Ross Goodman

Dimensional Modelling Maxima Information Group

Oracle Design Tool – SQL Developer Data Modelling

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-11-30
No Comments on Oracle Design Tool – SQL Developer Data Modelling

On my most recent project I am again designing another data warehouse solution.

My tool of choice for data modelling has always been CA’s ERwin DataModeler http://www.ca.com/us/products/product.aspx?ID=260

This is great, but we run into problems when trying to reverse engineer an existing database as this means that either my laptop has to go onto the customers network; that’s never going to happen. or the customer has to buy a copy of ERWin to use on their desktop.
My most recent customer is a dedicated Oracle customer using Database, Data Guard, RAC, Forms, OBIEE, Answers and on and on.

The obvious choice would be Oracle Designer. I have not used this in a few years but the last time it took me two days to get it installed and configured.

A quick search pointed me to an early adopters release of SQL Developer Data Modelling, you can find it here : http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/sql_developer/files/releasenotes525.htm
Here are a few of my thoughts:

Tags Data Modelling, Oracle, SQ Developer

Elaine Technology

The luddite is leaving the building !

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-11-19
No Comments on The luddite is leaving the building !

Despite my working in IT and also “enjoying” technology, our kids being typical kids and having a PC each and an unstoppable curiosity, Elaine has never shared our passion.

Last week Elaine tore the ligaments in her left foot so has not been able to hit the shops at all and has been forced to stay at home with her feet up. Over the space of that week she did her first Asda shop online.

Last night, with no prompting Elaine had the laptop out and was shopping unaided !

The coup de grace was the next question:

How to I get the BBC iPlayer on the Wii to work again !

Tags BBC, Elaine, Foot, Internet, iPlayer, Ligaments, Shopping, Wii

Uncategorized

100 Pushups – 6 Weeks To Christmas !

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-11-14
4 Comments on 100 Pushups – 6 Weeks To Christmas !

It’s funny how your mind works, someone told me today that there were only six weeks until Christmas and my initial thought was of the six week challenge to do 100 consecutive pushups !

I faltered previously at week fix then subsequent events have meant that I have not been in the mindset for restarting this.

Tonight I went back and restarted at week 3, level 2 …… and failed.

Tags PushUps

Elaine Photography

My Latest Toy

I treated myself to a new toy for my camera.

Cactus Wireless Triggers

Tags Cactus, Flash, Photography, Trigger, Wireless

This Site

OpenID

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-10-22
No Comments on OpenID

With the latest release of the WPOpen plugin for WordPress OpenID has “started working again” for me on this site.

I have re-enabled this functionality in case anyone needs it, I know that I prefer to log in this way !

Tags openID

Emma Family MND Motor Neuron Disease

Celebrating the Life of Emma Berry Goodman

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-09-12
8 Comments on Celebrating the Life of Emma Berry Goodman

Celebrating the Life of Emma Berry Goodman

18th April 1991 – 7th September 2008

I’d like to thank EVERYONE for all of their gestures of kindness and support.
It lifted my heart to see everyone at Emma’s service wearing bright colours as was her wish.
Many people have asked for a copy of the tributes that were read during the service so I have posted them here:

Tags Emma Berry Goodman, Emma Goodman, MND

Business Objects Maxima Information Group Work Xcelsius 2008

Crystal Xcelsius – Filtered Rows From A Filter Component

Post author By Ross Goodman
Post date 2008-08-27
4 Comments on Crystal Xcelsius – Filtered Rows From A Filter Component

This is really obvious with hindsight but it took me ages before “the penny dropped”.
Most of the time I find myself using the “Filtered Rows” option on my selectors.
The main selector that I want to use is the “Filter”, but strangely this does not have the option of filtered rows.
What I have resorted to doing in the past is to use multiple selectors:
A date drop down list box filters the rows from “Raw Data” sheet to the “Monthly” sheet.
A product drop down list box filters the rows from the “Monthly” sheet to the “MonthlyProducts” sheet.
A customer drop down list box filters the rows from the “MonthlyProducts” sheet to the “MonthlyProductsCustomers” sheet which now lists all of the sales made for that combination.
The filter component could do that, but this component assumes that there will only be a single row in the output. As soon as you have multiple rows in your result set then you can’t use the filter component.
Ahhh, but you can with a little lateral thinking; that’s what Xcelsius is all about.

Tags BusinessObjects, Crystal, Filter, Rows, Xcelsius

Family

Pedigree Dogs Exposed

I caught the middle of a program last week on BBC1 : Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
This program was highlighting the in-breeding and lack of genetic screening that is in place in the Kennel Club.
I did not get to see the whole program, I am downloading it using the BBC iPlayer to watch it in full.