Foundations of SQL Server 2008 R2 Business Intelligence introduces the entire exciting gamut of business intelligence tools included with SQL Server 2008. Microsoft has designed SQL Server 2008 to be more than just a database. It’s a complete business intelligence (BI) platform. The database is at its core, and surrounding the core are tools for data mining, modeling, reporting, analyzing, charting, and integration with other enterprise-level software packages. SQL Server 2008 puts an incredible amount of BI functionality at your disposal. But how do you take advantage of it? That’s what this book is all about. Authors Guy Fouché and Lynn Langit show how to implement end-to-end BI solutions using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and other tools in the Microsoft business intelligence toolkit. You’ll learn about all-features such as PowerPivot and Report Builder 3.0. Also provided are clear examples of predictive analysis made possible through powerful data mining features in SQL Server. If you’re an analyst or developer working with SQL Server 2008 who is charged with delivering results that drive business success, you can’t afford to be without this book; you can’t afford to ignore the powerful business intelligence suite that Microsoft has placed at your disposal. Provides the "big picture" of Microsoft’s BI tool suite Covers PowerPivot and other game-changing technologies introduced alongside SQL Server 2008 Release 2 Gives a practical analysis of features based on real-world practices

Foundations of SQL Server 2008 R2 Business Intelligence introduces the exciting gamut of business intelligence tools included with SQL Server 2008. Microsoft has designed SQL Server 2008 to be more than just a database. It's a complete business intelligence (BI) platform. The database is at the core, and surrounding the database are tools for data mining, modeling, reporting, analyzing, charting, and integration with other, enterprise-level software packages. SQL Server 2008 puts an incredible amount of BI functionality at your disposal. But how do you take advantage of it? That's what this book is all about. Authors Guy Fouché and Lynn Langit show how to implement end-to-end BI solutions using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and other tools in the Microsoft BI toolkit. You'll learn about all-new features such as PowerPivot and Report Builder 3.0. Also provided are clear examples of predictive analysis made possible through powerful data mining features in SQL Server. If you're an analyst or developer working with SQL Server 2008 who is charged with delivering results that drive business success, you can't afford to be without this book; you can't afford to ignore the powerful BI suite that Microsoft has placed at your disposal. Provides the "big picture" of Microsoft's BI tool suite Covers PowerPivot and other game-changing technologies introduced alongside SQL Server 2008 Release 2 Gives a practical analysis of features based on real-world practices What you'll learn Apply dimensional- and fact-based modeling to create OLAP schemas Optimize data extraction and transformation with SQL Server Integration Services Develop OLAP and data-mining solutions using SQL Server Analysis Services Create compelling reports using the new Report Builder 3.0 in SQL Server Reporting Services Deliver self-service business-intelligence via Microsoft PowerPivot Manage and maintain control over your business intelligence environment Who this book is for Foundations of SQL Server 2008 R2 Business Intelligence is for business intelligence analysts and developers wanting to employ the full stack of business intelligence tools that are part of SQL Server. The book also appeals to database administrators managing databases in support of business intelligence efforts.

This book is the most concise yet comprehensive introduction to SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence. The book is the quickest path to seeing the Business Intelligence (BI) forest as a whole as well as understanding the trees within it. It is essential reading for all who work with SQL Server 2005. Foundations of SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence is written by a noted expert from a practical perspective. It is designed for all users of any of the tools in SQL Server 2005’s extraordinarily rich BI product suite. Developers, end-users, and even managers will find this an enlightening guide to the power and promise of SQL Server 2005 BI.

Best practices and invaluable advice from world-renowned data warehouse experts In this book, leading data warehouse experts from the Kimball Group share best practices for using the upcoming “Business Intelligence release” of SQL Server, referred to as SQL Server 2008 R2. In this new edition, the authors explain how SQL Server 2008 R2 provides a collection of powerful new tools that extend the power of its BI toolset to Excel and SharePoint users and they show how to use SQL Server to build a successful data warehouse that supports the business intelligence requirements that are common to most organizations. Covering the complete suite of data warehousing and BI tools that are part of SQL Server 2008 R2, as well as Microsoft Office, the authors walk you through a full project lifecycle, including design, development, deployment and maintenance. Features more than 50 percent new and revised material that covers the rich new feature set of the SQL Server 2008 R2 release, as well as the Office 2010 release Includes brand new content that focuses on PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint, Master Data Services, and discusses updated capabilities of SQL Server Analysis, Integration, and Reporting Services Shares detailed case examples that clearly illustrate how to best apply the techniques described in the book The accompanying Web site contains all code samples as well as the sample database used throughout the case studies The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit, Second Edition provides you with the knowledge of how and when to use BI tools such as Analysis Services and Integration Services to accomplish your most essential data warehousing tasks.

Master Microsoft's Business Intelligence Tools Building Integrated Business Intelligence Solutions with SQL Server 2008 R2 & Office 2010 explains how to take full advantage of Microsoft's collaborative business intelligence (BI) tools. A variety of powerful, flexible technologies are covered, including SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), Excel, Excel Services, PowerPivot, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SharePoint Server 2010, PerformancePoint Services, and Master Data Services. This practical guide focuses on deveoloping end-to-end BI solutions that foster informed decision making. Create a multidimensional store for aggregating business data with SSAS Maximize the analysis capabilities of Excel and Excel Services Combine data from different sources and connect data for analysis with PowerPivot Move data into the system using SSIS, InfoPath, Streamsight, and SharePoint 2010 External Lists Build and publish reports with SSRS Integrate data from disparate applications, using SharePoint 2010 BI features Create scorecards and dashboards with PerformancePoint Services Summarize large volumes of data in charts and graphs Use the SSRS map feature for complex visualizations of spatial data Uncover patterns and relationships in data using the SSAS data mining engine Handle master data management with Master Data Services Publish the components of your BI solution and perform administrative tasks

With help from this fully updated bestselling book, database professionals will be able to transform disparate enterprise data into actionable Business Intelligence. Covering all the new and improved BI features available in SQL Server 2008, the book shows you how to put timely, mission-critical information in the hands of employees across the organization.Delivering Business Intelligence with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 begins with a discussion of BI, defining what it is and why it is important in today's business environment. After laying this foundation, the book works through the entire BI lifecycle: defining the analysis database; analyzing the data; mining the data; and delivering BI. Several analysis databases will be built and used for examples throughout the book.