DAT225x

Developing an Analysis Services Tabular

Model
Lab 01 | Getting Started
Estimated time to complete this lab is 60 minutes

Overview
In this lab, you will provision a Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine (VM) that will be used by all labs
in this course. Once the VM is provisioned, you will complete the setup required to support the
labs.

The labs in this course are accumulative. You cannot complete the following labs if this lab has not
been successfully completed.

What You’ll Need

To complete this lab, you will need the following:

• High-speed and reliable internet connectivity (for remote connections to the VM)
• A second monitor is recommended (for the Remote Desktop connection)
• A Microsoft account (such as one used for outlook.com, Hotmail, or other Microsoft
services)
• A Microsoft Azure subscription
• The lab files for this course (available for download from GitHub, as described in this lab)

Creating a Free Trial Azure Subscription

If you already have an Azure subscription, you can skip this section. Otherwise, follow these
steps to create a free trial subscription. You will need to provide a valid credit card number for
verification, but you will not be charged for Azure services—for more information, refer to
https://aka.ms/dat225xaz. Note that the free trial is not available in all regions.

If you already have a Microsoft account that has not already been used to sign up for a free
Microsoft Azure trial subscription, you’re ready to get started. If not, don’t worry—just create a
new Microsoft account at https://signup.live.com.

This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and
other Internet Web site references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with
any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product. You may copy and use this
document for your internal, reference purposes. © 2017-2018 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
After you’ve created a Microsoft account, browse to https://aka.ms/dat225xaz and then click
the Start Free link. Then follow the instructions to sign up for a free trial subscription to
Microsoft Azure. You’ll need to sign in with your Microsoft account if you’re not already signed
in. Then you’ll need to:

• Enter your cellphone number and have Microsoft send you a text message to verify your
identity
• Enter the verification code sent to you
• Provide valid payment details—don’t worry, your credit card won’t be charged for any
services you use during the trial period, and the account is automatically deactivated at
the end of the trial period, unless you expressly decide to keep it active.

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Exercise 1: Provisioning an Azure VM
In this exercise, having signed in to the Azure Portal by using your Azure subscription, you will
provision an Azure VM to support all labs for this course.

The Azure VM should be stopped when you have completed a lab so that your subscription is not
charged (for free trial subscriptions, this will ensure you will have sufficient credits left to complete
the labs over the duration of the course).

Provisioning an Azure VM
In this task, you will sign in to the Azure Portal, and then provision an Azure VM.

1. In a web browser, navigate to https://portal.azure.com.

2. Sign in to the Azure Portal by using your subscription.

3. In the left pane, select Virtual Machines.

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4. In the Virtual Machines blade, click Add.

5. In the Compute blade, in the search box, enter the search text Free SQL Server 2017, and
then press Enter.

6. Select the
Free SQL Server License: SQL Server 2017 Developer on Windows Server 2016 image.

7. In the image blade, review the text that describes the virtual machine setup.

8. In the lower section of the blade, in the Select a Deployment Model dropdown list,
ensure that Resource Manager is selected.

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9. To provision the virtual machine, click Create.

10. Notice that the Create Virtual Machine blade opens, and that also the Basics blade
(step 1) opens.

11. In the Basics blade, in the Name box, enter a name for the virtual machine (this will
become the name of the machine to which you will connect).

12. In the VM Disk Type dropdown list, select HDD.

13. In the User Name box enter VM-Admin.

14. In the password boxes, enter and confirm an appropriate password.

This will become the machine administrator account password. Note that the password must
be at least 12 characters in length, and must have three of the following: one lower case
character, one upper case character, one number, or one special character.

Be sure to permanently record these credentials, as you will be required to use them to sign
in every time you will connect to the VM.

15. In the Resource Group box, enter Lab.

16. In the Location box, select a data center that is near you.

17. Click OK.

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18. In the Size blade (step 2), scroll down to locate and select a Standard size VM which
provides at least 2 vCPUs and 8GB RAM (like D2s_v3, if available).

The labs in this course will not require excessive storage, memory or processing. Also, you will
be prompted to deallocate your VM between labs, and so the monthly cost you see will only
apply when the VM is running.

19. Click Select.

20. In the Settings blade (step 3), if prompted with a warning message about the use of
standard disks, ignore this message.

21. For Use Managed Disks, select No.

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22. In the Select Public Inbound Ports dropdown list (you may need to scroll down to locate
the dropdown list), select RDP.

23. For Monitoring, Boot Diagnostics (again, scroll down), select Disabled.

24. Click OK.

25. In the SQL Server Settings blade (step 4), to accept the default settings, click OK.

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26. In the Summary blade, take note of the pricing for the VM.

To minimize cost, the lab instructions will encourage you to stop and deallocate the VM when
it is not being used.

27. If you agree to the pricing and terms of use, click Create.

While the VM is being provisioned, you are directed to the Azure Portal dashboard.

28. On the Azure Portal dashboard, notice the tile displaying the status of the deployment
process.

The deployment usually takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and this time depends largely on
the VM size selected. The VM blade will open when the deployment completes.

You cannot proceed to the next task until the deployment completes.

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Connecting to the VM
In this task, once the VM has successfully deployed, you will connect to the VM.

1. In the Azure Portal, notice that the VM blade automatically opens, and that the VM status is
Running.

You are charged when the VM status is Running, but you are not charged—except for a
relatively smaller storage cost—when the VM status is Stopped (Deallocated).

At the end of this lab, there will be instructions to guide you on how to stop and optionally
deallocate the VM. You should consider doing this if you choose to commence the next lab at
a much later time.

2. To connect to the VM, click Connect.

3. In the Connect to Virtual Machine pane (located at the right), click Dowload RDP File.

A Remote Desktop File (.rdp) file is downloaded to your computer.

This file can be used to reconnect to the remote desktop session, but note that if you
deallocate the VM and later re-start the VM, it will be likely that a different IP address will be
assigned.

4. If prompted by the web browser to open the Remote Desktop File, click Open, otherwise,
locate the downloaded file, and then double-click it.

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5. If prompted to connect to the unknown publisher, click Connect.

You need to enter the VM administrator credentials. If the authentication window defaults to
an existing account, you will need to select More Choices, and then select
Use a Different Account.

6. In the Windows Security window, enter the user name VM-Admin, and the password you
used to create the VM in the previous task.

7. Check the Remember My Credentials checkbox.

8. Click OK.

9. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, check the

Don’t Ask Me Again for Connections to This Computer checkbox.

10. Click Yes.

11. If you have a second monitor, maximize the Remote Desktop window inside a single
monitor.

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Exercise 2: Setting Up the Azure VM
In this exercise, you will complete several VM setup tasks.

Configuring the Server

In this task, you will configure the server to support the lab experience.

1. In the Remote Desktop window, when the Networks panel opens at the right, to ensure
that the machine is not discoverable by other machines, click No.

2. Wait until Server Manager opens (it will open automatically).

3. In Server Manager, in the left pane, select Local Server.

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4. In the Properties pane, notice that IE Enhanced Security Configuration is set to On.

5. Click the On link.

6. In the window, for Administrators, select the Off option.

7. Click OK.

8. Located at the top-right corner, select Manage, and then select

Server Manager Properties.

9. In the window, check the Do Not Start Server Manager Automatically at Logon.

10. Click OK.

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11. To close Server Manager, located at the top-right corner, click X.

Starting Analysis Services

In this task, you will start Analysis Services, and then set the service to start automatically.

The Azure VM has Analysis Services already installed in Tabular mode, however the service is
stopped and not set to start automatically.

1. To open SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager, at the bottom-left corner, click the
Windows icon, and then type SQL Server 2017 Configuration.

2. From the best match result, select SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager.

3. In SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager, in the left pane, select SQL Server Services.

4. In the right-pane, double-click SQL Server Analysis Services (MSSQLSERVER).

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5. In the SQL Server Analysis Services (MSSQLSERVER) Properties window, click Start.

6. When the service has started, select the Service tab.

7. Set the Start Mode property to Automatic.

8. Click OK.

9. To close SQL Server 2017 Configuration Manager, on the File menu, select Exit.

Installing the SQL Server Module

In this task, you will install the PowerShell SQL Server module.

1. To open PowerShell, at the bottom-left corner, click the Windows icon, and then type
Power.

2. From the best match result, select Windows PowerShell.

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3. In the Windows PowerShell window, enter the following command:

PowerShell
Install-Module -Name SqlServer -AllowClobber

This command will install the PowerShell SQL Server module, required to invoke an Analysis
Services command later in this lab.

4. When prompted to install the NuGet provider, enter Y, and then press Enter.

5. When prompted to trust the repository, enter A, and then press Enter.

6. When the installation has completed, close the Windows PowerShell window.

Installing the Lab Resources

In this task, you will download and extract the lab resources that support the labs.

1. To open Internet Explorer, on the taskbar, click the Internet Explorer shortcut.

2. In the Internet Explorer 11 window, to accept the recommended settings, click OK.

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3. At the top-right corner, click the settings icon, and then select Internet Options.

4. In the Internet Options window, select the Privacy tab.

5. Uncheck the Turn On Pop-up Blocker checkbox.

6. Click OK.

7. Maximize the Internet Explorer window.

8. In the URL box, enter https://aka.ms/edx-dat225x-lab-content.

Tip: You can copy-and-paste the URL into the Remote Desktop window.

9. On the web page, click the DAT225x-Analysis-Services-Tabular.zip link.

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10. To download the lab resources, click Download.

11. Download the file (Save As) to F:\.

12. In the File Explorer window, navigate to F:\.

13. On the View ribbon, check File Name Extensions.

14. Right-click the DAT225x-Analysis-Services-Tabular.zip file, and then select Properties.

15. In the window, check Unblock.

16. Click OK.

17. To extract the file content, right-click the DAT225x-Analysis-Services-Tabular.zip file,

and then select Extract All.

18. In the window, replace the folder path with F:\.

Be sure to extract the files to F:\, otherwise later steps in this lab will fail.

19. Click Extract.

20. Optionally, delete the DAT225x-Analysis-Services-Tabular.zip file.

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21. Verify that you have the F:\Labs folder.

Installing the Sample Database

In this task, you will run a script to install a sample database and configure database
permissions.

1. In File Explorer, navigate to the F:\Labs\Lab01\Assets folder.

2. Double-click the Setup-Database.cmd file.

The setup will restore the AdventureWorksDW2016 database. The database has been
modified from the original sample for the purposes of this course.

3. When the script execution completes, press any key to close the console window.

Installing the Model

In this task, you will run a script to install the model preview.

1. In the F:\Labs\Lab01\Assets folder, right-click the Setup-Model.ps1 file, and then select
Run with PowerShell.

2. If prompted to change the execution policy, enter Y, and then press Enter.

The setup will restore the Reseller Sales database. The database represents the final solution
produced by the lab, and you will preview the cube in this lab.

3. When the script execution completes, press any key to close the PowerShell window.

Configuring SQL Server Management Studio

In this task, you will configure SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This tool will be required
to explore database, and to also execute scripts.

1. To add a shortcut to the taskbar, at the bottom-left corner, click the Windows icon, and
then commence typing SQL Server Management.

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2. In the Apps section, when the search result appears, right-click
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, and then select Pin to Taskbar.

3. Return to the desktop, and then click the SQL Server Management Studio shortcut.

It may take 1-2 minutes for SSMS to setup.

4. In the Connect to Server window, click Connect.

5. To verify that the AdventureWorksDW2016 database was restored, in Object Explorer

(located at the left), expand the Databases folder.

6. Verify that the AdventureWorksDW2016 database is listed.

7. To close SQL Server Management Studio, on the File menu, select Exit.

You may receive a popup notification from SSMS that a later version is available for
download. There is no need to install a later version to complete the labs.

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Installing SQL Server Data Tools
In this task, you will install SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). This tool is required to develop an
Analysis Services Multidimensional project.

8. In Internet Explorer, navigate to https://aka.ms/edx-dat225x-ssdt.

Tip: You can copy-and-paste the URL into the Remote Desktop window.

9. When prompted by Internet Explorer to run the SSDT-Setup-ENU.exe file, click Run.

10. In the Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools window, if you accept the license terms and privacy
statement, click Next.

11. Uncheck the SQL Server Reporting Services and SQL Server Integration Services
checkboxes.

12. Click Install.

The installation usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete.

13. When the installation completes, click Close.

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Configuring SQL Server Data Tools
In this task, you will configure SSDT.

1. To launch SSDT, at the bottom-left corner, click the Windows icon, and notice the items in
the Recently Added section.

2. Select Visual Studio 2017 (SSDT).

3. In the Visual Studio welcome window, to avoid signing in, click the Not Now, Maybe Later
link.

4. Click Start Visual Studio.

It may take 1-2 minutes for SSDT to setup.

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5. To create a shortcut, on the taskbar, right-click the Visual Studio 2017 icon, and then
select Pin to Taskbar.

6. To configure the SSDT environment, on the Tools menu, select Options.

7. In the Options window, in the left pane, select the Startup page.

8. In the At Startup dropdown list, select Show Empty Environment.

9. Click OK.

10. To close SSDT, on the File menu, select Exit.

You will work with SSDT to create an Analysis Services Tabular Project in Lab 02.

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Installing Microsoft Office
In this task, you will install Microsoft Office. This tool is required to create PivotTable reports to
help test the design of your Analysis Services multidimensional model.

1. In Internet Explorer, navigate to http://aka.ms/dat225x-xls.

Tip: You can copy-and-paste the URL into the Remote Desktop window.

2. When prompted by Internet Explorer to run the setup file, click Run.

The installation usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete.

3. When the installation completes, click Close.

4. To launch Excel, at the bottom-left corner, click the Windows icon, and expand the items
in the Recently Added section.

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5. Select Excel.

6. When Excel launches, in the sign in window, at the bottom of the window, click the
I Don’t Want to Sign In or Create an Account link.

7. When prompted to enter your product key, at the top-right corner, click X to close the
window.

8. If you accept the license agreement, click Accept and Start Excel.

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9. To close the Activate Office window, click X.

A trial period is available for up to 30 days, during which you will have ample time to
complete the labs for this course. Once the trial period expires, you will have the option to
purchase an Office 365 subscription.

In the labs, each time you launch Excel, be sure to use this technique to cancel the
Activation Wizard.

10. To create a blank workbook, select the Blank Workbook template.

11. Notice the yellow warning banner.

12. To hide the banner, at the far right, click X.

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13. To create a shortcut, on the taskbar, right-click the Excel icon, and then select
Pin to Taskbar.

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Exercise 3: Exploring the Lab Solution
In this exercise, you will explore the lab solution by connecting to the data model in Excel, and
creating a PivotTable report.

Exploring the Lab Solution

In this task, you will explore the lab solution by connecting to the data model in Excel, and
creating a PivotTable report.

1. In Excel, on the Data ribbon, in the Get External Data group, click From Other Sources,
and then select From Analysis Services.

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2. In the Data Connection Wizard window, in the Server Name box, enter localhost.

3. Click Next.

4. At the Select Database and Table step, in the dropdown list, notice that the
Reseller Sales database is selected, as is the model named Model.

5. Click Next.

6. At the Save Data Connection File and Finish step, to connect to the model, click Finish.

7. In the Import Data window, notice that the PivotTable Report option is selected, and
then click OK.

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8. Notice the PivotTable Fields pane at the right.

This pane surfaces the interface of the model.

9. In the PivotTable Fields pane, scroll down to locate the Date table.

10. From inside the Date table, drag the Calendar hierarchy to the Filters drop zone.

11. In the Calendar PivotTable filter (cell B1), click the down-arrow, expand the All | CY2016
members, and then select the CY2016 Q4 member.

12. Click OK.

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13. In the PivotTable Fields pane, from inside the Salesperson table, check the Salespeople
hierarchy to add it to the Rows drop zone.

14. In the PivotTable Fields pane, in this order, select the following fields.

Table Field
Sales Sales
Target Target
Target Variance
Target Variance%
Sales Profit%
Sales Distinct Products

15. Verify that the PivotTable report looks like the following.

1. In cell A6, expand the North America member to reveal the countries.

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2. In cell A8, expand the United States member to reveal the regions.

3. To focus on one region, in cell A11, right-click the Northwest member, and then select
Filter | Keep Only Selected Items.

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4. In cell A6, expand the Northwest region.

5. Verify that the PivotTable report now displays salespeople within the Northwest region.

6. In cell B1, filter by CY2016 Q3.

Lab Check
Lab 01 ► Exploring the Lab Solution

What exact sales amount was achieved by salesperson Pamela Ansman-Wolfe in

CY2016 Q3?

How many distinct products did Tete Mensa-Annan sell in CY2016 Q3?

You may need data from this step to answer a Lab-based Knowledge Check associated
with this module.

At this time, we recommend that you open the Module 1 Lab-based Knowledge Check
portion of the course in EdX to answer the questions as you complete this lab.

7. To close Excel, at the top-right corner, click X.

You have now completed the lab. In the next lab you will commence the development of a
Tabular Project.

If you are not immediately continuing with the next lab, you should complete the
Finishing Up exercise to shut down and stop the VM.

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Finishing Up
In this exercise, you will shut down and stop the VM.

Finishing Up
In this task, you will shut down and stop the VM.

1. Close all open applications.

2. Press the Windows key, and then in the Start page, located at the bottom-left, click the
Power button, and then select Shut Down.

3. When prompted to choose a reason, to accept the default.

4. Click Continue.

5. In the Azure Portal Web browser page, wait until the status of the VM updates to
Stopped.

In this state, however, the VM is still billable.

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6. Optionally, to deallocate the VM, click Stop.

Deallocation will take some minutes to complete, and also extends the time required to
restart the VM. Consider deallocating the VM if you want to reduce costs, or if you choose to
complete the next lab after an extended period.

The deallocation can take several minutes to complete.

7. When prompted to stop the virtual machine, click Yes.

8. Verify that the VM status updates to Stopped (Deallocated).

In this state, the VM is now not billable—except for a relatively smaller storage cost.

Note that a deallocated VM will likely acquire a different IP address the next time it is started.

9. Sign out of the Azure Portal.

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