Where to Start ... Book(s) Inquiry

[JayKusch]

Afternoon Folk ...

Have a few books that i am interested in reading about Data Warehousing. They are (1)The Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit by Kimball/Reeves/Ross&Thornthwaite (2) The Data Warehouse Toolkit 2nd Ed. by Kimball as well as (3) The Data Warehouse Toolkit 1st Ed. by Kimball

I am sure i can bypass (3), since (2) surely addresses/updates the first edition. But does (1) pretty much cover what (2) covers???

Thanks Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[mossback]

The Data Warehouse Toolkit (mine was written in 1996) has a lot more detail on dimensions and fact tables than the Data Warehouse Lifecycle Toolkit. To me, the DWT was very helpful in building the dimensional model (closer to the tables and indexes), while the DWLT served as the model for running the whole project. Read both, starting with DWT. You should also consider reading some of W.H.Inmon's works, like the Corporate Information Factory, to get a rounded view of the two opposing schools of thought on DW. Hope this helps.

mossback

 

[JayKusch]

Thanks for the info and the alternate source(book). I went straight to Mr. Kimball for the answer to my questions. here is his reply :


HI Jay,

Thanks for your interest in the books!

For the best coverage, I would start with the Lifecycle Toolkit (Kimball, Ross, Reeves, Thornthwaite). That book gives the most complete coverage of the overall data warehouse task, and it provides a healthy introduction to dimensional modeling.

Then the next most useful is the Data Warehouse Toolkit, Second Edition. It covers dimensional modeling from a freshman to PhD perspective.

These two books taken together supercede the original Toolkit. Although amazingly Amazon is still carrying it and it is selling about 500 copies a month.

Thanks again,

Ralph
-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Kusch [mailto:jay.kusch@mm-games.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 1:27 PM
To: ralph@ralphkimball.com
Subject: Afternoon Sir ..


Thanks

J. Kusch

 

[mossback]

Who am I to conradict the master? ; )

mossback

 

[JayKusch]

Nice to know he is a reachable source ... and once again, thanks for your input!!! Thanks

J. Kusch