Hi Christian, may I ask what API you're actually using to manipulate the target Tabular model? E.g., are you talking to SSDT or to the SSAS workspace server, or are you manipulating the xml code directly?
Hi Christian,
I am getting the 'Could not access network location' issue described below - however, I get that as soon as I run the MSI. I don't have any option to install to a local Addins folder at all. I'm on Windows 8 - could that maybe be the issue?
Hi K Dahl,
The installer tries to place the files in this location: [PersonalFolder]\Visual Studio 2010\Addins - where [PersonalFolder] is a "global variable accessed by the Windows installer" (see here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa370889(v=vs.85).aspx for more info). Normally PersonalFolder points to the My Documents folder.
I'm guessing the value of this variable on the machine you are trying to install on is causing an issue. Can you try to install on another machine and then copy the files over to the target machine? You can then manually place them in a local addin folder (configured in VS options). All the installer actually does is copy the files in the folder.
If you want me to e-mail you a copy of the files, drop me an e-mail at bism.normalizer@gmail.com
Christian
Is there a possibility in the current or a future version of the BISM Normalizer to deploy/export a tabular model from SSAS to a Excel PowerPivot Workbook?
This enhancement would allow deploying centralized solutions to remote/timely disconnected users, which don't have online access to the tabular model of SSAS. Because the created PowerPivot solution is limited to the features of PowerPivot it will not support enhanced features of the tabular model (security, partitions, etc.).
Note: For SSAS (MDX) something similar already exists, where you can create local cubes.
Or is there another known tool or existing method/code base, which supports the deployment/export of tabular models to Excel PowerPivot?
I would love to create a version of BISM Normalizer that works with PowerPivot. For starters, I want to allow selection of Excel files as a source/target models. Moreover, I want to create an Excel Addin version of BISM Normalizer for non-Visual Studio users. I agree there is a strong use case for this.
Unfortunately this is a challenge because of the limited APIs available for managing tabular models. I discuss this in detail in this blog post:
http://christianwade.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/why-not-bism-normalizer-work-directly-with-powerpivot-workbooks/
I raised the following Connect item for this purpose. Feel free to vote for it.
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/756381/single-api-for-analysis-services-and-powerpivot#details
Thank you for your feedback,
Christian
This tool is amazing and I am so excited to use it... but I am unable to compare Tabular projects in Visual Studio 2010, only Tabular databases (SQL 2012 SP1). Any ideas on how to fix?
Just for clarification - I have a solution open in VS 2010 with multiple projects, including two Tabular projects. They are organized in a TFS folder within the solution. I do not have the option to choose a tabular project for comparison as the tutorial describes. This tool would help my team tremendously if we could compare projects, as well as Tabular databases. Is there something we should try differently to have the option to compare projects show up?
Hi Maria - thanks for the feedback. I will try to help if I can. It might be something to do with the project file(s).
If you create a new tabular project in VS, is it also not available for selection in BISM Normalizer?
I would like to reproduce the problem on my end. Can you send me the whole solution and project files? It does not have to be a model that belongs to your company/customer - it can be just a dummy one - as long it reproduces the problem.
This is my e-mail address: bism.normalizer@gmail.com.
Christian
Thanks, Christian! I forward you the email with sample projects. Also, what does the "There are not enough rows to display." error mean when I've clicked on the Compare button? It prevents me from comparing two databases and I had to restart my machine in order for it to go away.
Hi Maria - as discussed by e-mail, ...
Version 1.3.8.3 supports comparison of tabular projects that are nested within Visual Studio solution folders. I believe this solves the issue of not being able to select the projects.
Regarding "There are not enough rows to display", if you can provide the steps to recreate this, I will look into it.
Thanks for your feedback,
Christian
Hi Stéphane - thanks for the feedback. Version 1.3.8 should work with Visual Studio 2012. May need to point at a local Addin folder in VS options. Let me know if you have issues.
Christian
If you select the option in the options dialog (button on the Connections dialog).
If you are still having issues, please e-mail me on bism.normalizer@gmail.com and we can work it out.
Hi Christian,
first of all - thanks for that awesome tool!
Is it somehow possible to compare a Server/Project to a PowerPivot Workbook and vice-versa?
Office 2013 introduced a new object model for PowerPivot where you can access the PowerPivot - is it possible to extend BISM Normalizer to make use of this?
greets,
gerhard
Hi Gerhard,
I would like to answer this question on my blog to give it more exposure.
http://christianwade.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/why-not-bism-normalizer-work-directly-with-powerpivot-workbooks/
Thanks,
Christian
Hi Jolly_Roger,
Is there an option to get an alternative installer?
The MSI could not access a network share...
(Allright, the Addins folder should not be there :) But it's a policy.)
Thanks,
Zoli
Hi Zoli,
Quite a few users have had the same problem regarding a network-based Addin folder - or very similar.
Unfortunately I have not found a better solution than configuring a local Addin folder in Visual Studio Options and installing the files in there.
The MSI is generated by a Visual Studio Setup project. I have not used any other types of installer for this. You could take the files (after installing them locally) and manually place them in the network-share folder, but I think you may still have other security issues when running the tool.
Christian
Hi Zoli,
Not really. It just creates an entry in Programs and Features in the Control Panel allowing uninstallation from there. Other than that, it just copies the files to the folder.
Christian
Sorry if I'm being dense, Christian, but can you explain how I can configure a local Addin folder in Visual Studio Options. In Tools>Options>Environment>Add-in/Macros Security it lists various Add-in File Paths, including some which are on the local C drive. But BismNormalizer is trying (and failing) to install to a network drive (\\...\My Documents\\Visual Studio 2010\Addins).
No worries - that is the correct place to view or add local addin folders. When you run the BISM Normalizer installer, there should be a page in the wizard that allows you to select a destination folder. Did you try to put one of the local addin folder paths in there? Let me know if you still have issues.
Hi dear Christian,
First of all I wanna thanks for you developed this wonderful tool.
We are using the BIDS Helper for creating Translations, Display Folders, Actions and other good things in Tabular models like Multidimensional OLAP cubes.
But when we create above items with BIDS Helper in a model1, BISM Normalizer doesn't compare and commit changes to model2 about the translations,actions, etc. added to the bism file by BIDS Helper.
Could please add this features compare and commit functionality to BISM Normalizer.
you can find detailed information BIDS Helper (http://bidshelper.codeplex.com/)
Thank you for the feedback. I will certainly look to support the extra BIDS Helper features in BISM Normalizer. I can’t commit to a timeframe right now, but I have put it on my todo list.
Christian
Hi Christian, I've created a number of changes in a small model, and wanted to merge those into a larger model. After spinning for a while, it says "The object does not exist or read permissions are needed". Any idea what could cause this? I've tried to remove my edits one by one and see when the message disappears, but no luck. I've done quite some different types of changes, like renaming tables, creating hierarchies, new tables, add measures.
Hi Christian, thx for the reply. Unfortunately that's difficult as it is very sensitive data. I think I'll have to try again some more times and try to spot what kind of difference it is choking on.
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