1. Performance tuning Tabular and PowerPivot models
Notes from the field
By Johan Ludvig Brattås
Cambridge, September 2015

2. Introduction. Johan Ludvig Brattås Managing consultant @
Co-lead of PASS Excel BI VC (Want to present for us? Contact me!)

3. Agenda Brief introduction to xVelocity and Vertipaq
Tabular vs PowerPivot
Anatomy of an Excel file
The three performance vectors
Your data
Your calculations
Your model

4. xVelocity/Vertipaq etc. etc.
Vertipaq introduced with Powerpivot in 2010
xVelocity introduced with Tabular mode MS SQL 2012.
In-memory
Columnstore.

5. Tabular vs PowerPivot Same engine Serverbased vs filebased
Distribution/Access
Security

6. The anatomy of an Excel-file
Applies to .xlsx only
Easiest to demonstrate.

7. 1st vector of performance – Your data
1. Granularity
2. Column sorting
3. Select *…

8. 2nd vector of performance – Your calculations
DAX
Calculation-obesity
Calculated columns vs calculations
Gimme an E, T and L

9. 3rd vector of performance – your model
What’s in a model anyways?
Does it really matter?
What to choose when?

10. The end!
Questions?
BISM Server report link:

12. Stick around for SWAG! (Prize drawing at 5.00 p.m)
All our volunteers and organisers do not get paid for running SPS SQLSaturday Cambridge and do it because they believe in the power of community (or are just plain nuts). Please show your gratitude for making this possible by:
Giving them a hug
Shaking their hand
Saying thank you
Coming back next year
Consider getting your company to pay for a precon next year
Speading the word
Getting involved yourself
But most of all, by enjoying the day!
Don’t forget to thank the sponsors for their support
Thank the speakers for donating their time, energy and expenses

13. Stick around for SWAG! (Prize drawing at 5.00 p.m)
SQLCloud — XBox One!!! (make sure you know how to play the Jet Set Willy vendor competition!)
SQLCloud—Dark Side Of The Moon, The Wall and Wish You Were Here
Microsoft — MCP Voucher
Data Idols — Supercar Driving Experience
Profisee — Signed MDS Book and £50 Amazon Voucher
SQLSentry — Plan Explorer PRO License
Pyramid Analytics—Coffee Machine
Effektor — Lego Big Ben
Rencore — SPCAF Professional License (valued at $2099!)
Axioworks — Amazon Fire TV and £75 Amazon Voucher
DELL — Beats by Dr Dre Headphones
Redgate — DLM Workshop
Pluralsight — Annual Plus subscriptions
All Your Base Conference — 3 x Conference Tickets
VisualSP—Annual training subscription
Loads of books and much much more!!!