PowerPivot allows for industrial-strength data analysis in Excel by removing sheet size constraints, treating data more like a database than individual sheets. It combines data from multiple sources into a fast local database that can be analyzed while disconnected. PowerPivot features include relationships across tables, easy filtering with slicers, and the DAX programming language for writing formulas across rows rather than cells. Resources for learning more include the PowerPivot website and blog.

1. Excel
PowerPivot

2. Legacy Excel Pivot Tables
Allow easy crosstab summarization
Works on single “table” (sheet)
“Table” size constrained by Excel
Same as and other sheet

3. What is Power Pivot?
Similar to Excel Pivot Table
But more industrial strength
Removes most size constraints
Thinks more like database than spreadsheet
Add on to Excel
Free, but installed separately

4. Power Pivot Features
Combine data from variety of sources
Fast local database
Disconnect while analyzing data
Support relationships across tables inside
Excel

5. Power Pivot/SSBI
Little or no IT support required
Slicers: Allow easy subset selection after
report is built

6. DAX Programming Language
Formulas like excel
But work on rows, not cells
Sensitive to selection

7. Resources
The official PowerPivot web site:
http://www.powerpivot.com/
The PowerPivot team blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/powerpivot/
http://www.powerpivotpro.com

8. Thanks!
Alberto (Al) Santaballa
Email: al@technowati.com
Twitter: @asantaballa
Blog: http://technowati.blogspot.com