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Microsoft components

This section describes the Microsoft Business Intelligence components you can use with Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft SQL Server.

This section describes the Microsoft Business Intelligence components you can use with Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft SQL Server. After configuration, you can use these Microsoft components to develop business solutions using your Vertica server.

1 - Microsoft component configuration

The Vertica ADO.NET driver, the Visual Studio plug-in, and the OLE DB driver allow you to integrate your Vertica server with an environment that includes Microsoft components previously installed on your system.

The Vertica ADO.NET driver, the Visual Studio plug-in, and the OLE DB driver allow you to integrate your Vertica server with an environment that includes Microsoft components previously installed on your system. Additional tools are also available for integration with Microsoft SQL Server.

The available drivers provide integration with the following Microsoft components:

  • Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) for Visual Studio 2008 for use with SQL Server 2012. BIDS is a client-based application used to develop business intelligence solutions based on the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment. It includes additional project types specific to SQL Server Business Intelligence. As a developer, you can use BIDS to develop business solutions.

  • SQL Server Data Tool - Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI) for Visual Studio 2008/2010/2012/2013/2015 for use with SQL Server 2012, 2014, and 2016. SSDT-BI replaces BIDS for Visual Studio 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. It serves the same purpose as BIDS, providing a development environment for developing business intelligence solutions.

  • SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for SQL Server 2012, 2014, and 2016. Use SSAS for OLAP and data mining, while using Vertica as the source for cube creation.

  • SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for SQL Server 2012, 2014, and 2016. SSIS provides SQL Server Type Mappings to map data types between Vertica and SQL Server. Use SSIS for data migration, data integration and workflow, and ETL.

The following figure displays the relationship between Microsoft components and Vertica dependencies.

2 - BIDS and SSDT-BI

Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) is available in Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 with additional project types that are specific to SQL Server business intelligence.

Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) is available in Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 with additional project types that are specific to SQL Server business intelligence. BIDS is the primary environment that you use to develop business solutions that include Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services projects.

SQL Server Data Tool - Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI) replaces BIDS for Visual Studio 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. It serves the same purpose as BIDS, providing a development environment for developing business solutions.

Both BIDS and SSDT-BI are client-based applications that include additional project types specific to SQL Server Business Intelligence.

You can use the Visual Studio Shell Integration plug-in to browse a database from within the Visual Studio Server Explorer. This capability allows you to work outside of BIDS or SSDT-BI development to perform tasks, such as listing tables or inserting data. When you use Visual Studio in BIDS or SSDT-BI mode, you can develop business solutions using the data in your Vertica database. For example, you can create cubes or open tables.

Microsoft does not support the following configurations:

  • You cannot use Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 with BIDS development to create a SQL Server 2012 Business Intelligence solution.

  • You cannot use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010/2012/2013/2015 with SSDT-BI development to create a SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence solution.

3 - SQL server analysis services (SSAS) support

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes the Analysis Services project for developing online analytical processing (OLAP) for business intelligence applications.

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes the Analysis Services project for developing online analytical processing (OLAP) for business intelligence applications. This project type includes templates for:

  • Cubes

  • Dimensions

  • Data sources

  • Data source views

It also provides the tools for working with these objects.

You can find the OLE DB connection properties in OLE DB connection properties.

4 - SQL server integration services (SSIS) support

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes the Integration Services project for developing ETL solutions.

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes the Integration Services project for developing ETL solutions. This project type includes templates for:

  • Packages

  • Data sources

  • Data source views

It also provides the tools for working with these objects.

You can find support for using Vertica as a data source and target from both SSIS and the import/export wizard. You must install mapping files specific to Vertica on the Integration Server and BIDS or SSDT-BI workstation to enable this capability. The Vertica Client Drivers and Tools for Windows installs these mapping files as the "SQL Server Type Mappings" component(s) in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

5 - SQL server reporting services (SSRS) support

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes Report projects for developing reporting solutions.

BIDS or SSDT-BI includes Report projects for developing reporting solutions.

You can use Vertica as a data source for Reporting Services. The installer implements various configuration file modifications to enable this capability on both the BIDS or SSDT-BI workstation and the Reporting Services server.