Power View for Multidimensional Models - Preview

Microsoft is offering SQL Server customers the opportunity to test and provide feedback on new functionality, Power View for Multidimensional Models. Available here, you can download and try out Power View with traditional SQL Server Analysis Services multidimensional cubes. This added functionality will help you maximize your existing BI investments while utilizing the latest BI end-user tools and adds greater modeling flexibility with the BI Semantic Model. Please note, we are not disclosing timing or release vehicle for these bits, at this time.

Microsoft introduced an interactive data exploration, visualization and presentation experience called Power View with SQL Server 2012. Power View reports are presentation-ready at all times because they are always connected to your data. Users can quickly create a variety of visualizations, from tables and matrices to bubble charts and sets of small multiple charts. Power View operates on a BI Semantic Model that resides in Analysis Services or PowerPivot workbooks.

In SQL Server 2012 RTM/SP1, Power View can consume data from tabular models, however multidimensional models (a.k.a. “cubes”) were not supported. The Power View for Multidimensional Models CTP addresses this key limitation. Now Power View users can connect to both tabular BI Semantic Model AND multidimensional BI Semantic Model (cubes). This is achieved through native support for Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) in Analysis Services Multidimensional models, ensuring optimal performance and functionality.

Have fun playing with this CTP and please provide your feedback (issues/suggestions) via MS Connect.

Stay tuned for a deeper dive on this added functionality in the next post!

SQL BI Team