Functions Served by the Data Elements
The data found in the intermediate database serves a variety of functions. Lineage is preserved by including the spreadsheet name and date processed. If necessary, any value that has been processed can be traced back to a specific spreadsheet and a specific date.
The context of the value that has been lifted includes the row identifier and column name. The row identifier and the column name combine together to specifically describe a value in “real world” terms.
And, of course, there is the value itself, as lifted from the spreadsheet.
These elements combine to start the basis for corporate data. Figure 7.1 illustrates the different types of data elements found in the intermediate database.
