OLAP enables users to access information from multidimensional data warehouses almost instantly, to view information in any way they like, and to cleanly specify and carry out sophisticated calculations. Although many commercial OLAP tools and products are now available, OLAP is still a difficult and complex technology to master. Substantially updated with expanded coverage of implementation methods for data storage, access, and calculation; also, new chapters added to combine OLAP with data warehouse, mining, and decision support tools Teaches the best practices for building OLAP models that improve business and organizational decision–making, completely independent of commercial tools, using revised case studies Companion Web site provides updates on OLAP standards and tools, code examples, and links to valuable resources