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UPDATED Feb 2012: This is my presentations explaining ways that you can leverage Microsoft's Silverlight and other cool data visualization techniques in your Microsoft BI solutions. In this version, I focus a little more on how to use existing Silverlight controls and the new Silverlight data exploration tool in SQL Server 2012 called Power View (in Denali, it was called Project Crescent).
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Bring Microsoft BI Dashboards to Life with Cool Data Visualizations
Mark KromerMicrosoft Technology [email protected]
http://www.sqlmag.com/blogs/sql-server-bi.aspxhttp://mssqldude.wordpress.comhttp://twitter.com/mssqldude
BI Visualization Business Drivers
• Why spend the time on “cool” BI dashboards?– They’re cool!– Eye Candy– Compelling to the end-user– Keeps business users engaged– Encourages data exploration– Improve BI Application & Database ROI– Access important data quickly in small area
(Tufte / Sparkline)– Make it easier to make better decisions
Microsoft SQL BI Presentation Tools
• Packaged Silverlight Controls– PivotViewer Control– Silverlight Chart Controls
• Custom BI Silverlight Controls• 3rd Party OTS Silverlight BI Controls
– Infragistics– Telerik– Visifire
• Mobile BI– Extended Results– Blue Granite
• Silverlight in SQL Server 2012– Power View
Comparing the Techniques
Technique Impact Time to Production
Programming Reqd
Maintenance
Report Builder/Crescent
SharePoint / PPS
Open Source Controls
Packaged Controls
Custom Silverlight
Mobile
CloudHigh
High
High
Medium
Medium
Low Low
Low Low
Medium Medium
High
High
Medium
High
Medium
High Medium
High
Medium
Low
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
Medium
Medium
…a powerful development platform for creating engaging, interactive applications for many screens across the Web, desktop, and mobile devices
What is Silverlight?
…a free plug-in powered by the .NET framework that is compatible across multiple browsers, devices and operating systems to bring a new level of interactivity wherever the Web works.
With support for advanced data integration, multithreading, HD video using IIS Smooth Streaming, and built in content protection, Silverlight enables online and offline applications for a broad range of business and consumer scenarios.
Works with what you have
Silverlight Compatibility
Silverlight Compatibility (from MSFT)
Designer Tools
• Visual Studio 2010– Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio– Use while “coding”
• Expression Blend 3 / 4– Visual designer for XAML
• Silverlight Toolkit– Additional controls outside the core
control set– Charts, treeviews, datagrids, themes, etc.
Silverlight Basic Files
• App.xaml– Application-wide resource file– Styling, global startup events, etc.
• MainPage.xaml– Starting UI for your application
• Assets/Views folders– Files, images, styles, data
• XAP– Your compiled application (a .zip file)
Silverlight Data Binding (Basic)
• No “direct” data binding• Data retrieval is asynchronous • Must consume data via a service layer–WCF Web Service–WCF Data Services (OData / ADO.NET)– ASP.NET Web Service– RIA Service– POX – Plain old XML
Silverlight Binding to SQL Analysis Services• ADOMD’s Command.ExecuteXMLReader()• Create an SSRS report which queries the cube and
render with the OData extension• Separate process to output XML
Silverlight Client Data Binding
• Bind objects via the DataContext or ItemSource properties
• Bindings to parent objects apply to children unless otherwise specified
• Use {Binding Path=FieldName} markup extensions
Silverlight Data Binding (XAML)
<Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="White"> <StackPanel x:Name=“RandomName”> <TextBlock Text="{Binding forza}" /> <TextBlock Text="{Binding azzurri}" /> </StackPanel> </Grid>
Silverlight Data Binding (Code Behind)
public class Foo { public string forza { get; set; } public string azzurri { get; set; } } public MainPage() { InitializeComponent();
Foo foo = new Foo(); foo.forza = "hello"; foo.azzurri = "world";
LayoutRoot.DataContext = foo; }
Packaged Silverlight Controls
PivotViewer blog: http://petcu40.blogspot.comPivotViewer CTP1 Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=d31f609d-a353-41ad-a1a4-f81456e3a6c4
Technique Impact Time to Production
Programming Reqd
Maintenance
Packaged Controls High High Medium Medium
Custom Silverlight ControlsTechnique Impact Time to
ProductionProgramming
ReqdMaintenance
Custom SilverlightHigh HighHigh High
Mobile Business Intelligence
• RoamBI: http://www.roambi.com• PushBI: http://www.pushbi.com• WP7 Native Cloud BI App: http://
bit.ly/A5u4Go
Technique Impact Time to Production
Programming Reqd
Maintenance
MobileHigh Medium High Medium
To the Cloud … Cloud BI
• Empower decision-makers on any device– Real-time BI
• Direct knowledge points– Not drill-down– Not dashboard
• Silverlight• Azure• SQL Server• PowerPivot• My Sample: http://bit.ly/zOnSjC
Technique Impact Time to Production
Programming Reqd
Maintenance
CloudHigh Medium Medium Medium
SQL Server 2012: Power ViewTechnique Impact Time to
ProductionProgramming
ReqdMaintenance
Report Builder/CrescentLow Low LowHigh
