Database Reference
In-Depth Information
If this seems complicated, that's okay. You don't need to know all the internal
details, but if you'd like to know more, use your favorite search engine to search
for “Columnstore Indexes” and go to the page for “Columnstore Indexes: A
New Feature in SQL Server known as Project 'Apollo'“ on
blogs.technet.com
.
MuLTIDIMENSIoNAL VErSuS IN MEMory MoDELS
PowerPivot represents a new shift in enhancing the capabilities around in-
memory models. This differs from the traditional multidimensional model in
that now we don't need to build out a traditional OLAP cube to be able to do
much of the OLAP-type analysis. Not that we might not want to build it out,
but sometimes that is more work than we have time for. Typically, you would
want to use a multidimensional model when size or complexity overruns the
PowerPivot or BISM tabular toolset.
For size, this would be data that would be too much for a server memory foot-
print or perhaps require complicated MDX scripting. PowerPivot can do much of
this scripting as well, however, so don't discount the power of its DAX language.
CReATIng youR FIRST PoweRPIVoT MoDel
Let's move forward by creating our first PowerPivot model. This model will be
based on a sample data set in the
Chapter05.zip
from this topic's download
files. First, you want to have the PowerPivot add-in installed; or if you are
already running Office 2013, you just need to enable it.
To enable the add-in in Excel 2013, go to File
a
Options
a
Add-ins
a
Com
Add-ins
a
GO. After the add-in is enabled, you should see a dialog like the
one shown in Figure 5-8.
FIguRe 5-8
Add-ins in Excel
