Hands-On SQL Server 2019 Analysis Services: Design and Query Tabular and Multi-Dimensional Models Using Microsoft’s SQL Server Analysis Services

Choosing between a tabular model and a multidimensional model is not just a technical preference—it shapes how business data is organized, queried, and used. In Hands-On SQL Server 2019 Analysis Services, Steven Hughes takes readers through both approaches, pairing the design choices with practical work in SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS).

Start with the model that fits the work

The book opens with an introduction to SSAS and its role in analytics, then compares tabular and multidimensional models to help readers understand their strengths and trade-offs. That groundwork gives the later build-and-deploy exercises useful context: the aim is not simply to follow steps, but to understand why a particular modeling approach may suit a business need.

Build a multidimensional model, then query it

Readers prepare data for multidimensional modeling, create a cube with facts and dimensions, and work with measures, calculations, and MDX queries. The coverage connects the model’s structure to the questions analysts need to ask of it.

Explore tabular models and DAX

The book also moves through preparing data for tabular models and building and deploying them. Along the way, it covers DAX concepts, including calculated tables and calculation groups, and shows how models can support work with Excel and Power BI.

From development to day-to-day care

Beyond model creation, the material addresses setup and tooling—including Visual Studio and SQL Server Management Studio—as well as security, performance, administration, and maintenance. This wider view helps place modeling decisions within the practical work of operating an analytics solution.

Who may find this useful?

This guide is aimed at BI professionals and data analysts who want a hands-on introduction to creating and maintaining tabular and multidimensional models with SQL Server 2019 Analysis Services. Basic familiarity with business intelligence solutions or database querying is expected.