OLAP database objects: Cubes, Data Sources, Fact Tables, Database roles

The following are the OLAP database objects:

1. Cubes: Data in cubes are persisted in a summarized version that helps to analyze data quickly. The data is
persisted, through which reporting can be done easily.

2. Data Sources: The data source is location, from which data comes in data warehousing. Data is collected from
different resources and cleaned. This data source could be internal or external. Cleansing of source data and efficient
analysis is the prime process for data warehousing.

3. Fact Tables: Fact table consists of facts and / or measures in data warehousing. Usually the data is stored in
numeric fashion. For example, the number of resources used for a task is stored as actual measure.

4. Database roles: The database security is managed by utilizing database level roles. These roles may be fixed or
flexible. The fixed roles are predefined where as flexible roles can be created. 

Cubes. 

A data cube stores data in a summarized version which helps in a faster analysis of data. The data is stored in such a
way that it allows reporting easily. E.g. using a data cube a user may want to analyze weekly, monthly performance of
an employee. Here, month and week could be considered as the dimensions of the cube. 

Data Sources. 

Data source is where the data comes from in data warehousing. The data collected from various sources and is
cleaned. The data source can be internal or external. Efficient Analysis and cleansing of source data is the key
success to data warehousing.

Fact Tables. 

Data in a warehouse comes from the transactions. Fact table in a data warehouse consists of facts and/or measures.
The nature of data in a fact table is usually numerical. e.g. If I want to know the number of resources used for a task,
my fact table will store the actual measure (of resources) while my Dimension table will store the task and resource
details. 

Database roles. 

Database level roles are used to manage the security of the database. The role can be either fixed or flexible. Fixed
roles are predefined while flexible roles can be created. Examples of some fixed database level roles are db_owner,
db_securityadmin, db_datawriter etc 

Explain the concepts and capabilities of OLAP. 

Online analytical processing performs analysis of business data and provides the ability to perform complex
calculations on usually low volumes of data. OLAP helps the user gain an insight on the data coming from different
sources (multi dimensional). OLAP helps in Budgeting, Forecasting, Financial Reporting, Analysis etc. It helps
analysts getting a detailed insight of data which helps them for a better decision making

OLAP  - concepts and capabilities of OLAP  - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

Explain the concepts and capabilities of OLAP.

Online Analytical Processing is a powerful and popular data analytical method. Complex data structures are explored
and provide the necessary information.

Multidimensional: OLAP provides services in a wide variety of possible views, which are multidimensional
conceptual view of data by supporting multiple hierarchies or dimensional aggregation path are provided.

Easy to understand: The data designed for OLAP analysis will be handled by any business logic and statistical
analysis which is relevant to the developer and / application user. Simultaneously, for the target user, it makes easy
enough.

Interactive: OLAP supports the business information through comparative data to the user. Users are encouraged
for defining new ad hoc calculations which is a part of the analysis.

Fast: OLAP services are implemented in a multi-user client / server architecture and provide rapid responses to
queries consistently, irrespective of database complexity. 

Explain the functionality of OLAP. 

 Multidimensional analysis:- OLAP helps the user gain an insight on the data coming from different sources.
 OLAP helps faster execution of complex analytical and ad-hoc queries.
 Allows trend analysis periodically.
 Drill down abilities. 

OLAP  - functionality of OLAP -  Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

Explain the functionality of OLAP.

OLAP functionality is performed using SQL Anywhere by utilizing various extensions to SQL statements and window
functions. Multidimensional data analysis, data mining, trend analysis, goal seeking, cost allocations, time series
analyses and altering exceptions can be performed with a single SQL statement.

Extensions to SELECT statement: Grouping input rows, analyze the groups and including the findings in the final
result, are the operations that could be done in SELECT statement. They include extensions to GROUP BY clause –
GROUING SETS, CUBE and ROLLUP clauses and WINDOW clause.

WINDOW aggregate functions: Configurable sliding window concept is supported for using aggregate functions,
which moves down the input rows as they are processed. Computing percentiles, moving averages and cumulative
sums are performed in a single SQL statement, which reduces the complexity of using self-joins, correlated sub
queries, temporary tables and at times, the combination of all these three.

Window ranking functions: These functions facilitates to form a single statement SQL queries , to obtain the
information , like shipped top ten products in a given year by total sales.

What are MOLAP and ROLAP?

MOLAP: A more traditional way of OLAP analysis. Data is persisted in a multidimensional

cube in MOLAP. The storage is in proprietary formats but not in the relational database.
MOLAP data cubes are built in such a way that data retrieval is faster and are optimal for dicing
and slicing operations.

ROLAP: A methodology that is relied on manipulating the persisted data in the relational
database, for providing an appearance of traditional OLAP’s dicing and slicing functionality. The
actions of slicing and dicing are equivalent to adding the ‘WHERE’ clause in the SQL statement,
is the essential part of ROLAP. The amount of data is not limited by ROLAP itself, thus able to
handle large amounts of data..

Explain the role of bitmap indexes to solve aggregation problems. 

Bitmap indexes are useful in connecting smaller databases to larger databases. Bit map indexes can be very useful
in performing repetitive indexes. Multiple Bitmap indexes can be used to compute conditions on a single table.

OLAP  - role of bitmap indexes to solve aggregation problems  - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

Explain the role of bitmap indexes to solve aggregation problems.

Bitmaps are useful for starting schema for the purpose of joining large databases small databases. For performing
logical operations on the databases, bit arrays and the answer queries are used. To handle Gender differentiation, bit
map indexes are efficient. Bit map indexes also capable of performing repetitive tasks with much larger efficiency. 

OLAP -  encoding technique used in bitmaps indexes  - March 08, 2009 at 22:00 PM by
Rajmeet Ghai 

Explain the encoding technique used in bitmaps indexes. 

For each distinct value, one bitmap is used. The number of bitmaps can be reduced using log(C) bitmaps with to
represent the values in each bin. Here, C is the number of distinct values. This optimizes space at the cost of
accessing bitmaps when a query is generated.

OLAP  - encoding technique used in bitmaps indexes  - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

Explain the encoding technique used in bitmaps indexes.

One bitmap is commonly used for every single distinct value. When opted for different types of encoding, the number
of bitmaps could be reduced. Space optimization can be achieved, except when the query is generated; bit maps
need to be

What is Binning? 

Binning can be used to hold multiple values in one bin. Bitmaps are then used to represent the values in each bin.
This helps in reducing the number of bitmaps regardless of the encoding mechanism.

OLAP  - What is Binning?  - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

What is Binning?

Space saving can be achieved by a process called ‘binning’. The performance could vary based on the generated
query, and at times query solution can come in a few seconds and sometimes it could take more time. Binning
process allows multiple values to be held up in the same bin. 

What is candidate check? 

Binning process when creates the binned indexes, answers only some queries. The base data is not checked. The
process of checking the base data is called as a candidate check. Candidate check at times may consume more time
that binning process. This depends on the user query and how well it matches with the bin. 
OLAP -  What is candidate check? -  Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

What is candidate check?

Candidate check is a process that triggered during checking the base data. The performance of
candidate check varies either towards the positive side or to the negative side. The overall
performance of the candidate check is dependent on the query submitted by the user and also on
the examining the base data.

OLAP -  What is Hybrid OLAP? - March 08, 2009 at 22:00 PM by Rajmeet Ghai 

What is Hybrid OLAP? 

In a Hybrid OLAP, the database gets divided into relational and specialized storage. Specialized data storage is for
data with fewer details while relational storage can be used for large amount of data. Use of virtual cubes and other
different forms of HOLAP enable one to modify storage as per the needs.

OLAP  - What is Hybrid OLAP?  - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

What is Hybrid OLAP?

Hybrid OLAP is a mode of storage that uses a combination of multidimensional data structures and relational
database tables for storing multidimensional data. The analysis services stores the aggregations for a HOLAP
partition in a multidimensional structure and the facts are stored in relational database. 

OLAP -  shared features of OLAP - March 08, 2009 at 22:00 PM by Rajmeet Ghai 

Explain the shared features of OLAP. 

OLAP product by default is read only. If multiple access rights are required, admin needs to make necessary
changes. It is predominant to make necessary security changes for multiple updates.

OLAP  - shared features of OLAP -  Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

Explain the shared features of OLAP.

Most of the security features are implemented into OLAP. The admin can make necessary changes when required
multiple access are needed. All OLAP products have read only security level by default. 

Compare Data Warehouse database and OLTP database. 

Data Warehouse is used for business measures cannot be used to cater real time business needs of the organization
and is optimized for lot of data, unpredictable queries. On the other hand, OLTP database is for real time business
operations that are used for a common set of transactions. Data warehouse does not require any validation of data.
OLTP database requires validation of data.

OLAP - Data Warehouse database and OLTP database - Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya
Sagar
Compare Data Warehouse database and OLTP database.

Both data warehouse and OLTP are relational databases.

Data Warehouse:

Designed for business measures analysis, by creation of attributes and categories

Does not cater to real time operational requirements of an enterprise.
Store house of current and historical data along with data extracted from external resources.
Bulk loads, unpredictable queries can access many rows for each table.
Data warehouse is loaded with valid, consistent data and real time validation is not needed.
Data warehouse is capable of supporting few concurrent users.

OLTP:

Designed for performing transaction of real time business records.

Caters to real time operational requirements of an enterprise.
Optimized for a set of transactions, which are like adding and retrieving single row at a time for each table.
OLAP is optimized for validating incoming data at the time of transactions. It uses validation data tables.
OLAP is capable of supporting thousands of concurrent users. 

OLAP -  difference between ETL tool and OLAP tool - March 08, 2009 at 22:00 PM by
Rajmeet Ghai 

What is the difference between ETL tool and OLAP tool? 

ETL is the process of Extracting, loading and transforming data into meaningful form. This data can be used by the
OLAP tool for to visualize data in different forms. ETL tools also perform some cleaning of data. OLAP tools make
use of simple query to extract data from the database.

OLAP  - difference between ETL tool and OLAP tool -  Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar 

What is the difference between ETL tool and OLAP tool?

ETL can extract, transform using various transformations that are available in the tool, and aggregate the data. The
output can be used as an input for OLAP tool. ETL is the initial part of data warehousing. For generating cross tab
report from the source tables, data warehouse takes very long time span. For efficiency, these tables are transformed
into cubes and persisted in OLAP server. The analysis that is performed on the cubes is provided with pre-
aggregated values. Hence, report generation will be much faster.

OLAP supports online reports after performing certain join operations and creating some cubes. OLAP consists of
various applications for score carding, reporting, dashboards, consolidation, planning, analysis, master data
management, workspace and foundation. 

OLAP -  difference between OLAP and DSS -  March 08, 2009 at 22:00 PM by Rajmeet Ghai 

What is the difference between OLAP and DSS? 

Data driven Decision support system is used to access and manipulate data. Data Driven DSS in conjunction with On
line Analytical Processing speeds up the work of analysts to arrive at a conclusion.
OLAP  - difference between OLAP and DSS -  Jan 10, 2010 at 18:50 PM by Vidya Sagar

What is the difference between OLAP and DSS?

DSS, Decision Support System, as the name suggests, helps in taking decisions for top executive professionals.
Data accessing, time-series data manipulation of an enterprise’s internal / some times external data is emphasized by
DSS. The manipulation is done by tailor made tools that are task specific and operators and general tools for
providing additional functionality.

OLAP, Online Analysis Processing, is capable of providing highest level of functionality and support for decision
which is linked for analyzing large collections of historical data. The functionality of an OLAP tool is purely based on
the existing / current data. 

Explain Bill Inmon's versus Ralph Kimball's Approach to Data

Warehousing.

Bill Inmon vs Ralph Kimball

In the data warehousing field, we often hear about discussions on where a person / organization's
philosophy falls into Bill Inmon's camp or into Ralph Kimball's camp. We describe below the
difference between the two.
Bill Inmon's paradigm: Data warehouse is one part of the overall business intelligence system.
An enterprise has one data warehouse, and data marts source their information from the data
warehouse. In the data warehouse, information is stored in 3rd normal form.

Ralph Kimball's paradigm: Data warehouse is the conglomerate of all data marts within the
enterprise. Information is always stored in the dimensional model. Kimball model also proposes
the data warehouse bus architecture. This architecture is comprised of:
- A staging area (which can have an E/R or relationally designed 3NF design or flat file format),
which cannot be accessed by an end-user of the data warehouse bus.
-The Data Warehouse Bus itself which includes several atomic data marts, several aggregated
data marts and a personal data mart but no single or centralized data warehouse component.
The Data Warehouse Bus:
- Is dimensional;
- Contains transaction and summary data;
- Includes data marts, which have single subject or fact tables; and
- Can consist of multiple data marts in a single data base.

There is no right or wrong between these two ideas, as they represent different data warehousing
philosophies. In reality, the data warehouse in most enterprises are closer to Ralph Kimball's
idea. This is because most data warehouses started out as a departmental effort, and hence they
originated as a data mart. Only when more data marts are built later do they evolve into a data
warehouse.

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