November 2010 v.39 – Business Intelligence Update

HOT TOPICS

Predictive Analytics with PowerPivot and SharePoint 2010
Microsoft Office
San Francisco, CA
Nov 4, 6:30PM
Click here for more info

PASS Summit
Seattle, WA
Nov 8-11
Click here for more info

*** PASS Summit is the world's largest, most-focused, and most-intensive conference for Microsoft SQL Server and BI professionals.

Collaborative Disclosure Management is all about filling the gap!
Hosted by Tagetik
Nov 23, 11am
Click here for more info

Notes From the Field – CapstoneBI Blog
Database Mirroring monitor for ETL
SSIS Package Configurations
Predictive Analytics in the Cloud
Getting Started with SQL Server Data Mining for Retail/Finance
Standardize Your MDX Parameter Queries
Interpreting Causation in Time Series Forecast Models

WEBCASTS

All webcast times are in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise specified

Effective Presentation of Analytical Results
Hosted by Tableau Software
Nov 3, 1pm
Click here for more info

Moving to deFacto
Nov 4, 2pm
Nov 11, 2pm
Nov 18, 12pm
Nov 25, 2pm
Click here for more info

Empower Your Microsoft Dynamics Users With Excel for Reporting and Budgeting
Hosted by Solver
Nov 10, 1pm
Click here for more info

Enhance your SharePoint BI Portal
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Nov 11, 2pm
Click here for more info

Customer Success: Kleberg Bank – Improving Decision Making and Growing More Profitably
Hosted by swiftknowledge
Nov 18, 2pm
Click here for more info

XBRL and Automated External Reporting
Hosted by Clarity Systems
Nov 23, 2pm
Click here for more info

The End of BI as We Know It: A fresh look at what business analytics means for today’s organizations
Hosted by Tableau Software
Dec 1, 12pm
Click here for more info

EVENTS

Tableau 6.0 Tour
Hosted by Tableau Software
Nov 1–Dec 2, Multiple Locations
Click here for more info

Techniques & Technologies for Enterprise-wide Business Intelligence
Hosted by SoCal BI User Group
Nov 4, Mission Viejo, CA
Click here for more info

PASS Summit
Hosted by Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS)
Nov 8-11, Seattle, WA
Click here for more info
Click here to stream keynote sessions live

TDWI World Conference
Hosted by TDWI
Nov 7-12, Orlando, FL
Click here for more info

Successful XBRL Filters own their XBRL Process-CLARITY FSR Case Study
Hosted by Clarity Systems
Nov 17, New York, NY
Click here for more info

Houston SQL User Group Meeting
Hosted by PASS
Nov 9, Houston TX
Click here for more info

NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

Microsoft PowerPivot: Five Things You Need To Know
Microsoft updates SQL Server 2008 with new SharePoint integrations
Q&A: Microsoft’s Bob Muglia details cloud strategy
Kevin Turner on Predictive Simulation & Analytics
What I’m Looking Forward to at PASS Summit 2010

Predixion Software Introduces New Product to Run SAS and SPSS Predictive Models in the Cloud
Tableau Software Shows Growth in BI Market

The top 10 IT skills for 2011

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Webcast Reminder: Self-Service BI with Microsoft PowerPivot

This Thursday, Andrew Brust of twentysix New York will be providing a 60 min webcast on the newly released PowerPivot.  Find out what this “in-memory” operational model is all about.

Thursday, Aug 26
10-11am (PST)
Click here for more info

 

Contact Us to learn more about PowerPivot and our BI QuickStart packages

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100% of companies using CLARITY FSR™ for their SEC XBRL submission successfully file without any EDGAR XBRL validation errors

Big news from our partner, Clarity Systems, regarding their Financial Reporting & Governance product, Clarity FSR.

FSR is the ONLY major XBRL creation software that filed without validation errors… are you kidding me?  This year, many of these companies were required to perform detailed XBRL tagging for the first time.

Read the Press Release

I’ve seen FSR in action and I can understand why Clarity’s clients have been so successful.  Beyond XBRL tagging, FSR provides an elegant and easy-to-use platform for simplifying the financial reporting process, particularly in the final stages of disclosure.

Contact Us if you’d like to see a demo of Clarity FSR… no doubt you’ll be impressed!

Using Excel 2007 for Analysis Services (SSAS)

I was asked by a client today if I had run across any good books or training that focus on cube functions in Excel. 

Immediately, Mr Excel came to mind.  I ran a quick search and it looks like Pivot Table Data Crunching Excel 2007 might be worth checking out.

Otherwise, here are some additional resources that look useful…

Virtual Labs
Developing Business Intelligence Applications
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services – Pervasive Analysis through 2007 Microsoft Office Excel
Business Intelligence in Excel 2007 Pivot Tables and Analysis Services

Webcast
Excel 2007 – Building Business Intelligence Solutions Using Excel and SQL Server 2005 Analysis

Excel 2007 Help and How-to
List of worksheet functions (by category) – cube functions

Microsoft Excel 2010 Blog
Using Excel & Excel Services with SQL Server Analysis Services 2008
CUBE Functions Part 1
CUBE Functions 2: A Few Examples
CUBE Functions 3: Formula AutoComplete revisited
CUBE Functions 4: Deconstructing the PivotTable

Please comment with your feedback if you find any of these resources particularly useful (or bad), and if there are additional guides, books, webcasts, online trainings on this subject that you really like!

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August 2010 v.38 – Business Intelligence Update

HOT TOPICS

Executive Breakfast Briefing
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Aug 12, San Jose, CA
Click here for more info

Using SharePoint 2010 to Monitor & Analyze K12 Student Assessment Scores
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Aug 25, 1pm
Click here to register

Blog: Microsoft Based Planning and Budgeting solutions revisited

Where Social Media Meets Strategy
Microsoft Reports 48% Increase in Profits

Bringing Data Mining Into the Mainstream
Blog: Jamie’s Junk – continuing whatever comes to mind on data mining and predictive analytics
Blog: DM(X) – bogdanc on SQL Server Data Mining

WEBCASTS
All webcast times are in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise specified

Quick Deployment of Enterprise-Level Executive Dashboards
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Aug 12, 2pm
Click here for more info

Metrics to Understand Your Brand and Help it Thrive
Hosted by Tableau Software
Aug 18, 2pm
Click here for more info

Using SharePoint 2010 to Monitor & Analyze K12 Student Assessment Scores
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Aug 25, 1pm
Click here to register

SaaS and BI
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Aug 26, 2pm
Click here for more info

Self-Service Business Intelligence with Microsoft PowerPivot
Hosted by Andrew Brust of 26NY
Aug 26, 1pm
Click here for more info

Powerful Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting with CLARITY 7 using Microsoft technology
Hosted by Clarity Systems
Sep 16, 2pm
Click here for more info

EVENTS

Executive Breakfast Briefing
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Aug 12, San Jose, CA
Click here for more info

TDWI BI Executive Summit
Aug 16-18, San Diego, CA
Click here for more info

2010 Tableau Customer Conference
Aug 30-Sep 2, Seattle, WA
Click here for more info

Minnesota Microsoft BI User Group 2010 Q3 Meeting
Sep 1, Bloomington, MN
Click here for more info

SoCal BI User Group
Sep 2, Mission Viejo, CA
Click here for more info

TRAINING

Web-based Training
SQL Server: Training Portal, eLearning
SharePoint 2007: Training Portal
SharePoint 2010: Getting Started with SharePoint 2010, Introducing SharePoint Designer
PerformancePoint 2010: Up to Speed with PerformancePoint Dashboards and Web Parts

Instructor Led Training
Presenting Data and Information
Edward Tufte
Sep 29 & 30 Arlington, VA
Oct 1, Arlington, VA
Click here for more info

Implementing and Maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
Accelebrate
Aug 25-27, Online
Click here for more info

Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2005 & 2008
Solid Quality Mentors
Sep 13-17, Sacramento, CA
Click here for more info

SQL Server and Business Intelligence Training
Pragmatic Works
August Courses, Online
Click here for more info

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Training
Intertech
Aug 25-27, Minneapolis, MN
Click here for more info

Business Intelligence Training
Hosted by QuickStart
Click here for more info

Microsoft PerformancePoint Planning Training
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Click here for more info

RESOURCES
Microsoft BI

SQL Server
Business Intelligence: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
SSAS: list of front end applications
Data Mining: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
StreamInsight: Versions and SQL Server SKUs, Developers Training Kit
Book: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed
Book: Data Mining with SQL Server 2008

SQL 2008 R2: Home, Parallel Data Warehouse
Download: SQL Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Virtual Lab: PowerPivot for Excel 2010 Introduction, SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs
Hands On Lab: PowerPivot in SQL Server 2008 R2
Whitepaper: Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008
Whitepaper: Develop Reporting Services reports using Analysis Services data
Blog Post: Reporting Services Bing Map – Unable to connect to the remote server

SQL 2008 Books Online: Planning and Architecture (Analysis Services – Data Mining)
SQL 2008 Books Online: Architecture of Integration Services
Whitepaper: Top 10 Performance and Productivity Reasons to Use SQL Server 2008 for Your Business Intelligence Solutions
Blog: SQL Server 2008 for Oracle DBA

SharePoint Server 2010
Microsoft SharePoint Team Blog
Blog: SharePoint 2010 – Top 10 Resources to get you started…
Describing SharePoint 2010 in 1 Sentence, 8 Categories and 40 Feature Areas
Excel Services in SharePoint 2010 Feature Support, Dashboard Improvements, Planning for Upgrade from SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to SharePoint Server 2010
MSDN Virtual Lab: Developing Business Intelligence Applications

Office 2010
www.PowerPivot.com
PowerPivot Team Blog
The Great PowerPivot FAQ
Download: PowerPivot for Excel 2010
Book: PowerPivot for the Data Analyst: Microsoft Excel 2010
Book: Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel 2010: Give Your Data Meaning
Book: Professional PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint
Demo: Using PowerPivot to analyze MS Dynamics NAV
Blog: Load data from SAP into PowerPivot for Excel
Blog: The Business User’s Perspective
Blog: Thoughts on how PowerPivot and SSAS could work together
Blog: Diagnostic Guide for Usage and the PowerPivot Management Dashboard
Screencast: Using datamining with PowerPivot in Excel

Microsoft BI Certifications
Blog: New 2008 Microsoft BI Certifications Reviewed
Blog: Obtaining Microsoft BI Certification
Learning Plan: BI Developer
Exam: 70-448
Exam: 70-452
Exam: 78-702

Related BI Resources
Notes from the Field
Professional Association for SQL Server
SSAS-info
FUTURESULTS – Microsoft web parts, add-ons, customizations
Panorama Software Releases NovaView 6.2: Integration with Office/SharePoint 2010…
Dundas Dashboard Wins “Best of TechEd” Award
Article: Microsoft PowerPivot vs.. Tableau
Blog: Using a Data Warehouse for CRM
Blog: Thoughts on: Who are the BI Personas?

NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

Ballmer Outlines Mobile Strategy at Microsoft Event
The Promise of PowerPivot in Excel 2010
PowerPivot vs.. Native SSAS
PowerPivot Fast Track
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2: What’s New with PowerPivot?
Microsoft Office 2010 adds depth while making things easier
Light-up Your Dashboards with Silverlight
Download PivotViewer Extension for Reporting Services CTP1
Northridge Announces Numerous SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Implementations

BI’s Corporate Challenge
IT Market Starting to Heat Up
Business Intelligence: maximising data collation for end users
Buying BI? Talk to Users, not Technologists

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM a Leader according to Forrester

Turn away for a second and the next thing you know Dynamics is touted as a bona fide Leader for CRM.  Check out the Waves for both Large Enterprise and Mid-Size...

Here are the related links:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Cited as a Leader by Independent Research Firm
The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites For Midsized Organizations,Q2 2010
The Forrester Wave™: CRM Suites for Large Organizations, Q2 2010

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July 2010 v.37 – Business Intelligence Update

HOT TOPICS

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
July 11-15, Washington DC
Click here for more info

Free ebook: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
Blog: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 – Business Intelligence Samples

Microsoft Live Labs Pivot
World Cup Pivot

Blog: ProClarity Resources
Demo: Using PowerPivot to analyze MS Dynamics NAV

WEBCASTS
All webcast times are in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise specified

BI on a Limited or Shrinking Budget: Strategies for Doing More with Less
Hosted by Tableau Software
Jul 7, 12pm
Click here for more info

Techniques & Technologies for Enterprise-Wide BI Deployment
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Jul 8, 2pm
Click here for more info

Powerful Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting with CLARITY 7 using Microsoft technology
Hosted by Clarity Systems
Jul 13, 2pm
Click here for more info

Empower Your Users with Advanced Analytics-On-The-Fly
Hosted by Panorama
Jul 20, 2pm
Click here for more info

SaaS and BI
Hosted by Strategy Companion
Aug 26, 2pm
Click here for more info

EVENTS

Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
Hosted by Microsoft
Jul 11-15, Washington D.C.
Click here for more info

Building Cubes using Analysis Services
Boise SQL Server User Group
July 13, Boise ID
Click here for more info

Query Tuning Tips
Hosted by PASSMN, presented by Itzik Ben-Gan
July 20, Bloomington MN
Click here for more info

2010 Tableau Customer Conference
Aug 30-Sep 2, Seattle, WA
Click here for more info

TRAINING

Web-based Training

SQL Server: Training Portal, eLearning
SharePoint 2007: Training Portal
SharePoint 2010: Getting Started with SharePoint 2010, Introducing SharePoint Designer
PerformancePoint 2010: Up to Speed with PerformancePoint Dashboards and Web Parts

Instructor Led Training

Presenting Data and Information
Edward Tufte
Jul 19, Minneapolis, MN
Jul 22 & 23 Chicago, IL
Sep 29 & 30 Arlington, VA
Oct 1, Arlington, VA
Click here for more info

Implementing and Maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services
Accelebrate
Jul 14-16, Online
Aug 25-27, Online
Click here for more info

Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2005 & 2008
Solid Quality Mentors
Jul 19-23, Minneapolis, MN
Jul 26-30, Bellevue, WA
Sep 13-17, Sacramento, CA
Click here for more info

SQL Server and Business Intelligence Training
Pragmatic Works
August Courses, Online
Click here for more info

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Training
Intertech
Aug 25-27, Minneapolis, MN
Click here for more info

Business Intelligence Training
Hosted by QuickStart
Click here for more info

Microsoft PerformancePoint Planning Training
Hosted by CapstoneBI
Click here for more info

RESOURCES
Microsoft BI

SQL Server
Business Intelligence: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
SSAS: list of front end applications
Data Mining: SQL 2005, SQL 2008
StreamInsight: Versions and SQL Server SKUs, Developers Training Kit
Book: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services Unleashed
Book: Data Mining with SQL Server 2008
SQL 2008 R2: Home, Parallel Data Warehouse

Download: SQL Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Virtual Lab: PowerPivot for Excel 2010 Introduction, SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs
Hands On Lab: PowerPivot in SQL Server 2008 R2
Whitepaper: Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008
Whitepaper: Develop Reporting Services reports using Analysis Services data
SQL 2008 Books Online: Planning and Architecture (Analysis Services – Data Mining)
SQL 2008 Books Online: Architecture of Integration Services
Whitepaper: Top 10 Performance and Productivity Reasons to Use SQL Server 2008 for Your Business Intelligence Solutions
Blog: SQL Server 2008 for Oracle DBA

SharePoint Server 2010
Microsoft SharePoint Team Blog
Blog: SharePoint 2010 – Top 10 Resources to get you started…
Describing SharePoint 2010 in 1 Sentence, 8 Categories and 40 Feature Areas
Excel Services in SharePoint 2010 Feature Support, Dashboard Improvements, Planning for Upgrade from SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to SharePoint Server 2010
MSDN Virtual Lab: Developing Business Intelligence Applications

Office 2010
www.PowerPivot.com
PowerPivot Team Blog
The Great PowerPivot FAQ
Download: PowerPivot for Excel 2010
Book: Professional Microsoft PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint
Book: PowerPivot for the Data Analyst: Microsoft Excel 2010

Blog: Load data from SAP into PowerPivot for Excel
Blog: The Business User’s Perspective
Blog: Thoughts on how PowerPivot and SSAS could work together
Blog: Diagnostic Guide for Usage and the PowerPivot Management Dashboard
Screencast: Using datamining with PowerPivot in Excel

Microsoft BI Certifications
Blog: New 2008 Microsoft BI Certifications Reviewed
Blog: Obtaining Microsoft BI Certification
Learning Plan: BI Developer
Exam: 70-448
Exam: 70-452
Exam: 78-702

Related BI Resources
Notes from the Field

Professional Association for SQL Server
SSAS-info
FUTURESULTS – Microsoft web parts, add-ons, customizations
Panorama Software Releases NovaView 6.2: Integration with Office/SharePoint 2010…
Dundas Dashboard Wins “Best of TechEd” Award
Article: Microsoft PowerPivot vs. Tableau
Blog: Using a Data Warehouse for CRM
Blog: Thoughts on: Who are the BI Personas?

NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

Review: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
Dissecting Microsoft Office 2010
Office 2010: a deeper dive
Forrester: Google still a distant Office competitor

PowerPivot Developer’s Career Is Full of Twists and Turns
PowerPivot observations from TechEd/BI Conf, Pt 1
Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Microsoft BI Conference 2010)
TechEd 2010 StreamInsight Session and Demo

Attracting and Retaining Top BI Professionals

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