Integrating XML data in the TARGIT OLAP system

We present work on logical integration of OLAP and XML data sources, carried out in cooperation between TARGIT, a Danish OLAP client vendor, and Aalborg University. A prototype has been developed that allows XML data on the WWW to be used as dimensions and measures in the OLAP system in the same way as ordinary dimensions and measures, providing a powerful and flexible way to handle unexpected or short-term data requirements as well as rapidly changing data. Compared to earlier work, we present several major extensions that resulted from TARGIT's requirements. These include the ability to use XML data as measures, as well as a novel multigranular data model and query language that formalizes and extends the TARGIT data model and query language.