Joe Celko's Analytics and OLAP in SQL is the first book that teaches what SQL programmers need in order to successfully make the transition from On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems into the world of On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP). This book is not an in-depth look at particular subjects, but an overview of many subjects that will give the working RDBMS programmers a map of the terra incognita they will face -- if they want to grow.

It contains expert advice from a noted SQL authority and award-winning columnist, who has given ten years of service to the ANSI SQL standards committee and many more years of dependable help to readers of online forums. It offers real-world insights and lots of practical examples. It covers the OLAP extensions in SQL-99; ETL tools, OLAP features supported in DBMSs, other query tools, simple reports, and statistical software.

This book is ideal for experienced SQL programmers who have worked with OLTP systems who need to learn techniques--and even some tricks--that they can use in an OLAP situation.