Get Started with Azure Analysis Services

Note

This guide provides a step-by-step approach to setting up your first Azure Analysis Services model. Ensure you have an Azure subscription and the necessary permissions before you begin.

1. Create an Azure Analysis Services Resource

The first step is to provision an Azure Analysis Services instance in your Azure subscription. This instance will host your tabular models.

  1. Navigate to the Azure portal.
  2. Click on + Create a resource.
  3. In the search bar, type "Analysis Services" and select it.
  4. Click Create.
  5. Fill in the required details:
    • Subscription: Select your Azure subscription.
    • Resource group: Create a new one or select an existing one.
    • Server name: A globally unique name for your Analysis Services server.
    • Location: Choose a region closest to your users or data sources.
    • Pricing tier: Select a tier based on your performance and cost requirements. Start with a development tier if you're just experimenting.
  6. Review your settings and click Create. Deployment may take a few minutes.

2. Connect to Your Analysis Services Server

Once the server is deployed, you'll need to connect to it using a BI tool like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Visual Studio with the Analysis Services projects extension.

Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

  1. Download and install the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio.
  2. Launch SSMS.
  3. In the Connect to Server dialog:
    • Server type: Analysis Services
    • Server name: Enter the fully qualified server name from the Azure portal (e.g., yourservername.asazure.windows.net).
    • Authentication: Select "Azure Active Directory - Universal with MFA" for the most secure option, or "Windows Authentication" if you are using your Azure AD credentials.
  4. Click Connect.

Using Visual Studio

  1. Install SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio.
  2. Create a new "Tabular Project" or "Multidimensional Project".
  3. In the Solution Explorer, right-click on the project and select Properties.
  4. Under the Designer tab, enter your Analysis Services server name.

3. Create Your First Tabular Model

Now that your server is set up and accessible, you can begin building your data model. We'll use Visual Studio for this.

  1. In your Tabular Project in Visual Studio, right-click on the Data Sources folder and select Add Data Source.
  2. Choose your data source type (e.g., SQL Server, Azure SQL Database).
  3. Enter the connection string details for your source database.
  4. Right-click on the Models folder and select Add Model. Choose "Tabular" as the model type.
  5. Use the Model Designer to import tables, define relationships, create calculations (DAX measures), and establish hierarchies.

Tip

Familiarize yourself with DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) for creating powerful calculations and measures.

4. Deploy Your Model

Once your model is designed, deploy it to your Azure Analysis Services server.

  1. In Visual Studio, right-click on the project in Solution Explorer and select Properties.
  2. Under the Deployment tab, set the Server Name to your Azure Analysis Services server name.
  3. Right-click on the project again and select Deploy.

5. Connect with a BI Tool

After deployment, connect your favorite Business Intelligence tool (e.g., Power BI, Excel) to your Azure Analysis Services model to visualize and analyze your data.

In Power BI Desktop, select Get Data > Azure > Azure Analysis Services and enter your server name.

Explore Advanced Features