SQL Server 2012 and its new Reporting Services Add-in Power View for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 enabled new Data Visualization features for Smart Client applications. Even famous Hans Rosling Data Visualization already reimplemented with Power View:
The expertise at Practical Computer Applications (PCA) in Smart Client technology allows us to completely hide from end users the complexity of Microsoft's Business Intelligence stack, which includes Windows Server, SQL Server, (SQL Server) Analysis Services and Reporting Services, new Power View's Data Visualization functionality, xVelocity in-memory data engine, Columnstore Indexes, Internet Information Server, SharePoint Server, Active Directory and many other technologies.
Smart Client applications with embedded Power View provide for user an interactive data exploration, visualization, and presentation web experience. PCA takes care of all development and infrastructure problems so our users have an easy access to new Power View functionality.
Previous report designers (still available from Microsoft: BIDS, Report Builder 1.0, Report Builder 3.0, Visual Studio Report Designer) are capable to produce only static reports, but Power View enables users to visually interact with data and drill-down all charts and Dashboards similar to Tableau and Qlikview. In short, Power View allows PCA users to have Data Analytics easier to use.
Compare with previous report builders from Microsoft, Power View allows many new features, like Multiple Views in a Single Report, Gallery preview of Chart Images, export to PowerPoint, Sorting within Charts by measures and Categories, Multiple Measures in Charts, Highlighting of selected data in reports and Charts, Synchronization of Slicers (Cross-Filtering), Measure Filters, Search in Filters (convenient for a long lists of categories), dragging data fields into Canvas (create table) or Charts (modify visualization), convert measures to categories ("Do Not Summarize"), and many other features, including new types of Charts, like Trellis
and ScatterPlot:
It is a PCA experience that the Analytical applications in many cases need to be able to use OLAP Cubes from SSAS (SQL Server Analytic Services) and Excel PowerPivot as data sources while preserving all Cube infrastructure, design, dimensions, measures and calculations. Power View can use SSAS Cubes and connect to PowerPivot. Power View is a good choice for those PCA customers, who has their IT infrastructure build with Microsoft software stack and who needs advanced Data Analytics.
If you need to discuss your Data Visualization, BI and Data Analytics needs in more details, please Contact Practical Computer Applications via email, phone: 617-527-4722x127 or Request For Information regarding our Database, Data Analytics or Data Visualization consulting services.
Andrei Pandre, Ph.D., VP of Data Visualization, Practical Computer Applications