A short primer on dimensional modeling
The foundational architecture for successfully building multidimensional models in SQL Server is the dimensional model or star schema. As Microsoft continued to improve Analysis Services, one of the key elements was embracing dimensional model design as a key element to building cubes. The marriage between dimensional modeling and Analysis Services eventually resulted in a book by the Kimball Group, which combined their concepts with the Analysis Services implementation – The Microsoft Data Warehouse Toolkit. In this section, we will introduce you to the basics of dimensional model design.
Understanding the origin of dimensional modeling
Ralph Kimball is considered the father of the dimensional model. He founded the Kimball Group in the 1980s and coauthored all the books in the Toolkit series. The Kimball Group authored multiple books, conducted thousands of training sessions, and supported the growth of dimensional modeling until...