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Posts Tagged ‘data modeling’

Custom Data Connector Integrates Power BI and MicroStrategy

Custom Data Connector for Power BI Using MicroStrategy

The MicroStrategy platform allows custom data connectors to access data from nearly any source, which includes Microsoft Power BI. In order to bring the best of both worlds together, Perficient’s MicroStrategy experts have developed a custom data connector to help Power BI users do just that. This custom connector integrates the two products and provides […]

Trends in Governance: Enterprise Modeling is Essential

Of all the governance trends, none is more foundational and critical to the success of the governance program – indeed the organization itself – than the need for accurate, consistent, and relevant models that communicate the meaning, use, and residency of the information assets of the enterprise. Modeling not only addresses the integration and ingestion […]

Cassandra NoSQL Data Modeling Snip-pet

Data modeling in Cassandra is a little tricky and requires a combination of science and art.  Think of the Cassandra column family as a map of a map: an outer map keyed by a row key, and an inner map keyed by a column key. Both maps are sorted. To maximize Cassandra’s capabilities and for long […]

KScope14 Session: The Reverse Star Schema

This week, Perficient is exhibiting and presenting at Kscope14 in Seattle, WA.  On Monday, June 23, my colleague Patrick Abram gave a great presentation on empowering restaurant operations through analytics.  An overview of Patrick’s presentation and Perficient’s retail-focused solutions can be found in Patrick’s blog post. Today, Wednesday, June 25, I gave my presentation on […]

A Wish List for Data Modeling Technology

I was recently a panelist for a Dataversity webinar/discussion focused on the future of data modeling tools, functionality, and practice. Given the holiday season, the panelists discussed their wish list for modeling tools – from currently practical (but maybe not economically viable) to futuristic (e.g., using a 3D printer to print models for model reviews, […]

Healthcare Data Modeling Governance

I participated in a webinar/panel discussion last week hosted by Dataversity on Data Modeling Governance, which was well attended and lively. The focus was on governance of Data Models and the Data Modeling environment (e.g., tools, model repositories, standards). Data Modeling Governance is supported by Data Governance – and Data Governance benefits significantly from Data […]

PowerDesigner Tips – Model Patterns

Data model patterns identify common model structures and define how they should look and interact with other parts of the model.  PowerDesigner can assist in this process by automating the setup of objects (tables, columns, mappings) based on the pattern to be applied and ensuring consistency through the use of custom model checks. Stereotypes Anyone […]

PowerDesigner Tips – Deploying a Model

In its most basic form, deploying a data model means simply applying the model directly to a database via ODBC or a DDL script.  But that neglects much of that value in your model beyond the physical structure. Here are the steps in our model deployment process.  We’ve scripted these in the build tool, but […]

PowerDesigner Tips – Exporting Model Metadata

Once you’ve invested the time and effort into creating really solid, well documented data models, it would be really great to let some folks know about it, right!?!? If you’re using PowerDesigner, you’ve got a few options: Use the included (in some editions) web repository.  This requires the use of the model repository and displays […]

PowerDesigner Tips – Mappings in the Model

We’re constantly looking for ways to streamline the BI development process.  Data mapping (source to target) can be a complex and cumbersome process due to: Ongoing model changes – the target moves! Poor (or “loose”) communication between those mapping and the development team. Lack of consistency in collecting and documenting mappings (Excel, I’m looking at […]

PowerDesigner Tips – Column Ordering

In our standards XEM file (extended model definition), I’ve added column ordering functionality by categorizing each column and then ordering the categories. Column groups are defined in a BaseColumn template.  We have:   PRIM,0,%Primary% ROWMETA,3,%extIsRowDateMeta% META,4,%extIsMetaColumn% AKNONMETA,1,%AllKeys% BASE,2,TRUE  

PowerDesigner – Standards in Action

I love PowerDesigner.  It’s the Cadillac (Mercedes, BMW, etc.) of the modeling tools.  I love that I can do conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling.  I can do business process modeling with direct linkage to my data models.  And I can model mappings between everything for both data flow relationships (ETL mappings) and design flow […]

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