Exam 70-466:
Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012

Published: June 11, 2012
Language(s): English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Simplified)
Audience(s): IT Professionals
Technology: Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Type: Proctored Exam

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Audience Profile
The primary audience for this exam is BI Developer. They are most likely to focus on hands-on work creating the BI solution including implementing multi-dimensional data models, implementing and maintaining OLAP cubes, and creating information displays used in business decision making. Primary responsibilities may include:

Working with large data sets across multiple database systems
Cube/warehouse/views fundamentals
Data model decisions: Unified Dimension Model (UDM) versus Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM)
Develop Cubes and Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) queries to support analysts
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube performance
Building pivot tables from cubes
Building PowerPivot solutions
Design and test report models, layouts and templates
Manage reporting system: configuration and subscriptions
Using report builder to create reports
Develop complex SQL queries for reports
Building reports Using Crescent

Credit Toward Certification
Exam 70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012: counts as credit toward the following certification(s):

MCSE: Business Intelligence

This Training will Cover
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.The higher the percentage, the more questions you are likely to see on that content area on the exam.

The information after “This objective may include but is not limited to” is intended to further define or scope the objective by describing the types of skills and topics that may be tested for the objective. However, it is not an exhaustive list of skills and topics that could be included on the exam for a given skill area. You may be tested on other skills and topics related to the objective that are not explicitly listed here.

Build an Analysis Services Database (38%)
Design dimensions and measures.
This objective may include but is not limited to: given a requirement, identify the dimension/measure group relationship that should be selected; design patterns for representing business facts and dimensions (many-to-many relationships); design dimensions to support multiple related measure groups (many related fact tables); handle degenerate dimensions in a cube; identify the attributes for dimensions; identify the measures; aggregation behavior for the measures; hierarchies
Implement and configure dimensions in a cube.
This objective may include but is not limited to: translations; attribute relations; hierarchies; implement SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) dimensions and cubes; identify the Attribute Relationships that should be made for a given set of Attributes in a dimension; develop new custom attributes on dimensions; detect possible design flaws in attribute relationships; create attribute relationships correctly in an analysis services dimension; implement time Dimensions in cubes; manage SSAS parent-child dimensions; dimension type
Design a schema to support cube architecture.
This objective may include but is not limited to: multidimensional modeling starting from a star schema; relational modeling for a Data Mart; choose or create a topology; identify the appropriate data types with correct precision and size
Create measures.
This objective may include but is not limited to: logically group measures; select appropriate aggregation functions; format measures
Implement a cube.
This objective may include but is not limited to: use Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) to build the cube; use BIDS to do non additive or semi additive measures in a cube; measures, perspectives; translations; dimension usage; cube specific dimension properties; measure groups; implement reference dimensions; implement many to many relationships; implement fact relationships; implement role-playing relationships; define granularity; create and manage linked measure groups and linked dimensions; actions
Create Multidimensional Expressions (MDX) queries.
This objective may include but is not limited to: MDX authoring; identify the structures of MDX and the common functions (tuples, sets, topcount, SCOPE, etc.); identify which MDX statement would return the required result; implement a custom MDX or logical solution for a pre-prepared case task; graphical query designer or the generic query designer
Implement custom logic in a data model.
Must include: Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) calculated columns and measures. This objective may include but is not limited to: key performance indicators (KPI); calculated members; use MDX functions to calculate members; relative Measures (growth, YoY, same period last year), % of total using MDX; named sets; adding intelligence to dimensions; Analysis Services stored procedures
Implement storage design in a multidimensional model.
This objective may include but is not limited to: aggregations; partitions; storage modes; proactive caching; manage write-back partitions
Select an appropriate model for data analysis.
This objective may include but is not limited to: UDM; Scalability, Cleansed; traditional hierarchical; high volume of data; advanced features (support for financial applications; many to many); organizational BI; Tabular Data Model: raw data; relational tables and relationships; simpler data structures; Team and personal BI; choose between multidimensional and tabular models

Manage, Maintain, and Troubleshoot an SSAS Database (18%)
Analyze data model performance.
This objective may include but is not limited to: performance consequences of DWH design; optimize performance by changing the design of the cube or dimension; Analyze and optimize performances of an MDX/DAX query; optimize queries for huge data sets; optimize MDX in the calculations; performance monitor counters; DMVs; performance counters (new for tabular model), growth of the cache, logging options
Process data models.
This objective may include but is not limited to: processing tables or partitions for tabular models; processing databases, cubes, dimensions for multidimensional models; full processing versus incremental processing, remote processing; lazy aggregations; automate with Analysis Management Objects (AMO) or XML for Analysis (XMLA)
Troubleshoot data analysis issues.
This objective may include but is not limited to: use SQL Profiler; troubleshoot duplicate key dimension processing errors; error logs and event viewer logs of SSAS, mismatch of data: incorrect relationships or aggregations; dynamic security issues; validate logic and calculations
Deploy SSAS databases.
This objective may include but is not limited to: Deployment Wizard; BIDS; SSMS; automation; test solution post deployment; deciding whether or not to process
Install and maintain a SSAS instance.
This objective may include but is not limited to: software installation of SSAS; development tools, development and production box installation considerations; upgrade; data file and program file location, planning for Administrator accounts; Updates (service packs); install and maintain each instance type of Analysis Services, including PowerPivot; restore and import PowerPivot
This objective may include but is not limited to: software installation of SSAS; development tools, development and production box installation considerations; upgrade; data file and program file location, planning for Administrator accounts; Updates (service packs); install and maintain each instance type of Analysis Services, including PowerPivot; restore and import PowerPivot

Build a Tabular Data Model (17%)
Configure permissions and roles in Business Intelligence Semantic Model (BISM).
This objective may include but is not limited to: server roles; SSAS database roles; implement dynamic security (custom security approaches); role-based access; Test security permissions; cell level permissions
Implement a tabular data model.
This objective may include but is not limited to: define tables; import data; calculated columns; relationships; hierarchies and perspectives; manage visibility of columns and tables; optimize BISM for Crescent; mark a date table; sort a column by another column
Implement business logic in a tabular data model.
This objective may include but is not limited to: measures and KPIs; DAX; relationship navigation; time intelligence; context modification
Implement data access for a tabular data model.
This objective may include but is not limited to: manage partitions; processing; Vertipaq versus Direct Query

Build a Report with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) (28%)
Design a report.
This objective may include but is not limited to: selecting report components (crosstab report, Tablix, design chart, data visualization components), report templates (Report Definition Language), identify the data source and parameters; designing a grouping structure; drill-down reports, drill-through reports; determine if any expressions are required to display data that is not coming directly from the data source
Implement a report layout.
This objective may include but is not limited to: formatting; apply conditional formatting; page configuration; headers and footers; matrix; table; chart; image; list; indicators, maps, grouping; use Report Builder to implement a report layout; creating a range of reports using different data regions; custom fields (implementing different parts of the report); collections (global collections); using expressions; data visualization components; identifying report parts; group variables and report variables

Configure authentication and authorization for a reporting solution.
This objective may include but is not limited to: configure server-level and item-level role-based security; configure Windows authentication and custom authentication (forms-based authentication); configure Reporting service security (setup or addition of role) ; authenticating against data source; storing credential information; describe Report Server security architecture and site level security; create system level roles; item level security; create a new role assignment; assign Windows users to roles; secure reports using roles; configure SharePoint groups and permissions
Implement interactivity in a report.
This objective may include but is not limited to: drilldown; drillthrough; interactive sorting; parameters: (databound parameters; multi-value parameters); create dynamic reports in SSRS using parameters; show/hide property; actions (jump to report); filters; parameter list; fixed headers; document map, embedded HTML
Troubleshoot reporting services issues.
This objective may include but is not limited to: querying the executionlog views in ReportServer database; viewing reportingservices log files; Windows Reliability and Performance monitor ; Using the ReportServer: Service and Web Service objects; long running reports; rendering; connectivity issues, use SQL Profiler; data reconciliation: incorrect relationships or aggregations; dynamic security issues; validate logic and calculations
Manage a report environment.
This objective may include but is not limited to: manage subscriptions and subscription settings, manage data sources, integrating SharePoint Server 2010; email delivery settings; managing the number of snapshots; manage schedules, manage running jobs, manage report server logs; manage report server databases, manage the encryption keys, setting up the execution log reporting; reviewing the reports; site level settings; design report lifecycle; automate management of reporting services; create a report organization structure; install and configure reporting services
Configure report data sources and datasets.

This objective may include but is not limited to: query types (stored procedure versus table versus text only); parameterized connection strings (dynamic connection strings); filter location (dataset vs. query); ; configure data source options i.e. extract and connect to different LOB platforms; shared and embedded data sources and datasets; connect to SQL Azure database; SQL Data Market; MDX queries; work with non-relational data sources such as xml or SharePoint