SQL Server: Data Warehousing and OLAP

SQL Server is Microsofts Client Server Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) software. The current version of this software (6.5) has acquired an enviable reputation for being easy to use, and an unenviable reputation for being inefficient at dealing with large data sets. Its overall reliability has also been questioned. Despite these li mitations, SQL Sever 6.5 has become remarkably successful. Version 7.0 - due out in the Autumn of 1998 - is a total rewrite of the software, and Microsoft has addressed the serious limitations of the product. Not only that but extra tools are included to make it capable of operating a data warehouse - which w ill increase its appeal even more. Although traditionally RDBMSs have been used by technically competent, database professionals this is rapidly starting to change, and the task of creating and maintaining databases is inexorably passing out of the hands of formally trained people. This i s mainly because the software is not only becoming more úser-friendly'but also because it is becoming much easier to use. There is an increasing tendency within Companies now to pass SQL Server to current employees rather than employing expensive profe ssionals to implement it. This book, written by the same authors of the extremely popular DB2 for Windows NT - fast book has been written for these people and for all those who have an interest in seeing how an RDBMS client-server system works.
TOC: Introduction.- What is SQL SERVER?.- Target Audience - who are you?.- What this book doesn do - and why.- What this book does do.- Versioning.- Layout.- Hardware.- Where to find more help.- Disclaimer.- 1. Installation.- Installing SQL SERVER on an NT server.- Creating the sample database supplied by Microsoft (Pubs).- Brief description of Pubs.- What you should find if all has gone well.- 2. The Enterprise Manager.- Server Groups.- Instances.- Databases.- The objects in a database.- Creating a database using the Wizard.- Creating a table using the Wizard.- 3. Installing a front-§End.txt.Int.: tool to manipulate your data.- Background.- Overview.- Choosing whether to work from the server or a workstation.- Choosing and installing a front-§End.txt.Int.: - choosing; installing.- Running the setup program to install the software.- Creating an ODBC data source.- Running the CCA on a server to create an ODBC data source.- Configuring the ODBC data source.- Configuring the front-§End.txt.Int.: to use the ODBC data source - Access; Approach; Delphi.- Finally, manipulating the data with your chosen front-§End.txt.Int.:.- 4. Client workstations.- Making a connection from a client workstation to SQL SERVER.- Sample front-§End.txt.Int.: applications.- What we have not provided (and what we have!) - Delphi; Visual Basic; Java.- 5. Data Warehousing.- 6. The OLAP engine.- 7. The Data Transformation Service.