Data Management & Warehousing

Category: Articles

  • Building An Analytical Platform

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    macleanwalker
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    Reprint of an article published by SAP about a recent piece of work I have recently been asked to build an analytical platform for a project – but what is an analytical platform? The client (a retailer) described it as a database where they could store data, a front end where they could do statistical work…

  • Building a Data Warehouse of Call Data Records (CDR): Solution Considerations

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    macleanwalker
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    Source: Database Trends and Applications (http://www.dbta.com/) Reprint of a magazine article from May 2012 With many organisations having established data warehouse solutions there comes a point where the solution needs to be extended in an unusual direction. This challenge was given to us by one of our clients a European Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)…

  • Struggling with Data Management ?

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    macleanwalker
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    Re-print of a magazine article from August 2010 Those responsible for data management in your organisation are probably struggling. If you can find an individual or group responsible for everything then they have a lot on their plate.  Even if they have managed to write policies and procedures they probably don’t have the time or…

  • A Linux/Mac OS X Command Line Interface to AffiliateWindow

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    macleanwalker
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    This article was written for a client due to the fact that we were unable to test the Affiliate Window API with the documentation available at the time Introduction Affiliate Window offer a tracking and management solutions for maintaining an affiliate program. This works by directing sales to a merchant from an affiliates’ website. In…

  • Data Warehousing – Change Management In A Challenging Environment

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    macleanwalker
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    The way in which data warehouse developments and solutions are viewed is changing. The emphasis is less on the technological problems, many of which have been solved, and more on the day-to-day issues of living and working with a data warehouse. These issues include: • Configuration/Change Management • Managing and Improving Data Quality • Engagement…

  • Conspectus: Data Warehousing Appliances: Fad or Future

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    macleanwalker
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    The original article for Conspectus magazine. Conspectus is the UK’s leading independent report which authoritatively addresses the key IT application areas. It is acknowledged as one of the most trusted journals in the IT industry and is used by many organisations to help them in their selection of IT software and technology. An updated version…

  • KeySum – Using Checksum Keys

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    macleanwalker
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    In 1997 we were working on a project for Swisscom Mobile and needed to innovate a way of using a checksum key on a database. Here is the solution we design: Introduction Keysum is a new and interesting technique (not a product) in the generation of keys within a database. It has particular application within…

  • A Technical Architecture for the Data Warehouse

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    macleanwalker
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    In April 1995 I left Sequent Computer Systems to set up Data Management & Warehousing. Between the completion of the Perot/Europcar project and leaving I had worked with Ralph Kimball, who was training Sequent to develop a Data Warehousing practice and promoting his Red Brick technology (currently owned by IBM). This paper outlines the first two…

  • Client Server Very Large Databases

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    macleanwalker
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    In 1993 I was still working for Sequent Computer Systems as the Technical Leader for Databases. We won a contract to build a then massive 1000 user Unix system using Oracle 7.1 with ten 16 processor system and up to 50Gb of data in a client-server arrangement. Building this system that run Perot/Europcar car rental administration…