10337 Updating Your Microsoft SQL Server 2008 BI Skills to SQL Server 2008 R2

Overview

Course Description

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This 3 day ILT course focuses on the new features SQL Server 2008 R2 for BI specialists.

Audience Profile

The primary audience for this course is BI Professionals who have 3-4 years of experience with SQL Server. The audience has an understanding of how to use SQL Server 2008 BI tools to implement a BI infrastructure and solution.

Prerequisite(s) Recommended

Before attending this course, students must have:

Three to four years of experience using SQL Server 2008 BI components
Knowledge of relational and multi-dimensional database schemas
Experience creating and deploying SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports
Experience debugging, monitoring, and troubleshooting BI solutions
Experience working with the Microsoft .NET Framework

Experience in using the following tools:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 BI Development Studio
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio
Report Builder and Report Manager
Possible experience in using Microsoft Visual Studio

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Describe the new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2008 R2 that relate to Business Intelligence, describe how SQL Server 2008 R2 can be integrated with Microsoft SharePoint technologies in a BI infrastructure, and describe the options available for implementing large-scale data warehousing solutions built on SQL Server 2008 R2.
Use SQL Server PowerPivot to create self-service BI solutions
Use new and enhanced Reporting Services tools to create and manage self-service reporting solutions
Use new report features to create compelling reports
Use StreamInsight to create an application that captures and analyzes streams of event data.
Use Master Data Services to enable data consistency across the enterprise to help increase the accuracy of BI solutions.
Integrate data from SQL Azure into a SQL Server BI solution.
Describe the new features of SQL Server 2008 R2, and use them to manage BI applications.

Course Outline

Course Outline

Module 1: SQL Server 2008 R2 for BI Professionals

This module discusses the key themes and features of the SQL Server 2008 R2 release, and the business issues that it was designed to address. It then discusses integration between SQL Server 2008 R2 and SharePoint technologies before introducing data warehousing in SQL Server 2008 R2.
Lessons

Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2
SQL Server 2008 R2 and SharePoint 2010
SQL Server 2008 R2 data Warehousing

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Identify the key features and scenarios addressed by SQL Server 2008 R2.
Describe the ways in which SQL Server 2008 R2 and SharePoint 2010 can be integrated to create a comprehensive self-service BI platform.
Identify the options available for data warehousing with SQL Server and describe the key features of SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse.

Module 2: Implementing Self-Service BI with PowerPivot

This module introduces PowerPivot for Excel 2010 and PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010 and describe how they can be used to empower business users to create their own business analyses by using familiar tools.

Lessons

Introduction to PowerPivot
Power Pivot for Excel 2010
Data Analysis Expressions (DAX)
Power Pivot for SharePoint 2010

Lab: Implementing Self-Service BI with PowerPivot

Using PowerPivot for Excel 2010
Using PowerPivot for SharePoint

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Install and configure PowerPivot for Excel and PowerPivot for SharePoint.
Use PowerPivot for Excel to create a PowerPivot workbook.
Use Data Analysis Expressions to build formulas in PowerPivot.
Use PowerPivot for SharePoint to manage PowerPivot workbooks.

Module 3: SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services Tool and API Enhancements

This module describes the enhancements to Reporting Services tools and APIs in SQL Server 2008 R2 (enhanced reporting functionality is covered in the next module; this module is specifically focused on changes to the management and development tools and APIs).
Lessons

Deploying and Managing Reporting Services
Reporting Services Authoring Tool Enhancements
Enabling Self-Service BI Through Item Re-Use
Developing Custom Reporting Services Solutions

Lab: Working with Reporting Services

Viewing and Managing Reports
Using Report Builder 3.0
Working with Shared Datasets and Report Parts

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Use the enhanced Reporting Services management tools
Use the enhanced Reporting Services authoring tools
Collaborate with other report developers by using shared datasets and report parts
Use the enhanced Reporting Services development APIs

Module 4: SQL Server 2008 R2 Report Authoring Enhancements

This module describes the enhancements to Reporting Services in SQL Server 2008 R2.

Lessons

Overview of Report Authoring Enhancements
Visualizing Data
Visualizing Spatial Data with Maps

Lab: Authoring Reports

Using Lookups
Paginating Reports
Visualizing Data with Databars and Sparklines
Visualizing Data with Indicators
Visualizing Spatial Data

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Use new features to create reports that include rotated text boxes, linked data from multiple datasets, include rollup aggregations, and custom pagination behavior.
Create reports that include graphic visualizations of data with Sparklines, Data Bars, and Indicators.
Create reports that include visualizations of spatial data.

Module 5: Building Complex Event Processing Solutions with StreamInsight

This module introduces StreamInsight with an emphasis on its use to enable analytical solutions for real-time streams of data.
Lessons

Introduction to StreamInsight
StreamInsight Core Concepts
Developing a StreamInsight Solution

Lab: Building a StreamInsight Solution

Creating a StreamInsight Application
Using Filters and Aggregates
Using the StreamInsight Debugger

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe scenarios where Complex Event Processing can be used effectively
Describe the core concepts related to Microsoft StreamInsight.
Create a basic StreamInsight application

Module 6: Master Data Services

This module introduces Master Data Services with an emphasis on its use to enable data consistency across the enterprise to help increase the accuracy of BI solutions.

Lessons