #1

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I’m at the Business Analytics conference and I thought of sharing the news that I get to listen here!

On day #1, Kamal Hathi & Amri Netz are keynote speakers today.

They started with progress made during past few months (Power Query, Power BI, Power Map, SQL server 2014, Azure HDInsight….)

Then they shared some user adoption data…

Power Pivot & Power Query:

They also shared  user adoption data about Power BI:

They use Power BI to track user adoption of Power BI.

Power BI demo contest: if you’ve not seen some of the amazing demo’s that were submitted during the Power BI demo’s then you can read them here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2014/02/15/give-a-high-five-to-the-top-five-finalists-in-the-power-bi-demo-contest.aspx

Mobile BI:

Microsoft is committed to having Power BI native apps on different platforms and enable BI on any device

SSRS with Power BI:

BI for the masses

It’s great to see Microsoft committed to create easy to use tools!
The Age of Classic BI -> The Age of Self Service BI -> The Age of Data.
In the new age, everyone in the organization who is curious will have tools that they can use to get to the answers!

Amir’s Demo:

Analysis of Tourism in Hawaii. It was really entertaining 🙂

New features in Power BI:

create dashboards using natural language (KPI editor)

Forecasting in Power View:

Tree maps in Power View

And I just saw a Tree maps in Power View!

Drag items from one chart to another!

you should now be able to drag items from one chart to another chart!

Combine two charts into one!

Nice interactivity feature

 

The journey to DATA CULTURE begins today…

How to train your users to create their own Business Intelligence reports? #5 of 5: Post Training

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In part #1, I wrote about why is it important to enable business users to create their own BI reports.

In part #2, I wrote about three pre-training preparations – 1. Data 2. Tool 3. Understanding Culture.

In part #3, I wrote about 1. User Experience 2. Trainer 3. Training Content.

In part #4, I wrote about Sample Business Intelligence Training content.

In this post, part #5, I am going to write about check list that you need that complement your training efforts. And the list is:

  • Survey
  • User Support System
  • Monitor usage
  • Demo user-created BI reports

Here are more details about each topic:

Survey

Send out a simple survey at the end of the training session. Here’s a sample survey:

Please rate the training based on following criteria’s:
1.Overall
2.Content
3.Trainer
4.Easy of use (BI System)
5.Comments?
______________

User Support System & Documentation

As users use the BI system, they would have questions that need timely response. So IT managers need to think about setting up a user support system. Someone from the BI team could take on the responsibility answering user’s question. They also need to think about how to integrate corporate IT support system with the user support for the BI system. if need be, a dedicated user support & documentation site can also be created. Note that resolving user queries is as important as giving them training!

Also necessary documents (/videos) need to be provided to user for their future reference.

Monitor Usage

BI system logs (Analysis services Trace/reporting services logs) can be used to monitor usage. It’s important to use data to track the usage of the system to see the return of investment for training efforts.

Demo user-created BI reports

recognizing your followers who do great job is a great tactic to attract more followers!

Demo user-created BI reports in trainings, meetings with project sponsors, team meetings and recognize the effort of the user. In some cases, you could invite the creator to demo their report in a training session – and you got one more trainer to teach your users!

Conclusion:

here’s the complete checklist for “How to Train your Business users to Business Intelligence reports?”

  • Data
  • Business Value of analyzing data
  • Tools & User Experience
  • Trainer
  • Training Content
  • Documentation
  • User Support specialists
  • Usage monitoring system

And here’s a slide-deck that shares the same information:  bit.ly/trainbusinessusers

I hope this series gave you a framework to train your business users to create their Business Intelligence reports.

How to train your users to create their own Business Intelligence reports? #4 of 5: Sample Training Content

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In part #1, I wrote about why is it important to enable business users to create their own BI reports.

In part #2, I wrote about three pre-training preparations – 1. Data 2. Tool 3. Understanding Culture.

In part #3, I wrote about 1. User Experience 2. Trainer 3. Training Content.

In this post, I am going share sample training content that uses Excel 2010. Before I share sample content, here are some tips

1. use YOUR data!

2. Show them the end goal & then walk through the steps to get there

 

Here’s a sample training content for a 4 hour-long excel training session (divided into basics & advanced) including hands on lab time.

Here you go:

GOAL:

Excel analysis services business intelligence dashboardBASIC-I

  1. Open the Template
  2. Explore the Field List
  3. Explain the concept of “dimensions” & “measures”
  4. Create a Simple Pivot Table – Row Labels & Measures
  5. Add column labels & report filters

Excel Pivot Table SSAS Step 1

Basic-II

  1. Sorting
  2. Turning off grant totals
  3. Creating a hierarchy
  4. Changing the Pivot Table Design

Excel analysis services business intelligence dashboard step 2

 

Advanced-I

  1. Remove fields from Pivot Table
  2. Add more than one pivot table
  3. Add slicer
  4. Connect slicer with every pivot table

Excel analysis services business intelligence dashboard step 3

Advanced-II:

  1. Add Pivot Chart
  2. Add one more slicer
  3. Add hierarchy structure to pivot tables
  4. Add conditional formatting
  5. Format chart

Excel analysis services business intelligence dashboard step 4

Conclusion:

In this post, I shared a sample training content that uses Excel 2010.