Those who are following me on Twitter and Facebook know that recently I am reinforcing my own concept for SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). Like many of us, I worked with Analysis Services in early years. In an earlier job, I got many projects for relational database performance tuning and over time, I lost touch with SSAS. This does not mean that I forgot all of the concepts, but the ‘real’ hands-on experience was gathering dust. Looking back at the last five years, I realized that I have deep experience with relational performance tuning, but there are a few new things which I have yet to explore and learn.
My Learning
One weekend I decided to learn SQL Server Analysis Services. I woke up early in the morning at 6 AM and by 7 AM I was sitting with coffee at my dual screen computer monitor. I had a free subscription to Pluralsight so on one screen I turned on their Analysis Services Fundamentals course. This course is well organized and I attended first six modules by 1 PM. After having a quick lunch with my family, I reviewed all the tasks and lessons given in the course. As it was the weekend and I had properly digested all the concepts, I decided to continue the remaining four modules the next day. The next day, the same routine: I followed and finished all the remaining modules along with the exercises. At the end of six hours of video learning and practicing for more than 8 hours, I felt very comfortable with the subject. I re-discovered my knowledge of SSAS which I used to practice a few years ago, before I opted for performance tuning.
Course Details
You can read the official details of the course here yourself. Here is my view of this course. This course is very well structured. I have found many books and attended SSAS training where the training starts with Bottom Up Designing methodology. I have never had any course where the instructor started from Top Down Designing methodology. This course really got my attention as it covers the all the core concepts in a very reasonable time with crisp and clear instructions. After that it jumps to very easy to understand and follow-along demos where one can practice their skills. I am personally a big fan of the AdventureWorks database as that makes our life much easier and everybody has access to that database for free. Thanks to the instructor, Stacia, for using the same database for every single demonstration and exercise.
I have seen many demonstrations where someone takes an already-built cube and imports that into the system and starts explaining various concepts of the cube. I personally do the same when I have to demonstrate some cool new feature of the SSAS in a one hour presentation. However for in-depth learning, the whole game is different and I prefer to learn from the beginning. I prefer to learn how dimensions are built, how measures are categorized and how cubes are built from nothing. One always learns properly when the lesson is explained in structured manner. In this course Stacia has done the same thing – starting from no elements on screen and very quickly building all the modules from scratch. A perfect experience for beginners and experts.
Course Content
This course covers various topics and you can read all the documentations on the official course page. However, as an outline, here are the module names. I am also attaching the image which demonstrates that I have attended every single module of the course. If you stop the course any place during the lesson, when you come back to the course content page tracks your progress; this is very convenient.
- Introduction to Analysis Services
- Dimensional Model Development
- Dimension Development I
- Dimension Development 2
- Cube Development I
- Cube Development 2
- Calculations 1
- Calculations 2
- Database Processing
- Security
Future Expectations
The title of the course says this is an Introduction to Analysis Services. However, I thought this was quite a comprehensive course. I am assuming that there will be another version of this course. Stacia also hinted couple of times during the course, what will be in the advanced course. Well, what I expect in the advanced course is that the quality and presentation stay the same.
Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)
147 Comments. Leave new
I have been a SQL “Infrastructure” DBA for over 5 years, but with release of R2 I find myself doing more and more BI trouble shooting and at times even development. Though, I necessarily don’t want to become a Developer, do we DBA’s have a choice ?
I would go with Security. As such all are required but if needs to select one then will go with security which will be the hot in coming years!!
I have been a BI developer from past 4 years I want to know more in the SSAS front as I didnt got much chance to work on that…So I need to brush up my skills with this course.
Pinal,
I would like to take a course on MDX performance tuning.
—
Raunak Jhawar
dear raunak did you go through all the vidoes . please share share some knowledge
I am new to this branch and wish to specialize as a DBA and I could use to take this course.
Hello Pinal,
I follow all your blog posts regularly, they are concise and easy to understand. As a crystal reports developer, I have an infactuation towards reporting tools. I would love to learn SSRS and SSIS.
Thanks for your time and effort.
Hi Pinal, I would love to learn SQL analysis concepts. I recently moved to SQL server technology, and I am just loving it. I rolled out an Ssrs solution at my workplace, and so feel pretty confident about it, I dont have much idea about anything apart from t-SQL, ssis and Ssrs. So I am happy to learn.
Sure…,Can i know what information we need
I am Uma, From Sri Lanka. I am very recently try to become an expert in Microsoft Buisness inteligent. Realy your blog is realy very much helpful, main reason is simple explanation even it complex things. while I search in Google i am adding your blog as well, ex: whan i need information about while loop :
“While loop in SQL Server + SQLauthority.com”. Your doing great help. Tks a lot. wish your all the best.
@Pinal: I’m lost in d mist of MSBI. I’ve less time n I’m trying hard to learn SSAS. Everyone says it’s tough and wanted to earn their bread with SSRS/SSIS only. Some suggested me to jump to Oracle/BO/Informatica too cause easy of easy money. But I want to prove them wrong and wanted to learn SSAS properly. So this course might help me.
edit: Informatica to earn easy money.
Hi Pinal
dear pinal
what about adv ssass
how do we get video of ssas advance traning
Hi pinal,
I am interest to learn SSAS from basics. so my choice is “Introduction to Analysis Services” .
Hi Pinal,
I go through your each blog posts regularly, they are very easy to understand. I am Sr. DBA and want to learn SSAS to upgarde myself.
I have good knowledge in SSRS and SSIS only this part of SQL Server is un-touched by me.
Thanks & Regards,
Raghav
Hi Pinal,
I am interest in Dimension Development 2 in that Working with Attribute Relationships is the key concept. this gives you the idea about dimension optimizations tips.
Thanks & Regards,
Suhas
I would like to learn about Database Processing. We are planning ti do a BI project with SSAS and this will be a great help
i am afraid the market share what we are talking about is far less then the available tools like BO/Congnos/Oracle/Data Stage etc etc … and also not to mention the NOSQL hadoop etc implementations!
Can we forcast that sooner or later we should be turning into Graph based anlaysis or atleast using these new concepts at the backend.
Hi Pinal,
thank you very much for your shared experience and tips.
I’ll follow your advise!
Regards.
Ezio
I would like to go for SSAS advanced, Bcoz Currenlt I am in ssis and ssrs soon will be back ssas and i want to learn depth. If it is not ready now i will go ssas foundamentals again.
Hi Pinal Sir,
I am interested in learning SSIS Fundamental. I think I will learning this part which is new and completely untouched from myside.
Best Regards,
Ranjoyt Singh
Hi,
I have 1.6 yrs of exposure to IT industry, ,when i joined IT industry , then i always thought that i will go for dot net or java, but when i got the exposure to sql server (exactly database) then i found ,that i am made for database, i find it very interesting .
I would like to go for SSIS/SSRS course, as i want to learn and apply it in my project.
Are You located in US I have classes that teach you BI Tool.
I’m preparing to take a certification in BI through the 70-448 Exam. I’m studing SSIS + SSAS + SSRS and I’ll do the exam in 7th/Oct (last friday before PASS Summit).
You can see my schedule to study here: and my way to study here:
If I win this subscription, I’ll used totally to improve my knowledge to take this certification :)
Thanks Pinal
Hello Pinal,
I have mainly worked in OLTP environment and developed some SSIS packages and SSRS reports. I would like to learn about dimensional modeling and SSAS.