Understanding SSAS memory settings with real examples

If you have worked with SSAS and been responsible for if from the server side, you are most likely familiar with its memory settings. In an ideal world, your server has plenty of physical memory, so you don’t have to worry about these settings. In a real world though, you may have one or more … Continue reading Understanding SSAS memory settings with real examples

How to clear SSAS cache using C# for query performance tuning

First let me give you a little background of why you would want to clear SSAS cache from C# code when you can do this using an XMLA command from SSMS. If you have a slow MDX/DAX SSAS query , you have a couple of options for improving the performance (assuming no hardware changes): Rewrite … Continue reading How to clear SSAS cache using C# for query performance tuning

Cannot update VertiPaq Analyzer’s connection to point to my SSAS Tabular database

While trying to set up VertiPaq Analyzer on a new computer, I ran into a problem where Excel was not letting me change the SSAS connection that was built in the workbook. It turns out I had missed one of steps in the instructions in the workbook. As a result, when I got to Connection … Continue reading Cannot update VertiPaq Analyzer’s connection to point to my SSAS Tabular database

Analysis Services Processing SSIS Task in SSDT 2015/2017 fails when TargetServerVersion is set to SQL Server 2016

I ran into this problem a while ago at a client. They upgraded from Visual Studio 2013 to 2015 and the SSAS processing tasks started to error out immediately. The solution turned out to be setting the TargetSeverVersion to anything but SQL Server 2016. In this case, it was set to 2014 and that fixed … Continue reading Analysis Services Processing SSIS Task in SSDT 2015/2017 fails when TargetServerVersion is set to SQL Server 2016

Speaking at PASS Summit 2017

My session got selected for this year's PASS Summit. I am beyond excited and happy! Thank you everyone in #SQLFamily for your support. Here is my session: Build a performance monitoring toolset for SSAS using PowerBI Have you ever wanted to monitor the performance of a SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) server but did not … Continue reading Speaking at PASS Summit 2017

Calculated measures in Power BI Desktop reports connected live to SSAS Tabular.

May release of Power BI  Desktop adds the capability of adding new calculated measures to a report when you are connected live to SSAS tabular. This is great because before this release, once you connected live to SSAS you could not make any changes to the model. Official announcement Ideally the SSAS database has all … Continue reading Calculated measures in Power BI Desktop reports connected live to SSAS Tabular.

Clear Cache XMLA for SSAS Multidimensional

I often use the following XMLA code to clear database/cube/measure group cache in SSAS Multidimensional when I do performance testing between different MDX queries or versions of the same database. I am posting it here so that I can find it easily in future. You can use it to clear the cache at the database, cube or … Continue reading Clear Cache XMLA for SSAS Multidimensional

PASS Summit Speaker Idol 2016

This year I got to participate in the Speaker Idol competition at PASS Summit. It was an honor to be chosen as a contestant. The whole experience was amazing.  I got to compete with 11 very strong contestants. I was the winner of the second day round and made it to the final round!  I learned so much and … Continue reading PASS Summit Speaker Idol 2016

How to change the font size of the formula bar and measures grid in SSDT for SSAS Tabular

When you create a new measures in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for SSAS Tabular, you edit the formula in the top section of the user interface in a section called "formula bar". The default font size for this formula bar is 8. The small font size may be difficult to read for some people. The easiest and fastest way to change the font … Continue reading How to change the font size of the formula bar and measures grid in SSDT for SSAS Tabular