Report Builder and Tabular Model Databases

Here is an easy way to leverage your existing skills in traditional SQL Server reporting tools with the new Tabular Mode of SQL Server Analysis Services to get started taking advantage of the xVelocity in-memory analytics engine (VertiPaq) without needing to go through a SharePoint configuration.

First, you will need a SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services (SSAS) running in Tabular Mode. To setup SSAS in Tabular Mode, make this selection at install time and notice the new icon for SSAS in SSMS which will indicate to you visually that you are working with a tabular SSAS, not a traditional multidimensional SSAS instance: