Status |
Title |
Description |
Pages |
|
|
OLAP applications |
Describes the main OLAP applications, and some of the issues that arise with them |
8 |
|
|
What is OLAP? |
OLAP was originally defined by the late Dr Codd in terms of 12 rules, later extended to the less well-known 18 ‘features’. All 18 are analyzed, along with our preferred ‘FASMI’ test |
4 |
|
|
The future product strategy of SAP/Business Objects |
There are many overlaps between the already confusing SAP and Business Objects product portfolios, particularly among the no-less-than eight disparate planning applications. This section provides an informed analysis of which are likely to survive, and which to be ‘sunsetted’. new |
6 |
|
|
Top |
This section collects together a wide range of punchy, practical advice (some of which is far from obvious) for selecting and implementing OLAP products |
5 |
  |
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The origins of today’s OLAP products |
Despite the recent hype, OLAP products go back much further than many people think. This section reflects on the lessons that can be learned from the 30+ years’ of multidimensional analysis |
4 |
|
|
Dimensions |
There are many possible dimensions in an OLAP application. This section outlines many of the business and technical issues to consider with a number of typical dimensions. |
15 |
|
|
A dozen ‘Next Big Things’ that didn’t happen |
Vendors, industry analysts and the press constantly forecast that certain new ideas will be the ’Next Big Thing’. However, most take much longer to have an impact, and some disappear without trace. This article looks at a dozen of them. |
4 |
|
|
OLAP in the organization |
OLAP products do not stand alone. This section considers how OLAP applications related to operational systems, relational databases, data warehouses, desktop tools, data mining products and other corporate applications. |
7 |
|
|
Analysis: Oracle+Hyperion |
What happens after the world’s largest-ever BI takeover? Will Oracle do a better job with Hyperion than it did with the Express business in 1995? |
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The Microsoft effect |
Microsoft only entered the OLAP market at the end of 1998, and soon dominated it. It is now entering the performance management market — will history be repeated? |
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What’s in a name? |
The OLAP vendors like to flatter themselves with carefully chosen words that make them all sound like leaders. This section shows how they use subtle variations of the same themes |
2 |
|
 |
FAQ: Open source BI/OLAP |
Open source software is well established in some other sectors but is just getting started in BI and OLAP. This FAQ provides the background and answers your questions. |
15 |
|
|
Positioning OLAP products |
A novel way of positioning OLAP servers and clients, to help decide which is best for you |
5 |
|
|
Market segment analysis |
A fast way to segment products based on their architectures, plus the OLAP architectural square, used to ensure shortlists are rational |
2 |
|
|
OLAP and spreadsheets — friends or foes? |
A major investigation of the long and complex relationship between OLAP servers and spreadsheets. This 60+ page all-new section is the largest-ever added to The OLAP Report. Spreadsheets are not only very popular with end-users in the own right, but they are also the most popular and successful OLAP front-end, and there is currently a boom in OLAP Excel add-ins. This new report is illustrated with 50 screen captures from 13 different add-ins from vendors in four continents, and includes mini reviews of four of the best independent Excel add-ins for Analysis Services |
70 |
|
|
Free-form reporting |
Many financial reports are much easier to produce using a free-form reporting solution, such as a spreadsheet add-in, rather than a traditional reporting tool |
4 |
|
|
OLAP categories |
Practical advice on selecting and implementing OLAP products, including both people and technical considerations |
3 |
|
|
Market share analysis |
The latest and previous estimated market shares of the top seventeen OLAP vendors, and an indication of the expected trends.Also explains the adjustments that are required before they can be calculated |
5 |
|
|
Scalability |
Scalability is probably the single most abused OLAP term. This key section untangles what it really means and explains why it is meaningless to say that,"product A scales higher than product B" |
4 |
|
|
How not to buy an OLAP product |
One that the salesmen really don’t want you to read! This penetrating section gives you plenty of examples of the mistakes people make when buying OLAP products and provides solid, practical advice for doing it quicker and more reliably; 7137 words. |
9 |
|
|
Applying the SPM maturity model |
The Strategic Performance Maturity model enables you to identify your current status in relation to performance management and business intelligence systems and then plan your transition to the next stage; 8120 words |
11 |
|
|
Implementing OLAP products |
Practical advice on selecting and implementing OLAP products, including both people and technical considerations |
13 |
|
|
Performance Matters |
Fast query performance is more important than many people think — in fact, it should be one of the most important considerations when choosing and implementing a product. new |
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|
OLAP administration |
Advice on the key tasks of maintaining and administering OLAP applications in order to prolong their lives |
12 |
|
|
Data Delivery Agreement |
A guest chapter which reminds implementers and administrators about what is needed to ensure than OLAP applications are reliably fed with data |
9 |
|
|
OLAP architectures |
Confusion abounds in discussions about OLAP architectures, with terms like ROLAP, MOLAP, HOLAP and even DOLAP proliferating. This section explains the differences |
4 |
|
|
OLAP client/server architectures |
OLAP vendors have used many different client/server architectures, ranging from one tier to five. This section describes the strengths and weaknesses of each |
8 |
|
|
Product variations |
Direct OLAP competitors might seem superficially similar. Nothing could be further from the truth. This section compares numerous features of 11 leading products in the desktop, MDDB, ROLAP and hybrid categories |
8 |
|
|
Storing multidimensional data |
A more detailed explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of the different ways of storing multidimensional data on disk or in RAM. |
12 |
|
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Multidimensional data structures |
There is a lot of confusing terminology used to describe multidimensional structures. This section clarifies our use of terms like hypercubes and multicubes |
2 |
|
|
Multidimensional calculations |
Multidimensional calculations often consist of much more than just aggregation. This section discusses some of the complications |
5 |
|
|
Database explosion |
One of the strange effects of multidimensional data is the alarming way that pre-calculations can grow database sizes. This popular and copiously illustrated section (which may be slow to download) explains the exploding database problem and suggests solutions |
9 |
|
|
OLAP benchmarks |
Provides in-depth analyses of the 16 benchmark tests published by Applix, Arbor/Hyperion, Microsoft and MicroStrategy. Includes the only full listing of APB-1 results available anywhere (including the first Oracle9i run), an explanation of why the APB-1 is deeply flawed and the most complete information available on the T3 project |
42 |
|
|
Multidimensional reporting |
The final value of an OLAP is delivered through multidimensional reports on screen, paper, a Web browser or even a pager. This section tells you what to watch out for amidst all the glitzy demos; 5944 words. |
16 |
|
|
DBMS vendors and OLAP |
In just four years, most of the major database vendors moved from ignoring OLAP to promoting it aggressively, and the market seemed set to be dominated by a new ‘OLAP triad’ -- but it didn’t happen. This section analyses their efforts and the consequences |
7 |
|
|
Company results |
A summary of the latest quarterly results from public OLAP specialist companies, including a chart of long term license fee trends. |
3 |
|
|
Multi-vendor OLAP APIs |
Despite many attempts, no multi-vendor standard OLAP API for servers and clients has yet become established as an ‘industry standard’. This revamped section includes information on the OLAP Council’s failed efforts, as well as the more successful OLE DB for OLAP, XML for Analysis and JOLAP |
14 |
|
|
Case studies |
Case studies of US and European users of a number of different OLAP products, used in a variety of applications. |
100+ |
|
|
Scoring OLAP products |
We evaluate OLAP products on a 24 feature scoring system, awarding them points out of 10 for each applicable measure. This section explains the criteria and helps you use them to choose products that will suit your needs |
4 |
|
|
Product reviews |
The latest updated reviews of OLAP products (some of which were not in the original report). The product names, lengths and dates of reviews currently available are open, but the reviews themselves are only available to subscribers. These ‘no holds barred’ reviews are not sponsored or subsidized by vendors (who do not have to “subscribe” or pay anything to be reviewed), as is very obvious to anyone who reads them. |
1000+ |
|
|
Products not covered |
A number of products are no longer reviewed, mainly through lack of market success. This section identifies them. |
2 |
|
|
Glossary |
The OLAP business has its own jargon, and it is inevitably affected by all the other IT and business jargon that abounds. This section attempts to explain some of the terms in a non-technical way. |
5 |
|
Archive |
Older analyses and commentaries which are no longer updated |
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Hyperion Solutions merger problems |
The Arbor-Hyperion merger was an object lesson in how not-to-merge. In contrast, Oracle’s subsequent acquisition seems to be proceeding much more smoothly |
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 |
OLAP API wars |
There was a period around the turn of the century when Microsoft and a consortium of vendors including Oracle, Hyperion and IBM battled to establish an industry-standard OLAP API. Neither succeeded, but Microsoft won a de facto victory. |
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