Building a Data Warehouse: With Examples in SQL Server (Expert's Voice) [Hardcover]

Vincent Rainardi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1590599314 | ISBN-13: 978-1590599310 | Publication Date: January 7, 2008 | Edition: 1

The book is intended to contain practical explanations of essential topics in implementing a data warehouse that everybody who wishes to embark on a data warehousing journey will need to understand in order to build their first data warehouse. Not only that, but they get the SQL Server code so that they can go ahead and implement the data warehouse, create reports, utilize business intelligence, CRM, and more. Essentially, it is a field guide for data warehousing implementation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vincent Rainardi is an Experienced DATA WAREHOUSE ARCHITECT. Expertise in migrating data warehouses from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2005 platform. 2 MCPs in SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition: Database Design and Database Administration. 5 years of experience in building data warehouses and OLAP cubes on Microsoft, Gaec, IBM and Informix platforms. Tools include SQL Server 2000 & 2005 DTS & SSIS, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, ProClarity, Hyperion Essbase, DataMirror, Embarcadero ER/Studio, Sharepoint, BusinessObjects Crystal Reports, Hummingbird Genio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (January 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590599314
• ISBN-13: 978-1590599310
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Heavy on practical tips, light on general principles, October 7, 2008

By 

Christoffer Swanstrom (Zurich, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Data Warehouse: With Examples in SQL Server (Expert's Voice) (Hardcover)

A very hands-on book about implementing a Data Warehouse using Microsoft SQL Serveer 2005. In fact, it is a bit too hands-on in the sense that it guides you through all clicks and keystrokes but is rather thin and vague on general design principles.

The author has set out to write "a book containing all the essential subjects of building a data warehouse" (quote from the introduction). However, given the breadth of the material the author tries to cover (and given the sometimes annoyingly plentiful screenshots and SQL code) there is not enough room to give the necessary background and generalize the examples enough to be more useful than just that, examples.

For a much better attempt to cover both principles and a specific platform, a much better choice is The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit (by Joy Mundy and Warren Thornthwaite), also covering SQL Server 2005.

For someone looking for just the practical part on how to use the Microsoft tools (SQL Server, SSIS, SSAS) to implement a Data Warehouse and already knows the general principles of data warehousing is probably better off buying a book or several books that cover just those specific tools.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a book for the doers, excellent ETL part, June 22, 2008

By 

Jiang Tang "Bookworm" (Carrollton, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Building a Data Warehouse: With Examples in SQL Server (Expert's Voice) (Hardcover)

I have read all the major DW books for sql server. All of them fall short in practicality. This book is deceivingly thin (500 some pages), but it covers all the practical side of building a data warehouse using SQL server 2005. The author's experience shows through his handling of many of the practical issues encountered in implementing data warehouse. This book has excellent coverage on ETL process, oftentimes list several alternatives that suited people from different background.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential read. Practical & easy to understand., March 7, 2008

By 

SQL DBA/Developer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Data Warehouse: With Examples in SQL Server (Expert's Voice) (Hardcover)

This book is a must read for anyone embarking on a Data Warehouse project or who wants to learn more about a particular aspect of Data Warehousing. The book guides the reader through the principles underpinning Data Warehousing, with easy to understand definitions. It gives detailed insight into the design, build & testing phases essential to any successful Data Warehousing project. It even covers reporting; including using the Data Warehouse for Business Intelligence and Customer Relationship Management. Throughout the book the author describes potential problems and gives techniques on how to overcome them.
There are tons of practical examples from an author who has a wealth of technical experience in this field.

This book is highly recommended.