Chapter 7: Introducing Online Analytical Processing

Overview

Until now, you have explored relational data, such as a set of data tables in a Microsoft Access database, and nonrelational data, such as groups of records in Microsoft Excel worksheets. This chapter introduces you to a different type of data, known as multidimensional data or hierarchical data. The technology field that deals with this type of data is known as online analytical processing, or OLAP.

Just about any relational or nonrelational data source with field values that can be organized hierarchically (time measurements such as years, months, and weeks; geographical areas such as countries, regions, and cities; business reporting structures such as executives, managers, and subordinates) can benefit from OLAP applications.

Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn

• How data can be structured hierarchically, making it different from relational and nonrelational data.

• How you can analyze multidimensional data with online analytical processing (OLAP) software applications to make better business decisions.

• How online transactional processing (OLTP) systems work in conjunction with OLAP systems to make the entry and storage of business transaction data easier and more efficient.

• Which Microsoft applications you can use to analyze multidimensional data.