Microsoft Power BI enters a new phase with recent release

PowerBI 2.0 was released recently (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powerbi/archive/2015/07/24/power-bi-is-generally-available-today.aspx).  According to the link there appears to be two items, Power BI Service and Power BI Desktop. Power BI Visualization framework and its library will be available on GitHub as well. Microsoft seems to have included an unbelievable sources of data which you can use to create and enjoy your visualization (Review screen shots at the conclusion of this post).

Review articles on\using previous version here:

Power BI Unchained
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/02/power-bi-unchained.html
Spin out a cutting edge report with Power BI
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/02/spin-out-cutting-edge-report-with-power.html
Visualizing data on SAP's SQL Anywhere
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/02/powerbi-preview-reporting-from-sql_13.html
Excel data visualization with Power BI
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2015/02/powerbi-preview-reports-using-data-on.html

Power BI Service: Cloud Hosted Bi and Analytics
Power BI Service download is from this link.
https://powerbi.microsoft.com/?WT.mc_id=Blog_GA_James

I used Sign-in on the above linked page with my personal live.com acccount. It appears you cannot use just your Microsoft account (that anybody can get for free) but the Office 365 or enterprise account.

PowerBI_01

However this did not work for me. I am trying to resolve this issue with Microsoft.
Well, the mantra, 'five seconds to sign up, five minutes to WOW' did not work for me. I shall WOW later.

Installing the Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop can be downloaded from here:
https://powerbi.microsoft.com/desktop

Install double clicking the Windows Installer Package PBIDesktop_x64 (55.6MB).

PBIDesk02.png
Agree to licensing terms. Accept default location. After one or more screens page with Install button will be displayed. Click Install. User Control Access window is displayed. Click OK. Progress page is displayed.

PowerBI Desktop is installed quite rapidly.

PBIDesk06.png

A new desktop icon replacing the one from the preview version is created.

Launching the application displays the following window.


PBIDesk07.png

 

Dismiss the start up screen and you will see the Power BI Desktop with the 'ribbon'.

PBIDesk08.png

Happy Visualizing Data!

How does this stack up against Tableau and Qlik?

Sources of data which you can use to create your visualization

These are the most popular data sources:

PBI_getData1

Here is the complete listing

 PBI_getData2

 PBI_getData3

 

Connecting to SQL Server 2012 Express from Power Pivot - 1

Previously we have seen connecting to a database from Power Query. Microsoft also has Power Pivot which also can access SQL Server 2012 to model a data source. In what way is Power Query different from Power Pivot?

There is a functionality difference between the two. Power Query is more like SQL Server Integration Services while Power Pivot is akin to SQL Server Analysis Services. Even a cursory look at the
'ribbon' would reveal this as shown:

In Power Query UI you do not see analysis related controls.

As to connecting to data you do see there is some overlap. However, Power Query can access lot more types of data sources than Power Pivot.  These are data sources that Power Query can access,

The following image shows data sources that Power Pivot can bring in,

 

 Also, review the user interface differences between the two tools, one provides more analytical support than the other,

However both Power Query as well as Power Pivot can connect to SQL Server 2012 Express by clicking on the From Database drop-down.

Go to Part 2 here:

http://hodentekmsss.blogspot.com/2014/01/connecting-to-sql-server-express-2012.html

Hekaton becomes SQL Server 2014

Blocking and Locking will be a thing of the past

In-memory OLTP Processing:
SQL Server 2014 (former codename Hekaton) has built-in, in-memory capability for OLTP Transactions with not so expensive hardware requirements. The release date of SQL Server 2014 was annonuced at its TechEd conference in New Orleans this week.

The ink is still fresh on my new book, Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 and Microsoft has announced another version already. Well, Microsoft is known for its relentless offerings. Transactions can be disk/memory based which does not require expensive boxes and with this feature Microsoft tries to distinguish itself from the likes of SAP Hana (Oracle Database with its Exadata and Exalytics). The performance is very fast but only 50 times faster but not Hekaton faster (Hekaton means 100!!!).

In-memory Business Intelligence:
This is already a reality. Look at the terrific features of Power View. You can go two ways with Power View: Power Pivot via EXCEL or Tabular Model with SSAS.

Get a jump start from scratch on your acquaintance  with Power Views with my forthcoming book,
Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/05/some-details-of-my-book-on-sql-server.html


Read more on SQL Server 2014 here->

http://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2013/06/03/sql-server-2014-unlocking-real-time-insights.aspx
http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/news/2240185188/SQL-Server-2014-due-out-in-late-2013-in-memory-OLTP-a-big-feature
http://www.techweb.com/news/240062566/microsoft-in-memory-move-challenges-sap- tiwht wyaoracle.html.

2nd Edition: SQL Server Reporting Services 2012

In the present day information-centric world we live in, the success of an enterprise depends enormously on how its information is generated, handled, and disseminated. With ample screenshots and over 65 hands-on exercises, this book will guide you effortlessly through creating cutting edge reports using SQL Server Reporting Services 2012, native and fully integrated with SharePoint Server 2010 including new features like Power View and Data Alerts.

"Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012" will get you started right from installation and then move on to configuration of SQL Server Reporting Services 2012. Start learning right from Chapter 1 and build your skill to create reports using the latest tools and deploy them to the latest servers, both Native and SharePoint. No guessing; you will learn all—Power View, Data Alerts, SQL Azure Reporting,the latest Reporting Services Gadgets, and more.

"Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2012" is a definitive guide to a step-by-step, metered approach to get a jump start on the latest features in SQL Server Reporting Services.Reporting Services in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is more tightly integrated not only with the Microsoft Business Stack but also with SharePoint, Windows Azure, and the Visual Studio suite of products, with many new features.

You will install and configure the toolset to work with SSRS 2012 integrated with SharePoint 2010. Using SQL Server Data Tools, you will author reports and deploy. You will learn about security to work with Report Manager and Central Administration in SharePoint. Using Report Builder, you will learn about authoring cutting edge reports. You will create Tabular Models and begin experiencing the thrill of creating Power View Reports.

Review this link for more details:
http://www.packtpub.com/learning-sql-server-reporting-services-2012/book

The first edition, 'Learning SQL Server Reporting Services 2008', ISBN: 9781847196187 was published in March 2009