Database Reference
In-Depth Information
APPENDIX A
Choosing a
Microsoft Tool
When working in the Microsoft business intelligence toolset, it's important to
realize that you will not standardize on one tool for your visualizations. Each
tool in the tool box has its own purpose, and you will frustrate yourself trying
to make the wrong tool do the job of another—just as it would be frustrating
to try to drive in a nail with a screwdriver. In this appendix, you discover the
strengths and weaknesses of each tool.
STRengTHS AnD weAkneSSeS
oF eACH Tool
As mentioned in Chapter 2, the Microsoft toolset loosely follows the strategic/
tactical/operational levels, with a tool for each level. However, the correlation is
loose, and with the launch of Power View as an application within SharePoint
and a visualization within Excel, the tactical level has been split into two
categories: PowerPivot in Excel for the data modeling, and Power View for
the visualization. Consequently, the correlation between the toolset and the
levels has become even weaker. This chapter explores the uses of each tool
and shows you how to choose which to use.
PErForMANCEPoINT
As described in Chapter 3, PerformancePoint Services (PPS) has its antecedents
in the original Business Scorecard Manager. The strongest feature of PPS is
the scorecard building component.
