Azure Analysis Services provides powerful capabilities for Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) workloads. In this article, we will walk you through the process of deploying a sample model on Azure Analysis Services and show you how to consume it using different tools.

Creating an Azure Analysis Services Model

Before we can create a new model, we need to have an Azure Analysis Services account and a server instance created. Assuming you have the necessary administrative privileges, make sure the required firewall settings are configured to allow incoming connections to the server instance.

To create a new model, click on the “New model” button on the toolbar. This will open a new page where you can provide a data source. For simplicity, you can use a sample data source provided by Azure Analysis Services. Once the model is created, it will be listed in the models available on the Analysis Services Server.

Consuming the Model

Azure Analysis Services offers several tools for consuming the models, including Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and Visual Studio.

Microsoft Excel

To consume the model using Microsoft Excel, click on the “Open in Excel” option. This will download an .odc Excel file that already has a connection configured to connect with the Azure Analysis Services model. Open the file in Excel to explore the dimensions, measures, and KPIs of the model. You can create reports and analyze the data using the features provided by Excel.

Power BI Desktop

Power BI Desktop is a popular tool for end-user reporting. To consume the model using Power BI Desktop, download the .pbix file from the Analysis Services Server dashboard page. Open the file and provide your Azure account credentials to connect to the model. Once connected, you can create reports and visualize the data using the dimensions, measures, and KPIs provided by the model.

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a development IDE used by developers to develop SSAS projects and models. To explore the model using Visual Studio, download the Visual Studio file from the Analysis Services Server dashboard page. Unzip the file and open the .smproj file in Visual Studio. You can navigate the model and explore the attributes and schema in diagram view. This is particularly useful for investigating models that you have not developed.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to deploy a sample model on Azure Analysis Services and how to consume it using different tools. By leveraging the native options provided by Azure Analysis Services, you can create ready-to-use files that can be operated from various consumption and development tools. Whether you prefer Excel for data analysis, Power BI for data reporting, or Visual Studio for exploring the schema, Azure Analysis Services has you covered.