Create SSAS Tabular Models from Postmark Data

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is an analytical data engine used in decision support and business analytics. It provides enterprise-grade semantic data models for business reports and client applications, such as Power BI, Excel, Reporting Services reports, and other data visualization tools. When paired with the CData API Driver for ODBC, you can create a tabular model from Postmark data for deeper and faster data analysis.

Create a Connection to Postmark Data

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Using API Key Authentication

Postmark uses server API tokens to authenticate requests. Each Postmark server has its own API token, which controls access to messages, bounces, templates, and statistics associated with that server.

To obtain your Server API Token, log in to your Postmark account and navigate to the server you want to connect to. Go to API Tokens under the server settings and copy the token labeled Server API token.

After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
• APIKey: Set this to your Postmark Server API Token. This value is sent as the X-Postmark-Server-Token header on every request.

Example connection string:

Profile=C:\profiles\Postmark.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your-server-api-token"

Connecting to Postmark

Once the authentication is configured, you can connect to Postmark and query data from any of the available tables such as OutboundMessages, Bounces, and Templates.

Creating a Data Source for Postmark

Start by creating a new Analysis Services Tabular Project in Visual Studio. Ensure that you select a Compatibility Level of 1400 or higher in the Tabular model designer dialog. Next create a Data Source for Postmark in the project.

1. In the Tabular Model Explorer, right-click Data Sources and select "New Data Source"
2. Select "ODBC" from the Other tab and click "Connect" 👁 Selecting ODBC as the connector
   
3. Select the DSN you previously configured 👁 Selecting the DSN (Salesforce is shown)
   
4. Choose "Default or Custom" as the authentication option and click "Connect" 👁 Connecting to the DSN (Salesforce is shown)
   

Add Tables & Relationships

After creating the data source you are ready to import tables and define the relationships between the tables.

1. Right-click the new data source, click "Import New Tables" and select the tables to import 👁 Importing the tables (Salesforce is shown)
   
2. After importing the tables, right-click "Relationships" and click "Create Relationships"
3. Select table(s), and choose the foreign keys, cardinality, and filter direction 👁 Configuring relationships between tables (Salesforce is shown)
   

Create Measures

After importing the tables and defining the relationships, you are ready to create measures.

1. Select the column in the table for which you wish to create a measure
2. In the Extensions menu -> click "Columns" -> "AutoSum" and select your aggregation method 👁 Creating measures (Salesforce is shown)
   

Deploy the Model

Once you create measures, you are ready to deploy the model. Configure the target server and database by right-clicking the project found in the Solution Explorer and selecting "Properties." Configure the "Deployment Server" properties and click "OK."

👁 Configuring the deployment database

After configuring the deployment server, open the "Build" menu and click "Deploy Solution." You now have a tabular model for Postmark data in your SSAS instance, ready to be analyzed, reported, and viewed. Get started with a free, 30-day trial of the CData API Driver for ODBC.