Silverlight 4 Business Intelligence Software (eBook)

Bart Czernicki has been playing around with computers since 1988 and has spent years as a professional in the information technology field. He currently works as a senior software architect at a software development company.

Title Page 1
Copyright Page 2
Table of Contents 4
About the Author 15
About the Technical Reviewer 16
Introduction 17
Who Should Read This Book? 18
Silverlight Developers or Architects 18
BI Professionals 18
Strategic Decision Makers in Technology 19
Technical and Nontechnical Audiences 19
Why Should You Invest in This Book? 20
Chapter Roadmap 21
What Is Not Covered in This Book? 22
Why Aren’t Data Services Covered in This Book? 22
Following the Coding Exercises in the Book 23
Software You Need to Follow the Exercises 23
Companion Web Site 24
What about Silverlight 3 Support? 26
Author on the Internet 26
Chapter 1: Business Intelligence 2.0 Defined 27
The Need to Make Better Decisions 27
Decision Support Systems 28
Business Intelligence Is Born 29
Business Intelligence Defined 30
BI Terms 30
Architecture of a Business Intelligence System 32
Component Overview of a BI Architecture 32
Data Feeds 33
Extract-Transform-Load Process 34
The Data Warehouse 35
The BI Presentation Layer (Presentation of Knowledge) 36
Challenges of Bringing the BI Tiers Together 36
Business Intelligence 1.0 Implementation 37
BI 1.0’s Intended Audience 37
Two Distinct Users of BI 1.0 38
Proper Understanding of BI Models 39
Applications 39
Static and Noninteractive Data 42
System Design 43
Business Intelligence 2.0 Implementation 44
How BI 2.0 Came to Be 44
Web 2.0 45
Agile Development Methodologies 45
Service Orientation 45
BI 2.0’s Intended Audience 46
Empowering the BI 2.0 User 47
Applications 48
System Design 49
Comparison of Business Intelligence 1.0 and 2.0 50
Summary 51
Chapter 2: Advantages of Applying Business Intelligence 2.0 Using Microsoft Silverlight 52
Industry Trends 53
Delivery to Multiple Platforms 53
The Desktop Platform 54
The Web Platform 54
The Mobile Platform 55
The Tablet Platform 56
Value in Services 56
Virtualizing Resources on the Cloud 56
What Is Silverlight? 58
The Silverlight Solution 58
Less Plumbing, More Designing 59
Leveraging the Power of .NET 59
It’s All on the Client (Well, Mostly) 60
Next-Generation Interaction with Multitouch 60
Multiple Platforms and the Cloud 61
Silverlight vs. Other RIA Technologies 64
Current State of RIA Technology 64
Silverlight’s Position Among RIAs 66
Silverlight vs. HTML 5 67
Key New Features of HTML 5 67
HTML 5 Limitations 68
Silverlight: The Business RIA 69
Lessons from the Past 70
Leveraging Existing Development Investments 70
Moving to the Cloud More Easily 70
Integrating with Microsoft Products 71
Overcoming Silverlight’s Weaknesses 73
The Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform and Silverlight 73
SQL Server BI 73
Microsoft Office BI 74
What Does Silverlight Have to Offer BI? 74
Summary 75
Chapter 3: Silverlight as a Business Intelligence Client 77
Client Distributed Architecture 78
Distributed Architectures Defined 78
Problems with N-Tier Architecture 80
Scaling BI with the Client Tier 82
Is Business Intelligence on the client viable? 84
Microsoft Excel 85
PowerPivot for Microsoft Excel 2010 86
Pivot for Silverlight 88
Disconnected MOLAP 89
Summary 90
Business Logic on the Silverlight Client 90
First-Class Data Structures and Querying 90
Local Access to the DOM 91
Isolated Storage 91
Multithreading 91
Open and Save Dialogs 91
Visual Intelligence 92
OData Support 92
COM Automation Support 92
Printing Support 93
F# Language Support 93
Improvements to Expression Blend 4 93
Common Scenarios Handled with Silverlight 94
Coding Scenario: Working with Business Data 95
Querying Large Data Sets with LINQ 95
Lessons Learned 102
Coding Scenario: Decoupling Business Algorithms 103
Applying Business Logic with Data Binding and Value Converters 103
Lessons Learned 110
Coding Scenario: Persisting Local Data 111
In-Memory and Isolated Storage Caching 111
Lessons Learned 119
Summary 120
Chapter 4: Adding Interactivity to Business Intelligence Data 121
User Interactivity 122
Importance of Good User Interactivity 122
Touch Interactivity 122
Silverlight and Interactivity Support 124
Interactivity with Business Intelligence Data 125
Types of Data Interactivity 125
Sorting 126
Data Paging 127
Filtering 127
Searching 127
Grouping and Pivoting Data 127
Applying Interactivity in Business Intelligence with Silverlight 129
Common Silverlight Controls for Data Lists 129
Data Grid 129
List Box 130
Tree View 131
Coding Scenario: Lazy Loading List Box Data 132
Importance of Lazy Loading 133
Lessons Learned 142
Coding Scenario: Interactive Data Paging with the Slider Control 143
Lessons Learned 151
Possible Enhancements 151
Coding Scenario: Fluent Data Filtering with the Slider Control 151
Lessons Learned 154
Possible Enhancements 154
Coding Scenario: Searching Data with the AutoCompleteBox Control 154
Lessons Learned 157
Summary 157
Chapter 5: Introduction to Data Visualizations 159
What Are Data Visualizations? 160
Characteristics of a Data Visualization 161
Respect the Data 161
Simple and to the Point 162
Animations and Transitions 163
Interactivity 165
Widgets and Dashboards 166
Data Visualizations and Business Intelligence 2.0 166
BI for the Masses 166
Controlled Analysis 166
Ease of Use 166
Rich Interfaces 167
Challenges of Implementing Data Visualizations 167
Custom Controls 167
Need for Designers 167
Reinventing the Insight Wheel 168
Presenting Proper Insight 168
Not Knowing the Target Audience 168
Data Visualizations Might Not Be Enough 168
Data Visualizations and Silverlight 169
Out-of-the-Box Data Visualizations 169
Rich Rendering Engine and Design Tools 170
Data-Centric Processing 171
Integration with Microsoft Enterprise Services 172
Descry Framework 173
Coding Scenarios 175
Chart Data Visualizations 175
Lessons Learned 181
Building a Tag Cloud 181
Lessons Learned 186
Possible Improvements 186
Using Geographic Visualizations 187
Lessons Learned 196
Summary 197
Chapter 6: Creating Data Visualizations for Analysis 198
Choosing a Visualization for Analysis 199
Determining Types of Analysis for Silverlight Visualizations 202
Comparing Parts of a Whole 202
Visualizing Trend Analysis 211
Comparing Ratios (Before and After) 215
Text Data 216
Geographical Data 216
Hierarchical Data 217
Other Visualization Types 219
Comparing Metrics to Organizational Goals 219
Reference Lines 220
Creating Visual KPIs for Scorecard Dashboards 222
Word-Sized Chart Visualizations 229
Types of Word-Sized Chart Visualizations 229
Sparklines 229
Column Charts 234
Data Bars 239
Other Candidates for Word-Sized Charts 240
Summary 240
Chapter 7: Enhancing Visual Intelligence in Silverlight 241
Workflow Visualizations 242
Workflows in Silverlight 243
Using Graphical Symbols 244
Creating Graphical Assets 245
Visualization Layout 247
Creating Composite Visuals for Analysis 249
Creating a Cross-Tab Data Visualization 249
Silverlight Cross-Tab Implementation 250
Why a Cross-Tab Implementation? 256
Improving the Implementation 256
Visualizations for the Environment 258
Comparing Non-Silverlight Solutions 260
Other Development Environments 261
Visual Intelligence Vendors 261
Silverlight as a Visual Intelligence Engine 262
Coding Scenario: Providing the User Visualization Options 262
Lessons Learned 271
Possible Improvements 271
Summary 272
Chapter 8: Applying Collective Intelligence 273
What Is Collective Intelligence? 274
Collective Intelligence and Web 2.0 274
The User Is Always Right 274
Content Is the User 275
Classifying Collective Intelligence Data 277
Collective Intelligence as BI 2.0 Applied 279
Advantages of Applying Collective Intelligence 279
Measuring Collective Intelligence 281
Collecting and Displaying User Content 281
Collecting User-Generated Data 282
Keeping It Simple 282
Explicit Data Collection 283
Implicit Data Collection 285
Data Collection in Silverlight 286
Displaying User-Generated Data 287
Example of Collective Intelligence in Blogs 290
Collective Intelligence UIs with Silverlight 291
Collective Intelligence in the Enterprise 292
Coding Scenarios 293
Coding Scenario: Working with the Rating Control 293
Lessons Learned 302
Possible Improvements 303
Summary 303
Chapter 9: Predictive Analytics (What-If Modeling) 304
What Is Predictive Analytics? 305
Predictive Analytics Overview 305
Classic Predictive Analytics with What-If Analysis 307
Delivering Predictive Analytics Faster with BI 2.0 309
Choosing Correct Data Sets for Predictive Models 311
Implementing the Proper Tier for Predictive Analysis 311
Benefits of Applying Predictive Analytics 312
Bringing Out Additional Value to Existing Data 312
Translating Assumptions into Decisions 313
Being Proactive Instead of Reactive 313
Gaining Competitive Advantage 314
Applying Forward-Looking Models in Silverlight 314
Using a Functional Language (F#) 315
Designing Predictive Models Using Silverlight 315
Predictive Models with Aggregated Data Sets 317
Building the Profit Forecast Control 317
Communicating Between Local Controls 319
Key Highlights 321
Deployment Using the Plug-In Model 322
Coding Scenario: Applying a Statistical Model to Predict Future Behavior 322
Part 1: Creating the UI and Applying a Static Predictive Model 324
Part 2: Creating an Interactive and Visual Predictive Model 331
Lessons Learned 336
Possible Improvements 336
Summary 337
Chapter 10: Improving Performance with Concurrent Programming 338
Concurrent Programming Defined 339
Processor Architecture Shift to Multiple Cores 339
Taking Advantage of Multicore Architectures 342
Multithreading vs. Parallelism 343
Multithreading 343
Parallelism 344
Silverlight Concurrent Programming Features 348
Multithreading Support 348
Silverlight Multithreading Essentials 349
Using the BackgroundWorker Class 352
Asynchronous Workflows in F# 353
Using the Network Stack Asynchronously 354
Concurrency and Rendering 355
Improving Business Application Performance 357
Silverlight Concurrent Programming Limitations 358
No Parallel Extension Support 358
Missing Concurrency Programming Essentials 359
Do Not Block the UI Thread 359
Missing Implementations in the Framework 360
Coding Scenarios 361
Coding Scenario: Improving the Performance of the UI 361
Lessons Learned 372
Possible Improvements 372
Coding Scenario: Improving Computational Processing Performance 373
Part 1: Getting the Project Ready for Concurrency 374
Part 2: Designing a Two-Thread Solution to Improve Performance 378
Part 3: Dynamic Concurrency and Performance Analysis 382
Lessons Learned 386
Possible Improvements 386
Additional Coding Scenarios on the Companion Web Site 386
Summary 386
Chapter 11: Integrating with Business Intelligence Systems 388
Architecting for Business Intelligence Systems 389
Infrastructure and Software Requirements 389
Non-Microsoft Infrastructures 393
New BI 2.0 Applications 394
Integrating with Existing BI Investments 396
Basic Integration 397
Communicating Between Separate Silverlight Applications 397
Silverlight in the SaaS Model 401
SaaS for BI 401
SaaS Features Implemented in Silverlight 401
Centralized Management of Service Delivery 401
SaaS Maturity Model 404
SaaS in the Virtualized Cloud 409
Summary 410
Chapter 12: Mobile Intelligence 411
What Is Mobile Intelligence? 412
Mobile Intelligence for the Consumer 413
Silverlight Mobile Intelligence Platforms 414
Windows Phone 7 415
Developing for the Windows Phone 7 415
Windows XP OS and Windows 7 OS Tablets 417
Windows Embedded Compact 7 418
Other Platforms 418
Implementing Silverlight Mobile Intelligence 419
Adding Interactivity 419
Word-Sized Visualizations 421
Mobile Dashboards 422
Leveraging Microsoft Services and Components 424
Coding Scenarios 424
The Bing Maps Silverlight Control on Windows Phone 7 424
Lessons Learned 429
Concurrent Programming on Windows Phone 7 430
Lessons Learned 440
Summary 440
Chapter 13: Surfacing Silverlight Business Intelligence in SharePoint 442
Why SharePoint for Business Intelligence? 443
SharePoint 2007 Business Intelligence Capabilities 443
SharePoint 2010 Business Intelligence Capabilities 444
SharePoint 2007 and Silverlight Integration 446
Object HTML Tag 446
Custom Web Parts 447
Two Types of Web Parts 447
The Relationship between Silverlight and Web Parts 448
Why Silverlight Web Parts? 448
SharePoint 2010 and Silverlight Integration 449
Silverlight Web Part 450
Client Object Model 452
SharePoint 2010 Development Story 453
Implementing Silverlight Business Intelligence Scenarios in SharePoint 453
Adding Silverlight to an existing SharePoint BI SharePoint Site 453
Exposing Complete Silverlight BI tools in SharePoint 454
Communication Between Silverlight Web Parts 456
Coding Scenarios 457
Coding Scenario: Self-Service Silverlight Application Hosting 458
Lessons Learned 460
Summary 460
Chapter 14: Using the Silverlight PivotViewer 462
What Is the PivotViewer? 463
Which Pivot Technology Is this? 463
PivotTable 463
Power Pivot 464
PivotViewer Components & Architecture
Installing the PivotViewer Platform 466
Prerequisites 466
PivotViewer & Pivot Collection Tools
Running the Sample Silverlight PivotViewer Application 467
PivotViewer User Interface 468
PivotViewer User Interface Components 468
Top Bar 469
Filter Panel 471
Imagery Canvas 476
Info Panel 476
PivotViewer Collections 477
Learning Coding Scenario: Consuming an existing PivotViewer Collection 480
Learning Coding Scenario: Using the Pivot Collection Tool for Microsoft Excel 482
PivotViewer and Business Intelligence 2.0 489
Summary 490
Appendix A: Prototyping Applications with Dynamic Data 491
Blend’s Dynamic Data Tools 491
Defining New Sample Data 492
Customizing Sample Data Sources 494
Customizing Properties 497
Customizing Collections 497
Generating data from image collections 499
Behind the Scenes of Dynamic Data 501
Autogenerated Files 501
Using the Dynamic Data 503
Summary 504
Appendix B: Creating a Bullet Graph User Control 505
What Is a Bullet Graph? 506
Using the Bullet Graph to Gain Business Intelligence Insight 508
Comparing the Bullet Graph to Traditional Gauges 510
Specification of the Silverlight Bullet Graph 513
Implementation Roadmap 513
Mashing Up the Control with Silverlight Controls 515
Creating a Fluid Layout 517
Leveraging the Silverlight Layout Controls 518
Bullet Graph Configuration Properties 522
Implementing Dependency Properties 523
Implementing the Bullet Graph in Silverlight 532
Bullet Graph Layout and Adding Main Components 532
Starting the Project 533
Building the Layout 533
Adding the Bullet Graph Components 535
Styling Qualitative Ranges & Adding Dynamic Content
Styling the Qualitative Ranges 538
Adding the Quantitative Scale 540
Implementing Dependency Properties & Design-Time Logic
Adding Category & Property Descriptions
Additional Calculations and Notes 547
Using the Bullet Graph Control 549
Proving Business Intelligence Scenarios 549
Data Binding & Animations
Alternate Implementations 550
Summary 551
Index 552