Browse Library
Sign In Start Free Trial
Close icon Search icon
Account
Browse Library Advanced Search Sign In Start Free Trial

Add to playlist

Create a Playlist

Modal Close icon
You need to login to use this feature.
  • Book Overview & Buying Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data
  • Table Of Contents Toc
  • Feedback & Rating feedback
Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data

Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data

By : Bill Inmon
Buy this Book
close
close
Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data

Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data

By: Bill Inmon
Buy this Book

Overview of this book

Spreadsheets are a popular way to store and communicate business data, but, although they are easy to create and update, they are not reliable enough to be used for making important corporate decisions. With this book, you can gain insight into how to maintain spreadsheets, how to format them, and then convert them into a database of reliable and useful information. Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data starts with a quick history of spreadsheet usage. You’ll learn the basics of formatting spreadsheets, including how to handle special characters and column headings, and how to convert the spreadsheet first into an intermediate database and then into corporate data. You will also learn how to utilize the mnemonic dictionary that is created along with the intermediate database. The later chapters discuss the immutability of data and the importance of organizational and political considerations during the data transformation. By the end of this book, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to convert your spreadsheets into reliable corporate data.
Table of Contents (16 chapters)
close
close
close
Lock Free Chapter
1
Introduction
Icon
Introduction
2
1: Brief History of Spreadsheets
chevron up
Icon
1: Brief History of Spreadsheets
Icon
The IT Labyrinth
Icon
End User Acceptance of the Spreadsheet
Icon
Spreadsheet Hell
Icon
A Tradeoff
Icon
Responsibility—The Flip Side of Control
Icon
Management’s Problem
Icon
Differences Between Two Types of Data
Icon
In Summary
3
2: Spreadsheet Paradox
Icon
2: Spreadsheet Paradox
Icon
Public Data
Icon
The Spreadsheet as a Medium of Exchange
Icon
Recurring/Non-Recurring Spreadsheets
Icon
The Spectrum of Spreadsheets
Icon
The Cost of Transforming a Spreadsheet
Icon
Factors Other than Cost
Icon
Transcription of Data
Icon
Cell Formula
Icon
Spreadsheet Descriptors
Icon
Artificially Supplying Descriptors
Icon
In Summary
4
3: Spreadsheet Varieties
Icon
3: Spreadsheet Varieties
Icon
Simple Demarcation—xlstab
Icon
Other Special Characters—eold and Linefeed
Icon
The Internal View of a Spreadsheet
Icon
A Missing Column Heading
Icon
A Missing Value
Icon
A Multiline Row
Icon
The “Standard” Spreadsheet Format
Icon
Managing the User of the Spreadsheet
Icon
The ssdef Table
Icon
The Spreadsheet Processing Log
Icon
The Lineage of Spreadsheet Data
Icon
The Cell Formula
Icon
Relating to the Real World
Icon
Identifying the Header Line
Icon
In Summary
5
4: The PDF Spreadsheet
Icon
4: The PDF Spreadsheet
Icon
The Importance of Special Characters
Icon
PDF and OCR
Icon
A Final Option
Icon
In Summary
6
5: The Basics of Spreadsheet Formatting
Icon
5: The Basics of Spreadsheet Formatting
Icon
The System Name
Icon
Unreliability of Report Name
Icon
Multiple Sheets in a Spreadsheet
Icon
Other Special Characters
Icon
Identifying Column Headings
Icon
Similar Column Headings
Icon
Blocking Off Sections of a Spreadsheet
Icon
Non-Standard Spreadsheet Structures
Icon
A Spreadsheet that Cannot be Mapped
Icon
A Spreadsheet in a TXT Format
Icon
In Summary
7
6: Spreadsheet Disambiguation
Icon
6: Spreadsheet Disambiguation
Icon
Selecting Spreadsheets for Inclusion into Corporate Data
Icon
Recasting the Spreadsheet
Icon
Logging the Spreadsheet for Transformation
Icon
Entry into the Path Queue
Icon
Defining the Spreadsheet Headings
Icon
Pairing the ssdef Specification to the Spreadsheet
Icon
Finding and Creating Database Definitions and Values
Icon
The Intermediate Database
Icon
Some Anomalies
Icon
What if an Error is Discovered?
Icon
Manual Effort Required
Icon
Spreadsheet Width
Icon
Subdividing a Spreadsheet
Icon
No Value for a Column Name
Icon
No Column Headings
Icon
Creating the ssdef Specification Once
Icon
In Summary
8
7: The Intermediate Database
Icon
7: The Intermediate Database
Icon
Finding Errors
Icon
The Contents of the Intermediate Database
Icon
Functions Served by the Data Elements
Icon
Alternate Name
Icon
Adding Context to Data Values
Icon
Editing Data in the Intermediate Database
Icon
In Summary
9
8: The ssdef Database
Icon
8: The ssdef Database
Icon
Organizing Data Inside the ssdef Table
Icon
Processing Using ssdef Records
Icon
Searching the Full Path Queue
Icon
In Summary
10
9: The Corporate Database
Icon
9: The Corporate Database
Icon
From Intermediate Data to Corporate Data
Icon
Grouped Corporate Data
Icon
Tracing the Lineage
Icon
In Summary
11
10: The Mnemonic Dictionary
Icon
10: The Mnemonic Dictionary
Icon
The Contents of the Mnemonic Dictionary
Icon
Grouping Like Data Elements
Icon
Applying Naming Conventions
Icon
Value of the Mnemonic Dictionary
Icon
In Summary
12
11: Political Considerations Within the Organization
Icon
11: Political Considerations Within the Organization
Icon
Shifting Control
Icon
Immutability of Data
Icon
The Importance of Alternate Names
Icon
Limited Editing
Icon
Super Classifications of Data
Icon
The Lineage of Corporate Data
Icon
Relative Volumes of Data
Icon
In Summary
13
12: Data Modeling and the Spreadsheet Environment
Icon
12: Data Modeling and the Spreadsheet Environment
Icon
The Entity Relationship Diagram
Icon
The Data Item Set
Icon
The Physical Model
Icon
The Data Model
Icon
The Data Model and Spreadsheet Data
Icon
“Correctness” of Data
Icon
Aligning Data from Different Spreadsheets
Icon
An Algorithmic Resolution
Icon
An Indexed Resolution
Icon
Resolution and the Data Model
Icon
Spreadsheet Data in the Data Warehouse
Icon
Changing Spreadsheet Data
Icon
In Summary
14
13: Case Study
Icon
13: Case Study
15
Glossary
Icon
Glossary
16
Index
Icon
Index

End User Acceptance of the Spreadsheet

There were many reasons why the spreadsheet grew in popularity. But at the heart of every reason was the fact that with the spreadsheet, the end user was in control of his or her own destiny. The spreadsheet was the tool that allowed the end user to get out from under the control of the IT organization. And getting out of the control of the IT department meant that things could finally get done. The complicated and involved user requirements that for years had been neglected by the IT department were at last rendered unnecessary.

Furthermore, not only did the end user suddenly have control of data and processing, but with the spreadsheet, data became malleable. New data elements could be added. Data values could be changed. Calculations could be corrected. And all of this flexibility was available with no involvement from the IT department.

Another important factor in the rising popularity of the spreadsheet was transferability. Spreadsheets...

Visually different images
CONTINUE READING
83
Tech Concepts
36
Programming languages
73
Tech Tools
Icon Unlimited access to the largest independent learning library in tech of over 8,000 expert-authored tech books and videos.
Icon Innovative learning tools, including AI book assistants, code context explainers, and text-to-speech.
Icon 50+ new titles added per month and exclusive early access to books as they are being written.
Turning Spreadsheets into Corporate Data
End of Section 2
Next Section
notes
bookmark Notes and Bookmarks search Search in title playlist Add to playlist font-size Font size

Change the font size

margin-width Margin width

Change margin width

day-mode Day/Sepia/Night Modes

Change background colour

Close icon Search
Country selected
Close icon Your notes and bookmarks

Confirmation

Modal Close icon
claim successful
Order Page Read Now

Buy this book with your credits?

Modal Close icon
Are you sure you want to buy this book with one of your credits?
Close
YES, BUY

Submit Your Feedback

Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon
Modal Close icon