What is a relational data source?

A relational data source is a database in which information is stored in a number of database tables. Each database table comprises a number of columns, and one or more rows. The different tables in a database can be related. Having data in separate but related tables is an efficient way to store and retrieve information.

Figure 2-2 Three related database tables

Description of the illustration tables.gif

The example above shows three database tables:

• the STORE table contains three columns:

  • Store_key

  • City

  • Region

• the PRODUCT table contains three columns:

  • Product key

  • Description

  • Brand

• the SALES_FACT table contains five columns:

  • Store_key

  • Product_key

  • Sales

  • Cost

  • Profit

Relational databases are a widely used data source. However, relational databases can become complicated when they contain hundreds of related tables, with thousands of columns, and millions of rows. Finding information in such a database can be a real challenge.

The Discoverer manager uses the Discoverer End User Layer to hide the complexity of the database from you. By defining business areas, folders, and items, the Discoverer manager enables you to use Discoverer Plus Relational to find just the data you want to analyze.