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C OGNOiSe.com - The IBM C ognos C ommunity IBM C ognos 8 Platform C OGNOS 8 Framework Manager
Relational vs Dimensional Model

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Topic: Relational vs Dimensional Model (Read 10493 times)

Relational vs Dimensional Model

kalyan_y

on: 17 Jul 2009 01:53:23 am

Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 56
Forum C itizenship: +3/-0

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Hi all,
Considering performance issues, which one is better? relational or
dimensional

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Forum C itizenship: +3/-0

In my opinion, if the requirements include drill ups and drill downs then we go
for dimensional modelling. But if there is no need for drill ups and drill downs,
then which of the relational or dimensional is preferred and y?
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Re: Relational vs Dimensional

Model

CognosPaul
Global Moderator
Statesman

Reply #1 on: 19 Jul 2009 02:38:52

am

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 1,384
Forum C itizenship: +217/-1

Generally I find dimensional data sources almost always easier to deal with.
Performance wise dimensional beats relational hands-down when it comes to
aggregating data. The only times I use relational are for finding related items
that are not aggregated, and even then I can sometimes efficient ways of
displaying the data using dimensional.
For example, if I wanted a count of all sales by street in a given city I'd use
dimensional. I could then select a street and drill through to a relational report
showing the all the customer details for that street.
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Re: Relational vs Dimensional

Model

kalyan_y
Senior Member

Reply #2 on: 19 Jul 2009 11:02:07

pm

Join Date: May 2009

Posts: 56
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Thanks Paul...
But how about the query generated when using a relational data source and
dimensional data source.
When relational model is used, in the generated SQL/MDX, there are 2 options
available in the drop down(Native/Cognos SQL) and for dimensional model,
there is only one option Native MDX.

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Which of these SQLs are effecient? How exactly MDX is different from SQL?
How to comprehend it if we may need to write a native SQL against a
dimensional model in a report?
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Re: Relational vs Dimensional

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CognosPaul
Global Moderator
Statesman

Reply #3 on: 20 Jul 2009 11:40:06

am

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 1,384
Forum C itizenship: +217/-1

Hi Kalyan,
The Native and Cognos SQL are generated based on how your model data.
The thing to remember is that they are the same query. The Native SQL is
simply the query that is run against the database. Cognos SQL is the full
query, it contains the native query, and includes any rollups done outside the
database. Think of it as a wrapper around the native SQL.
MDX is an entirely different language, running against an entirely different type
of database. Trying to use a relational approach on a dimensional source may
cause the reports to run significantly slower if at all. I'd strongly recommend
familiarizing yourself with the concept, read through as many resources and
tutorials as possible.

Start with http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/c8bi/v8r4m0/index.jsp?

topic=/com.ibm.swg.im.cognos.ug_cr_rptstd.8.4.0.doc/ug_cr_rptstd_id9956cr_rptstd_dimens
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidimensional_Expressions
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lindero
C ommunity Leader

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Re: Relational vs Dimensional

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Model

C ommunity Leader

Reply #4 on: 21 Jul 2009 07:52:40

am

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posts: 97
Forum C itizenship: +3/-0

Hi Kalyan,
there is an easier way to learn how relational and dimensional data differs to
each other, and therefore what the difference is between SQL and MDX.
Relational data is used for detailed queries, but you are not able to drill down
or up due to the missing information about any hierarchy structure. SQL is
used for query relational datasource like MSSQL Server, DB2, Oracle, etc.
Dimensional data are stored in physical or virtual cubes. You must use MDX as
query language because you don't have tables and columns but dimensions
and objects (members). OLAP data sources have less detailed data than a
relational data source has. There is a sentence: "First analyze, then query"
means you come from the top by using an OLAP cube and when you reached
the most detailed view of the cube, you drill through to a adhoc query to get
the most detailed data within your business data.
The is a thing between relational and dimensional model style: DMR. It is a
compromise because through Framework Manager you are able to model
relational data dimensionally. But be carefull using it. The relational data
volume shouldn't be that large due to a cube creation at report runtime.
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