The most common way to use Power BI is to import the data into Power BI and define the structure of the data model there. In many situations, this is the best way to use Power BI. However, it is not the only way to use Power BI. Power BI offers three different methods forRead more
SQL Server 2016 includes R Services and Advanced Analytics Extensions. R Services makes it possible to run R scripts within SQL Server. As a result, R analysis results can be delivered through Report Manager using SQL Server Reporting Services. What is R? R is a statistical programming language that is used extensively in scientific researchRead more
There are many types of indexes in SQL Server. One of the less commonly-used types is a Filtered Index. This blog explores scenarios for using a filtered index, so that you know when it should be applied to be most effective.
I recently worked on a project that used web services to feed information to the SSRS reports that were created for the various business segments at this particular organization. Stemming from that project, this blog post will present how to create a simple web service that returns a serialized dataset and a simple SSRS reportRead more
Scenario When running a query, many times there are instances where there is non-existent data. The following blog addresses various scenarios and solutions for overcoming this issue. A hospital report needs to show Intentsive Care Unit (ICU) bed occupancy by date. The WITH statement below simulates a small table of source data so you canRead more
All businesses must assume risk to create profits. So dealing with risk is inherent in the nature of business. The way that these risks are managed can vary greatly, however. Taking on risks smartly can cause an organization to thrive while assuming foolish risks can drive the same organization into the ground. Therefore, wise managersRead more
Introduction Microsoft Entity Framework (EF) is an object-relational mapper (ORM) based on ADO.NET, and is a set of technologies that support the development of data-oriented software applications. As a replacement to Linq-to-SQL, EF enables developers to work with data in the form of domain-specific objects and properties, such as students and student grades, without havingRead more
Much of our organizational reporting today looks only at the past. It shows us what happened in the past month, most recently completed quarter or year-to-date. This information has value, but in many cases it would have more value if it helped us look in to the future. Often, when decision makers look at pastRead more
