Microsoft End-to-End business solutions using SQL Server 2008 in an integrated environment with SharePoint and Office 2007

Audience

This course is intended for DBAs, Developers and Business Intelligence Professionals seeking an introduction to the Microsoft BI Stack whether for new or existing projects or migration to the Microsoft environment.

Prerequisites

At Course Completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack.
• Explain the Unified Dimension Model and when it can and cannot be used.
• Use the new Business Intelligence Features in SQL 2008.
• Create a SSAS Project using the Microsoft Unified Dimension Model.
• Create a Data Mart using Business Intelligence Studio.
• Create a Integration Services project and load a Data Mart.
• Load a Data Mart from a flat file.
• Model Dimensions, Measures and Cubes.
• Learn The basics of MDX query language.
• Understand the pros and cons of Integration into SharePoint.
• Create a Report using Report Builder 3.0.
• Load and Manage Reports with SharePoint.
• Create Report Subscriptions in SharePoint.
• Create and customize the SharePoint Report Center.
• Realize the importance of and customize SharePoint Content Types.
• Explain the differences in workflows in SharePoint.
• Understand and Create a Shared Service Provider in SharePoint.
• Understand and Create a Business Data Catalog in SharePoint.
• Utilize the Business Intelligence add-ins for Excel 2007.

Course Outline

Module 1: Overview Of the Microsoft BI Stack

Lessons

• The Goal of Business Intelligence
• SQL 2008 Business Intelligence Platform
• Integration Services
• Analysis Services
• Reporting Services
• SharePoint Report Center
• Multidimensional Space Terminology
• SharePoint 2007 Terminology
• Tools for Developers and Users
• Business Intelligence Project Skill Sets Required
• Business Intelligence Life Cycle

Lab : Introduction To The Stack Tools

• Explore the toolsets

Module 2: Unified Data Model

Lessons

• UDM Vision
• Problems UDM addresses
• Benefits
• Situations in which the UDM is inappropriate

Lab : Unified Data Model

• Create a Data Source
• Create a Data View
• Create, process, deploy and browse a cube
• Proactive Cache

Module 3: SQL Server Integration Services

Lessons

• Major Components
• Practice: Import Wizard, DtwTypeConverssion.xml
• New or changed features
• Script task
• Practice: Script Task
• Change Data Capture
• Data Profiling Task and Viewer
• Practice: Data Profiler and Viewer
• SSIS Connection Project
• Practice: Connection Project
• Extract Transform Load
• Best Practices for Deployment
• Advanced Features of Packages
• Practice: Logging
• Transactions
• Checkpoints
• Practice: Work with Transactions and Checkpoints
• Best Practices for Design

Lab : SQL Server Integration Services

• Create a SSIS Project in BIDS
• Create and implement several data flows
• Load data via a SQL statement

Module 4: SQL Server Analysis Server

Lessons

• Cubes
• Multidimensional Spacev
• Measures
• Practice: Explore Measures
• Dimensions
• Practice: Create an unnatural hierarchy
• Special Dimensions, Time and Slowly Changing
• Schemas
• Cube Processing
• Partitions
• Proactive Caching
• Aggregations
• Practice: Monitoring Aggregations
• SSAS 2008 Enhancements

Lab : SQL Server Analysis Server

• Define an OLAP Cube
• Working with Measures and Measure Groups
• Time and Hierarchies
• Relating Dimensions
• Build Deploy and Browse the Cube

Module 5: MDX Query Language

Lessons

• Overview
• Editor
• Select Statement
• Where Clause
• Tuples
• Cells
• Partial Tuples
• Sets
• Functions
• Limiting Sets
• Working With Time

Lab : MDX Query Language

• Cell Properties
• Partial Tuples
• Sets
• Select
• Functions
• Time Based Results

Module 6: SQL Server Reporting Services

Lessons

• Integration with SharePoint
• Report Processing and Rendering
• Report Authoring
• Practice: Prepare SharePoint for Reporting Services
• Data Access
• Practice: Create Shared Data Sources
• Data Sets
• Practice: Create Datasets, Add a report Parameter
• Semantic Models
• Practice: Create a Report Model. Modify and Deploy the Model and Design a report based on the model
• Tablix
• Charts
• Geospatial Data

Lab : SQL Server Reporting Services

• Use BIDS to Create a OLAP Report
• Report Builder 3.0

Module 7: SharePoint Server 2007

Lessons

• SharePoint Terminology
• Functionality
• Portals
• Practice: Create a Portal
• Content Types
• Practice: Create a Content Type
• Workflows
• Web Parts
• Practice: Create a web page and add web parts
• Data Connection Libraries
• Shared Service Provider
• Report Center
• Dashboards/Scorecards
• Key Performance Indicators
• Practice: KPIs
• Subscriptions

Lab : SharePoint Server 2007

• Create a Repot Center
• Configure Report Integration
• Create Data Connection
• Create Report Library
• Create Subscriptions

Module 8: SharePoint Business Data Catalog

Lessons

• Why the BDC
• BDC Web Parts
• Application Definition Files
• Authentication and Security

Lab : SharePoint Business Data Catalog

• Use a BDC Application
• Use the BDC Web Parts

Module 9: SharePoint Excel Services

Lessons

• Excel on the Server
• Using Excel Services
• Limitations
• Trusted File Locations
• Excel Web Service
• Excel Web Access
• Excel Calculation Service

Lab : SharePoint Excel Services

• Create a User Defined Function
• Retrieve A Value From A Workbook
• Deploy A Web Part To Use EWS

Module 10: Data Mining and Excel

Lessons

• Notable Uses OF Data Mining
• Key Terms
• Types Of Data Mining Algorithms
• The Microsoft Implementations OF The Algorithms
• Excel and The BI Extensions

Lab : Data Mining and Excel

• Utilize The Excel Data Mining Tools

Additional Reading

To help you prepare for this class, review the following resources:

• The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit by Ralph Kimbal
• Smart Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server2008
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed