Ideaca Dynamics AX Tips & Tricks - Security in AX 2012

Ideaca's AX experts provide answers to common AX 2012 questions, helping you leverage your Microsoft Dynamics AX investment. This video discusses security in AX 2012. For more information or to contact us, visit www.ideaca.com

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An Introduction to PerformancePoint Services Part 1 of 2: OLAP Design

An Introduction to PerformancePoint Services Part 1 of 2: OLAP Design

Introduction

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and PerformancePoint Services are tools in the Microsoft BI stack used for displaying data. Analysis Services allows analysts to investigate data quickly and dynamically without IT having to write queries. PerformancePoint Services displays high level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to executives to be viewed at a glance. These tools leverage the data warehouse to users who may not have technical expertise.

The first part of my two part article will focus on the creation of an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube as well overview of what is required for the delivery of the solution as a whole. The second part will focus on the aesthetic side of displaying data via the dashboard.

What is required?

In order to get a PerformancePoint dashboard up and running off an Analysis Services Cube (using a relational database instead of a cube is an option but the advantages of using a cube include: faster aggregation of measure values, hierarchies of members, and KPIs) a cube will need to be created. SharePoint 2010 is required in order to create a dashboard using Dashboard Designer. Creating a Business Intelligence site in SharePoint will allow for the download of the Dashboard Designer and the ability to deploy the web parts created in the designer to the SharePoint site. Having SharePoint is also a great way to expose Business Intelligence to users; whether it is reports, PowerPivot models, or complicated Excel files. These components of business intelligence all would benefit by being viewed by analysts.