Hi
Is it possible to build a cube directly from a Flat file- or does the file
need to be normalised before hand (via intergration services?)

Thanks

Steve

If the data can be consumed by ODBC, OLE DB, etc, it can be a data source
for a cube.

I would however, recommend that you take the time to break out facts and
dimensions (which you could certainly do in the data source view).

How big is said flat file?

_Tim
"Steve" <Steve (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

Thanks Tim

File size is about 200 meg. - so will probably be smart to normalise- I am
new to SQL- and in the past have mainly used Access- to normalise large flat
files. I assume Intergration services is the tool in 2005 that would do
this? Do you know whether there is a specific tool/wizard within IS that does
this?

Thanks in Advance

Steve

"Tim Dot NoSpam" wrote:

Any modeling tool (visio is probably a good start) that can do an ERD would
be the starting point. Define your dimensions and facts, create the model,
then use SSIS (Integration services) to write the ETL to move the data from
the flat file to the dimensional database. You'll then define your cube on
top of the dimensional database.

If you're coming from engineering world, remember one thing that will grate
your nerves; redundancy is your friend.

Kimball Group web site has some good articles on steps you can use to help
determine what your dimensions and facts might be.

-Tim

"Steve" <Steve (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

Cheers

Thanks For the advice- will follow your suggestions



"Tim Dot NoSpam" wrote: