RFD: comp.databases.olap

This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) regarding the formation of the group comp.databases.olap. This usenet newsgroup will discuss the issues encompassing On-Line Analytical Processing, as defined by E.F. Codd of Codd and Date Inc. in his recent white paper entitled "Providing OLAP (On-line Analytical Processing) to User-Analysts: an IT Mandate".

Topics which could be discussed in this newsgroup include multidimensional databases, multidimensional analysis tools and techniques, decision support systems (DSS), executive information systems (EIS), data warehousing, data marting, and a host of other related topics. In general, OLAP is about getting data out of transaction procesing systems and turning it into information. A more complete description of the Codd paper on OLAP is given below, along with additional references that I have found to be helpful on this topic.

This is ***NOT*** a Call For Votes (CFV).

A CFV will be issued to the newsgroups that this RFD had been posted to 21 to 30 days from the date that this message first appears. This assumes that no serious problems with the newsgroup proposal are noted. Voting will be recorded by a neutral third party at the CFV stage.

This message will be reposted weekly until the CFV is issued.

Any follow-up to this RFD should be directed to news.groups.

Name           : comp.databases.olap
Description    : On-Line Analytical Processing, MDDBMS, DSS, EIS
Status         : Unmoderated
Distribution   : Worldwide
Proposed by    : Daniel Druker (ddruker_at_netcom.com)
Important Note : I work for Arbor Software, which distributes a product, 
                 Essbase, that will probably be discussed in this      
                 group.  My intent is NOT to use this group as a           
                 marketing tool for Essbase, but rather to provide a      
                 forum for discussion about all OLAP products and      
                 concepts, including competing products and   
                 technologies.

BACKGROUND:

In August 1993, Codd and Date announced a major breakthrough in business computing with 12 rules for On-Line Analytial Processing (OLAP). Developed by Dr. E.F. Codd, with colleagues Clynch Salley and Sharon Codd, OLAP is defined as the dynamic synthesis, analysis, and consolidation of large volumes of multidimensional data. Dr. Codd is the founder of Codd and Date, Inc, and is the inventor of the abstract model and the 12 rules for relational technology.

With OLAP, Codd and Date has established and clarified a significant area of business data processing and a new product category for "multidimensional analysis" -- which are not adequately addressed by the current combination of relational systems, spreadsheets, and query tools. OLAP involves the dynamic and extensive manipulation of unlimited variables of data, and complements On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) applications. OLAP applications include rapid consolidations and multiple scenarios of forecasts, budgets, product plans, capital asset plans, sales analyses, and performance reports. OLAP products make multidimensional analysis easier and more efficient for business users.

RELEVANCE:

There has recently been an explosion in industry interest in OLAP concepts, techniques, and products. This is reflected both in an increase in trade press articles and commercial products which serve this segment. In the comp.databases hierarchy there has been a similar increase in postings relating to the issues that would be covered by this newsgroup.

It is my belief that the increasing interest has been largely driven by the realization that now that we have figured out how to stuff 1000 TPS into a database, we need better tools and techniques to get the data out in a form that analysts can use to solve business problems. The intent is for this newsgroup to provide a place to centralize issues, expertise, and information relating to OLAP.

CHARTER:

The purpose of this group is to discuss all aspects of On-Line Analytical Processing.

This newsgroup will be an unmoderated group.

Topics appropriate to this newsgroup include but are not limited to:

• Decision Support Systems
• Executive Information Systems
• Multidimensional Database Systems
• Data Warehousing
• Data Marting
• Very Large Read-Only Databases
• Multidimensional Front-End Tools
• Sparse Data Models and Optimization Techniques
• Multidimensional Analysis using Relational Systems
• Limitations of SQL for business analysis
• Parallelization and other methods to speed processing.
• End User Query Tools
• Ad-Hoc Query Tools
• Business Reporting and Financial Analysis Tools

Commercial products which would probably be discussed in this newsgroup include but are not limited to:

Multidimensional / Psuedo-Multidimensional Servers

Vendor                      Product
Arbor Software              Essbase
Comshare                    FDC, Commander EIS
Dimensional Insight         CrossTarget
IMRS                        Hyperion
IRI                         Express
Kenan Technologies          Acumate, Multiway
Pilot                       Lightship Server

Data Warehouses / Relational Systems

Vendor                      Product
Digital                     rdb
IBI                         Focus
IBM                         DB2
Informix                    Informix Database
NCR/Terradata               Terradata Enterprise Server
Oracle                      Oracle7
Red Brick                   Warehouse     
Sybase                      System 10
Tandem                      Non-Stop, Himalaya
Unify                       Unify/Uniface

Front Ends providing DSS, EIS, or Multidimensional Analysis

Vendor                      Product
Andyne                      Pablo
Brio                        DataPivot, DataPrism
Business Objects            Business Objects
CA                          Compete, Supercalc
Cognos                      PowerPlay
Information Advantage       Decision Support Suite
IntelligenceWare            Corporate Vision
Lighten                     Advance 
Lotus                       Improv
Metaphor                    DIS 
Pilot                       Lightship
Power Thinking Tools        FreeThink
Sinper                      TM/1 Perspectives

This list was taken from DBMS magazine, and augmented by me wherever possible. If there are other products that you think should be added, feel free to send me an email and I will add them to the list the next time this RFD is posted.

REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD) DISTRIBUTION

This RFD will be sent to the following newsgroups:

          news.announce.newgroups
          news.groups
          comp.databases
          comp.databases.informix
          comp.databases.oracle
          comp.databases.rdb
          comp.databases.sybase
          comp.databases.theory

This RFD has been proposed in accordance with the guidelines in "How to Create a Usenet Newsgroup". A large portion of the procedural text in this note was taken from a previous RFD written by Paul N. Hayton.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RECOMMENDED FURTHER READINGS

Codd, E.F., "Providing OLAP (On-line Analytical Processing) to User-

      An IT Mandate", E.F. Codd and Associates, 1993
     This white paper defined OLAP, and presents business cases for its
     need and usefullness. 

Finkelstein, Richard, "Understanding the need for On-Line Analytical 
     Servers" Performance Computing Inc., 1994
     This white paper discusses the need for a seperate class of servers
     for analytical processing. 

Kimball, Ralph, "What's wrong with SQL", Datamation, June 1994. 
     This article discusses the limitations of SQL for business analysis. 
     It proposes a number of extensions to SQL. There is an associated 
     article which discusses modelling multidimensional data in 
     relational databases, but I couldn't remember its title off the top 
     of my head. 

Kimball, Ralph, Interview in DBMS Magazine, June 1994.
     Ralph discusses his experiences at Red Brick and Metaphor, two of 
     the seminal vendors in the DSS industry. 

Survey of Multidimensional Analysis Tools", DBMS Magazine, June 1994.
     This is a survey of multidimensional servers and products on the 
     market today. 

-- 

                                          Daniel Druker
                                          Arbor Software Corporation
                                          ddruker_at_netcom.com