OLAP and Data Warehousing Virtual Laboratory Workshop (OLAP&DW VLW)

In this laboratory, we will demonstrate the basic utilities of the open-source software PALO in applying OLAP techniques for the purpose of analytically process data under consideration.

You may download the Learner’s Guide View Download

or the Instructor’s Guide View Download

Part A: Tutorial (Theoretical) Introduction

Step-A1: Virtual workshop participants should be aware of the reading material, which is available in the relevant bibliography View Download

Step-A2: Tutorial lecture slides View Download, by G. Evangelidis and L. Karamitopoulos

Step-A3: Try OLAP, a web-based tutorial that is maintained by Bernard Lupin

Part B: Hands-On Laboratory, PALO® for Excel

There are two hands-on laboratory exercises, which demonstrate the basic utilities of PALO for Excel, and one exercise that tests the corresponding learning outcomes.

Step-B1: Obtain the required software for this laboratory, which is (a) Microsoft Office and (b) PALO for Excel / Windows (Open Source – Archive Download). PALO software can be downloaded from the official site of Jedox-Palo: http://www.jedox.com/en/downloads/current/download.html. You may need to register; if you do so, you will have access to the provided demos. The corresponding manuals (2) can be downloaded from the same site through “Services – PALO Manuals” (First steps with Palo for Excel – Manual” and “Installation / Setup Guide – Manual”). Note that PALO offers the corresponding software for Linux, as well.

Step-B2: Install the Palo for Excel software. The Palo Excel client setup includes the needed software .NET Framework v2.0 and SP3 for Excel 2003, and you can optionally choose these installation steps. Although this installation is straightforward, you may also check the corresponding installation guide from the previous step (“Installation / Setup Guide – Manual”).

Step-B3: Study Hands-on laboratory exercise 1 View Download that relates to SalesExample dataset.

Step-B4: StudyHands-on laboratory exercise 2 View Download that relates to ServerAccessLog dataset.

Step-B5: Work onLaboratory Test Exercise View Download and submit the Laboratory Report: Part B.

Part C: Hands-On Laboratory, PALO® Suite

There are two hands-on laboratory exercises, which demonstrate the basic utilities of PALO Suite, and one exercise that tests the corresponding learning outcomes.

Step-C1: Obtain the required software for this laboratory, which is (a) PALO Suite Ramp Up / Windows (Open Source – Archive Download) and (b) a Firefox version of 3.0 or later (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html). PALO software can be downloaded from the official site of Jedox-Palo: http://www.jedox.com/en/downloads/current/download.html. You may need to register; if you do so, you will have access to the provided demos. The corresponding manuals (2) can be downloaded from the same site through “Services – PALO Manuals” (First steps with Palo Web – Manual” and “Installation / Setup Guide – Manual”). Note that PALO offers the corresponding software for Linux, as well.

Step-C2: Install the PALO Suite Ramp Up software. Although this installation is straightforward, you may also check the corresponding installation guide from the previous step (“Installation / Setup Guide – Manual”).

Step-C3: StudyHands-on laboratory exercise 1 View Download that relates to SalesExample dataset.

Step-C4: Study Hands-on laboratory exercise 2 View Download that relates to ServerAccessLog dataset.

Step-C5: Work on Laboratory Test Exercise View Download and submit the Labratory report: Part C.

Part D: Post-teaching material

You can train yourself with the self-assessment Multiple-Choice Test on OLAP/DW

* The DBTech EXT project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author(s), and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein