The Oracle Database OLAP Option implements On-line Analytical Processing

OLAP

In computing, online analytical processing, or OLAP , is an approach to swiftly answer multi-dimensional analytical queries. OLAP is part of the broader category of business intelligence, which also encompasses relational reporting and data mining...

 (OLAP) within an Oracle database

Oracle database

The Oracle Database is an object-relational database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation....

 environment. Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...

 markets the Oracle Database OLAP Option as an extra-cost option to supplement the "Enterprise Edition" of its database. Oracle offers Essbase

Essbase

Essbase is a multidimensional database management system that provides a multidimensional database platform upon which to build analytic applications. Essbase, whose name derives from "Extended Spread Sheet dataBASE", began as a product of Arbor Software, which merged with Hyperion Software in 1998...

 for customers without the Oracle Database or who require multiple data sources to load their cubes.

As of Oracle Database 11g, the Oracle database optimizer can transparently redirect SQL queries to levels within the OLAP Option cubes. The cubes are managed and can take the place of multi-dimensional materialized views simplifying Oracle data warehouse management and improving speed of query response.

Logical components

Oracle Database OLAP Option offers:

• an OLAP analytic engine
  Software engine
  In computer science, a software engine refers to the core of a computer program. Software engines drive the functionality of the program, and are distinct from peripheral aspects of the program, such as look and feel.- Elucidation :...
  
  
• workspace
  Workspace
  Workspace is a term used in various branches of engineering and economic development.-Business development:Workspace refers to small premises provided, often by local authorities or economic development agencies, to help new businesses to establish themselves...
  
  s
• an analytic workspace manager (AWM)
• a worksheet
  Worksheet
  A worksheet is a sheet of paper, or on a computer, on which problems are worked out or solved and answers recorded.-Education:Students in a school may have 'fill-in-the-blank' sheets of questions, diagrams, or maps to help them with their exercises...
  
   environment
• OLAP DML for DDL
  Data Definition Language
  A data definition language or data description language is a syntax similar to a computer programming language for defining data structures, especially database schemas.-History:...
  
   and DML
  Data Manipulation Language
  A data manipulation language is a family of syntax elements similar to a computer programming language used for inserting, deleting and updating data in a database...
  
  
• an interface from SQL
  SQL
  SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
  
  
• an analytic workspace Java
  Java (programming language)
  Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
  
    API
  Application programming interface
  An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
  
  
• a Java-based OLAP API

Physical implementation

The Oracle database tablespace CWMLITE stores OLAPSYS schema

Logical schema

A Logical Schema is a data model of a specific problem domain expressed in terms of a particular data management technology. Without being specific to a particular database management product, it is in terms of either relational tables and columns, object-oriented classes, or XML tags...

  object

Object (computer science)

In computer science, an object is any entity that can be manipulated by the commands of a programming language, such as a value, variable, function, or data structure...

s and integrates Oracle Database OLAP Option with the Oracle Warehouse Builder

Oracle Warehouse Builder

Oracle Warehouse Builder is an ETL tool produced by Oracle that offers a graphical environment to build, manage and maintain data integration processes in business intelligence systems.- Features :...

 (OWB).
The CWMLITE name reflects the use of CWM — the Common Warehouse Metamodel

Common Warehouse Metamodel

The Common Warehouse Metamodel defines a specification for modeling metadata for relational, non-relational, multi-dimensional, and most other objects found in a data warehousing environment...

, which Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...

refers to as "Common Warehouse Metadata".

External links

• Oracle Technology Network on Oracle OLAP, retrieved 2006-11-30