DW Modeling

Super-sub types clarify business classifications at the logical model level. When converting to a physical model, three options emerge — and in a DW, that choice reshapes the entire dimension design.

Same Crow’s Foot, different meaning. A single dashed line means different things in different tools. If you want models to serve as a shared language on your project, start by aligning on notation.

Even when the ERDs look similar, the design philosophies are completely different. OLTP is about transactional integrity; DW is about analytical access paths. That difference creates unfamiliar things like Unknown records and point-in-time data.

How DW modeling considerations have shifted with Synapse, BigQuery, and Redshift. Kimball, Data Vault, One Big Table — practical criteria for choosing the right approach.