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AXUG Summit 2011RPT07: Understanding PowerPivot

Noah Kluge—PrecisionPoint Software

What is PowerPivot

• In memory cube technology• Allows creation of monster cube/report within Excel• Collect info from disparate data sources and types• Intended to be used by power users or to do proof of

concepts within IT• Has its own calculation language called Data Analysis

Expressions (DAX).• Integrates with SharePoint Enterprise 2010 and Excel

Services

Benefits/Drawbacks

• Benefits:– Quick and easy for information delivery– Familiar interface– Readily and “free” for those with Excel 2010

• Drawbacks– Requires understanding of underlying data model– Virtual company support/Multi-Company Support?– Involves learning new calculation language– No support for hierarchies/ordering (Denali 1H2012)

• Your Experiences?

What It’s Not

• Not a replacement for a data warehouse– Not an Extract Transform Load (ETL) tool like SQL Integration

Services• CustInvoiceTrans->CustInvoiceJour (for InvoiceAccount)->CustTable (for name)• Total customer sales (w/ Item detail) will require facts from CustInvoiceTrans and

CustInvoiceJour

– Limited ability to apply business rules to data

• Not a replacement for production OLAP cubes– No security model

Brief Demo

Useful Links

• Technet Help: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh272054(SQL.110).aspx• Hierarchy Setup: http://www.bidn.com/blogs/DevinKnight/ssis/2045/powerpivot-%

E2%80%93-creating-hierarchies• Download: http://www.microsoft.com/bi/en-us/solutions/pages/powerpivot.aspx• General Info: http://powerpivotfaq.com/Lists/TGPPF/AllItems.aspx• DAX Functions: http://powerpivot-info.com/post/53-list-of-powerpivot-dax-functions-short

• www.bing.com