Date archive for March, 2009
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MS Access query example and comparision to Datamartist
Microsoft Access allows users to create complex queries and analyze large data sets. However, it can be complicated to use compared to Excel. In this post, I’ll talk about ms access queries and the equivalent way to perform the same data transformation in the Datamartist tool– visually and simply. Microsoft Access has a clear role […]
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Self Serve Business Intelligence
Self serve business intelligence dreams of letting everyone whip up any report or analysis they want. The reality is that its often not the report that’s the problem- it the underlying data and model. So the idea of self serve business intelligence is a wonderful idea- the problem is that its not all about pretty […]
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Being led astray by numbers
Hindsight is oh so clear, but the recent (ongoing?) meltdown of the credit market still amazes me. There is a good article in Wired this month, talking about some of the math that led everyone astray. In the end, there is a lesson for data analysts in all this too; Do not believe the numbers […]
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MS Access vs Excel vs Datamartist
When data analysis requirements really get tough, the tough get going- and start to seriously use databases. Let’s face it, if you’re considering Microsoft Access chances are what you need to get done is beyond what Excel does well, so you’re looking for options. Its also likely that your IT department is unable or un-willing […]
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Excel auto formating is getting into your genes
We often give Excel our data, and trust it to do the right thing. There was a link posted on meta-filter today that sparked some lively discussion amongst the crowd. The Excel auto formating “feature” loves to scramble common genetic nomenclature. It turns out that in the genetics field, common codes get converted to incorrect […]
