Data, data en nog eens data

Author: tom

  • A script to create a sample data warehouse – part 2 the fact

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    I have created an example data warehouse with just one dimension table and one fact table. We have discussed how the dimension table must be loaded. Once the dimension table is loaded, we may start loading the fact table. Let us see how that is done. The fact table looks like: create table devADW_BAN_MI.factTARGET (PI…

  • A script to create a sample data warehouse – part 1 the dimension

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    In the last week, I have written a sample script to create a skeleton data warehouse. I will use this as a head start for future work where the skeleton will be used to implement an actual data warehouse. The skeleton is written for a Teradata DBMS. This is the platform that I currently use.…

  • A set of tables and content

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    Yesterday, I encountered a small but convenient script that creates and loads a set of tables in an Oracle environment. It was part of an Informatica training, so I have to give the credits to those guys. Click here to get the Script I changed a few things in the script but not much. The…

  • A date dimension

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    Today I had to create a date dimension. This is a dimension that provides us with a list of records that contains the weekdays, the number of a month etc. Let me give a screenshot of these records: This table helps us to translate a date (like 08 – 25 – 2011) into a day…

  • JCL or the stern face of a main frame

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    I realise that working on a main frame can be very intimidating. Look at the JCL: the job language that you use to get things done. This is the way how you might copy files, how to execute a programme, to compile a programme. This implies that you will use the JCL every day when…

  • Querying a Db2 database on a mainframe

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    Recently, I was in a situation where I had to query a Db2 database on a mainframe. I was also in a situation where the knowledge and documentation on that mainframe was not very widespread. So there I found myself, sitting in the dark with only a so-called 3270 screen looking at me, waiting for…

  • =3.4 or the most important mainframe command

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    Once you are on a mainframe, the most important command is: =3.4. This command is issued on the command line of the so-called ISPF screens. See:   If you are in this screen, simply issue =3.4 and you are in the screen that gives you access to all files. This is the stepping stone into…

  • Going back in time – or re-enter the mainframe

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    When I entered the world of the mainframe, I realised that this is a world on it own; it has their own rules and newbies are not easily accepted here. From a support form I read this message from a sysadm: “.. (this) is a system for people who know what to do and how…

  • Scheduling jobs in SAS

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    With SAS, I see SAS DI Studio being more and more employed to write data loading jobs. It is understandable to see this development. Within a data warehouse environment we encounter similar procedures, like reading from a file, adding technical keys, combining tables etc, that could be created with the help of pre-built stones. When…

  • Representation of numerics on a mainframe

    —

    by

    tom
    in

    I now work with a mainframe. I realised once more that numeric variables have different formats on a mainframe. As we do not always have a clear description, we should somehow recognise how the data are stored. Let us first show how numeric data can be stored. As an example, I take the number 123.…