Siebel Customer-Centric Enterprise Warehouse Installation and Configuration Guide > Storing, Extracting, and Loading Additional Data >

Overview of Storing, Extracting, and Loading Additional Data

Siebel Customer-Centric Enterprise Warehouse contains an open (source-independent) data model. When you set up your data warehouse, you find that the packaged mappings load most of your source data. However, you may have additional data that does not have a storage place. To accommodate this scenario, Siebel Customer-Centric Enterprise Warehouse has set aside extension columns in most warehouse tables that act as placeholders for additional data.

Extension columns make it possible to extend any fact or dimension table without changing the schematic structure of the Siebel Customer-Centric Enterprise Warehouse data model, or making modifications to the load mapping, because load mappings already include the extension column loading logic. In addition, extension columns have far less impact on the database size than building entirely new tables, which could also have implications when upgrading. Each of the following sections provides you with information on the preferred methods of integrating different types of data without affecting database size or impeding functionality.

TIP:   It is recommended that you use the extension columns, instead of changing the data model structure. Using extension columns, you can use data warehousing practices such as change control, updates, generating surrogate keys, and slowly changing dimensions.