INTRODUCTION TO THE PENN STATE DATA WAREHOUSE

INTRODUCTION TO THE PENN STATE DATA WAREHOUSE

Where Have We Been? • Transactions processed on the mainframe -- ISIS, IBIS, ADIS • Many years of historical data, millions of mainframe records • Accessing mainframe data requires knowledge and skills in Natural programming language

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files Completeform. Specify purpose of request, what data is required. Signed by Access and Security Representative (ASR). Must be approved by all data stewards (may be several).

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program Natural is a complex language, requires programming skills and extensive training. File structures are complex.

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program • Write the JCL Use Roscoe system to write Job Control Language.

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program • Write the JCL • Submit the job Goes into a queue with other similar jobs: first in, first out.

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program • Write the JCL • Submit the job • Wait at least overnight Jobs in queue run only at night. Queues can be quite long. Some jobs will wait several days in the queue until they reach the top.

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program • Write the JCL • Submit the job • Wait at least overnight • Job failed? Repeat steps Check the status. If anything failed, fix problems and repeat the steps.

Steps Required to get Data from the Mainframe • Security forms to get access to files • Write a Natural program • Write the JCL • Submit the job • Wait at least overnight • Job failed? Repeat steps • Days or weeks to complete Experienced Natural programmer writing a simple job will take several days of coding, testing, running. Anything complicated can take longer.

Solution to a problem -- AIDA • Administrative Information Decision Aid (AIDA) • Available for ISIS (registration, admissions, enrollment) and IBIS (human resources) data • Run on the mainframe against extract (i.e. not “live” data) files • Create reports or data files for downloading

Solution to a problem -- AIDA • AIDA’s were developed to fulfill ad-hoc reporting needs ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES: No programming required Inflexible Easy to use Outdated technology Available to everyone, Long development time even from terminals for a new AIDA Eliminated a lot of ad-hoc Difficult to change or to programming add new features

What is a Data Warehouse? • The consolidation of data from mainframe legacy systems into subject-oriented tables that are accessible through desktop tools

What is a Data Warehouse? • Move the data from the mainframe to a server where it can be accessed from the user’s PC • Snapshot data, NOT live • Use for data analysis, NOT operational Data extracted periodically. Changes on the mainframe may not be reflected on the warehouse for a week or more. Transcripts are on the warehouse, but official transcripts are only available through ISIS.

AIS Three-Tier Data Structure Enterprise Information System extracts data from the warehouse and summarizes it EIS summary data On-line transactions update the mainframe systems immediately Data Warehouse extracts detail data from the mainframe on a periodic schedule Data Warehouse detail data extracted periodically ISIS, IBIS, ADIS detail transactions processed immediately

Data Transformation Data goes through a series of steps as it is moved to the warehouse: • Extract programs Write Natural programs to extract data from the mainframe data base

Data Transformation Data goes through a series of steps as it is moved to the warehouse: • Extract programs • Verify data Verify accuracy and consistency of data -- ensure “data legibility”

Data Transformation Data goes through a series of steps as it is moved to the warehouse: • Extract programs • Verify data • Create tables Create “normalized” tables on the warehouse -- eliminate data redundancy (i.e. address appears in one place only)

Data Transformation Data goes through a series of steps as it is moved to the warehouse: • Extract programs • Verify data • Create tables • Load tables Load warehouse tables with extracted data

Data Transformation Data goes through a series of steps as it is moved to the warehouse: • Extract programs • Verify data • Create tables • Load tables • Refresh data Establish a schedule to refresh the data. Frequency depends on volatility of the data. Some refreshed weekly, some once per semester

How is the Warehouse Accessed? Query Tool to retrieve data Tools are off-the-shelf software that run on the desktop. Users can purchase whatever package they want based on platform, price, preference. End Users Data Warehouse

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data Programming ability not required. Tools have Graphical User Interface -- point and click.

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data • Quick results Results are returned quickly, often within minutes.

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data • Quick results • Interactive approach to creating reports Query criteria can be easily and quickly adjusted to modify results or obtain additional data

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data • Quick results • Interactive approach to creating reports • Data available on the user’s desktop Results returned directly to desktop

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data • Quick results • Interactive approach to creating reports • Data available on the user’s desktop • Manipulation of data for customized report layout Data can be exported to other desktop software for formatting and analysis

Features of Query Tools • Easy access to data • Quick results • Interactive approach to creating reports • Data available on the user’s desktop • Manipulation of data for customized report layout • Unlimited retrieval of data Amount of data retrieved limited only by query tool and size of PC hard drive

Query Tool Requirements To access Penn State’s data warehouse, you can purchase any query tool that satisfies the following two criteria: • Uses Structured Query Language (SQL) • Supports Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC)

Readily Available Query Tools • Microsoft Access • Microsoft Excel • Microsoft Query If you have Microsoft Office, you already have three query tools on your desktop that will work with Penn State’s data warehouse.

Who Can Access the Warehouse? • Users in departments, colleges, campuses Hundreds of Penn State data warehouse users in departments, colleges, campuses.

Who Can Access the Warehouse? • Users in departments, colleges, campuses • Two requirements for warehouse users: • Understand the data This understanding is critical and not simple to acquire. If you’ve used AIDA or the mainframe systems, you already have some of this knowledge. Takes time and training.

Who Can Access the Warehouse? • Users in departments, colleges, campuses • Two requirements for warehouse users: • Understand the data • Familiar with query tools Hands-on training available

How to Get Connected • A PC or Macintosh connected to the Penn State Backbone with TCP/IP communications software • SQL Client License or MS BackOffice license (Purchased from the Microcomputer Order Center) • For Windows, SQL Client Tools (provided by the MOC when the SQL Client License is purchased) must be installed on the PC. Not required for Macintosh. • Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) compliant query tool

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user Request access for each database separately. Requests submitted via e-mail. Instructions on the web site.

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user • Set up your workstation Purchase client license. Install client tools for Windows. Instructions on the web site.

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user • Set up your workstation • Select a query tool ODBC-compliant. Install on your PC.

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user • Set up your workstation • Select a query tool • Get training Training offered through HRDC and TLT: hands-on and web-based

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user • Set up your workstation • Select a query tool • Get training • Learn the data Work with it; documentation on the web site; help available from steward offices.

First Steps for New Users • Be authorized as a warehouse user • Set up your workstation • Select a query tool • Get training • Learn the data • Get help User groups, listservs, web site

More Detailed Information ... on our Web Site http://ais.its.psu.edu/dataware/ Web site contains data documentation, instructions for setting up your PC to access the warehouse, sample queries, schedules for training and user group meetings.

Benefits of the Warehouse • Improves access to administrative information for faculty and staff Can get data quickly and easily to do analysis. We can work with better information, make decisions based on data.

Benefits of the Warehouse • Improves access to administrative information for faculty and staff • Reduces cost Mainframe can be used for transaction processing. Programmers can use skills to enhance the mainframe systems instead of writing ad-hoc reports.

Benefits of the Warehouse • Improves access to administrative information for faculty and staff • Reduces cost • Timely retrieval of data Can retrieve data in minutes rather than days.

Benefits of the Warehouse • Improves access to administrative information for faculty and staff • Reduces cost • Timely retrieval of data • Flexibility Data can be retrieved with limitless combinations of criteria and can be exported into other desktop tools for analysis and manipulation.

What Does the Future Hold? • More data will be added to the warehouse • Mainframe will primarily be used for transaction processing

INTRODUCTION TO THE PENN STATE DATA WAREHOUSE