Chapter 6: Preparing Your Data for Tabular Models

Tabular models are the newer analytics model structure implemented in SQL Server. The underlying analysis engine is columnar, not multidimensional, which means there are some different considerations for data preparation. The VertiPaq analysis engine was originally introduced in Excel and now supports Power BI datasets and Analysis Services tabular models. The technology behind VertiPaq uses a number of column-based algorithms to improve storage and performance. This technology allows Analysis Services to compress and structure the data for optimized performance. One other key design change is that tabular models match various relational data structures and are not reliant on a dimensional model for success.

In this chapter, we will look at the range of options, from minor preparation to star schema-based approaches. We will walk through prototyping tabular models with Excel Power Pivot capabilities. Because tabular models can be...