Chapter 3. Tabular Model Development of SQL Server Analysis Services

SQL Server Analysis Services comes with two modeling technologies: multidimensional and tabular. In the previous chapter, you learned how to model a multidimensional OLAP cube. In this chapter, you will learn about tabular modeling.

SSAS Tabular loads data into an In-Memory engine called xVelocity (previously known as Aka Vertipaq). The In-Memory engine provides high-speed access to data, which helps provide very fast reports and dashboards. Tabular modeling allows you to create a table-based model from existing data (that comes from a data warehouse or any other source) and create a relationship between models. Note that the tabular model doesn't require a start schema relation, but this is always recommended if you wish to create a tabular model on the top of your data warehouse and start schema. Data Analysis Expression (DAX) is an expression language for SSAS Tabular, which helps you create calculations and measures based on existing columns and relationships.

In this chapter, you will learn how to create an SSAS Tabular project and how to create hierarchies from one table or from nested tables. You will learn about the language structure of DAX and how to use DAX functions to create calculations and measures. You will also learn about two different storage models that are supported in the tabular model. Finally, you will see how to apply security and perform deployment.