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Title: The Microsoft??Data Warehouse Toolkit: With SQL Server??2005 and the Microsoft??Business Intelligence Toolset
ISBN: 0471267155
Author:
Joy Mundy
Warren Thornthwaite
Publicate Date: 2006-02-13
Publish: 2006-02-13
List Price: $50.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $31.76
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $31.58
Amazon Merchant Price: $34.65
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Successful application of data warehousing expertise to a real-world platform
I've enthusiastically referenced Kimball publications for business intelligence projects over the years; everything from how to manage history in slowly changing dimensions to fact-less fact tables to creating an initial data warehouse project plan, always with outstanding results. Mundy, Thornthwaite, and Kimball achieve two key milestones with The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit. First, they successfully apply many years of data warehousing scholarship and expertise to a real-world platform. This is accomplished from a practical perspective with respect to MS SQL Server, as the authors are realistic of both the strengths and weaknesses of the platform and tailor their approach accordingly. Second, this publication is one of the first to recognize modern incarnations of the MS SQL Server as a viable platform for data warehousing. Microsoft has addressed the stability issues that plagued earlier releases of the SQL Server. If you're considering an MS SQL warehouse deployment, I would strongly encourage you and your staff to read this book.
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2: Very complete
I bought this book for a class. It is very complete. I am an IT person who need this sense of Business Size of BI while I am updating my SQL Server skills. I recommend this book.
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3: Essential Reading for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2005
Having spent more time doing data warehousing than reading about it, I didn't realize what a phenomenon the Kimball Method had become. I was interviewing with a company that mentioned Kimball and wanted to use his methods to build a data warehouse on SQL Server 2005, so I turned to Amazon, found this book, used my Amazon Prime to get the tome and got the job. So how was the book? Honestly, it covers the Kimball Method well and most experienced analysts will not find much new other than the jargon. The practical advice from Mundy and Thornthwaite is valuable and will help you make some practical decisions on implementation, if not spell out all the steps. My feeling was that if you are comfortable with implementing data marts or data warehouses, this book will give you the advice you need for setting up a SQL Server 2005 data warehouse and implementing Analysis Services. For a more in depth look at how to implement Analysis Services, I recommend Melomed's book as a follow on.
The only complaint I have with this book is it over sells SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) as an ETL tool. That is probably Mundy's Microsoft viewpoint speaking rather than actual experience with the tool. After using SSIS, I look at it as Data Transformation Services (DTS) with a nice face on it, but really its just lipstick on the same pig. I have picked up several books on SSIS to try find out how to do all the wonderful things it promises, but they pretty much echo the documentatiion, so I can't really recommend any of them.
Overall, this is book well worth reading. After spending the last year on an Oracle/Teradata project, its refreshing to get back to SQL Server 2005 and Analysis Services. If you are just making the jump to data warehousing on SQL Server 2005, this is a must read. If you are already familiar with Kimball, you will skip a lot but get some good implementation advice and that makes it worth the price. If you want to know more about MDX or SSIS, this isn't what you are looking for.
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4: More an academic discussion, than hands-on
I found this a frustrating book. Eventually I skipped this first 43 pages of introduction plus 120 first pages of the book proper. I felt the authors were more interested in using esoteric language than actually showing how to use the product. If you're trying to baffle someone with tech-speak, this is the book for you. If you have a deadline, and are trying to actually accomplish something, I would suggest looking elsewhere. Disappointed.
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5: Very approachable but authoritative source on DW
Having inherited a mature DW, I was weak on the Theory behind what I was supporting. I needed to be able to be confident of not breaking the current system, but still be able to take this vital system forward with the business. I am also under the Time pressure that we all work with. This book gave thorough but clear explanations of the concepts that underlie DW/BI solutions and then went on to particularise these explanations with details based on SQL Server. I am still working through it, but it is a pleasure rather than a chore.
Thanks for the great work that you and the editorial team put into this book. JK.
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