the heart of data modeling: the best data modeler is a lazy data modeler

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015

www.dataversity.netwww.datamodel.com 1

Karen Lopez @datachick #HeartData

Heart of Data ModelingThe Best Data Modeler is a Lazy Data Modeler

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Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Karen López

Karen has 20+ years of data and information architecture experience on large, multi-project programs.

She is a frequent speaker on data modeling, data-driven methodologies and pattern data models.

She wants you to love your data…

She is very, very lazy

How Lazy Are You?...so let’s get to know you….

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Attendees, be part of the webinar

Use Q&A for formal questions

Use chat to discuss with each

other

Plan for Today

Why topic?Why topic?

What? Lazy? What the Heck?What? Lazy? What the Heck?

Some Demos, Screenshots & What NotSome Demos, Screenshots & What Not

10 Tips for Being More Lazy10 Tips for Being More Lazy

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


On being lazyWhy this Topic?Why NOT this Topic?

The best data

modeler is a lazy

data modeler.

http://www.datamodel.com/index.php/2011/02/08/the-best-data-modeler-is-a-lazy-data-modeler-tsql2sday-post/

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


But it’s not about free time

•Forensics

•Serving our “customers”

•Better quality data models

•Better databases

•Providing better support to teams

•Making models more accessible

•Removing obstacles to data model use

•Doing mindful tasks and activities

It’s about better modeling time…more time for

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Lazy Data Modeler = Better Data Modeler

Still work hard On more

important tasks

Why data modelers don’t want to automate

There’s a learning curve

No one shares their scripts

“I’m not a programmer”

They don’t know they

can

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


They don’t know they can

Have never clicked on

that feature

Were perplexed when they

did

No idea what to do when

they click

Tried it once, broke their model and never want

to come back

Tried to do it, it was a huge timesuck, so they gave up

There’s a learning curve..

Why, yes, there is…

Start with samples and shared scripts

Do a “Hello World!”

Spend 20 minutes a day or week learning a bit more

Or spend 20 minutes day or week making a business case for developer support

Get some training

Join an online community/forum

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Community.embarcadero.com

ERwin.com

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


scn.sap.com/community/powerdesigner

sybase.public.powerdesigner.general

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Question BreakIF Question(You) THEN Answers(Datachick)END IF

“I’m not a programmer”

Great! Not a problem!Some tools…

require real application

development skills.

require scripting level

skills

will record your

keystrokes and generate a

script – Excel, for instance.

come with sample

macros/scripts

provide places for

organization share their macros and

scripts

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


No one shares their scripts

History of non-sharing

Online Communities

Github, etc.

It’s time to join this century.

Yes, there are legal issues. But these macros aren’t

any more sensitive / proprietary than other scripts

that are shared widely.

Kinds of Lazy

Internal Model CRUD

Naming

Creating columns

Applying Indexes, Constraints

…more

External productivity

Printing

Generating Reports

Generating Images

Making Backups

Managing files, templates, config files, etc.

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Automated Naming standards

Let the computer apply your crazy meta data stuffing schemeshttp://www.datamodel.com/index.php/2012/10/10/metadata-stuffing-why-i-hate-tbl_-for-table-names/

Deal with physical constraints of your DBMS

Case, spaces, special characters, length, etc.

All the tools have something that does this, and they are similar.

But sometimes the naming utilities aren’t enough (more later)

Let’s look at some tools…

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


CA ERwin Data Modeler

Full blown API

Active Scripting

Visual Basic for Applications

Object oriented application features and requirements

Documented online ERwin API Reference Guide support.ca.com

Erwin-knowledgebase.com

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Automated Naming standards

Let the computer apply your crazy meta data stuffing schemeshttp://www.datamodel.com/index.php/2012/10/10/metadata-stuffing-why-i-hate-tbl_-for-table-names/

Deal with physical constraints of your DBMS

Case, spaces, special characters, length, etc.

All the tools have something that does this, and they are similar.

But sometimes the naming utilities aren’t enough (more later)

SAP PowerDesigner

Java, VBScript, C, other languages

Executed inside the tool

Text files that can be edited outside the tool

Documentation on the web infocenter.Sybase.com

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


SAP PowerDesigner

Embarcadero ER/Studio

SAXBasic macro language

Similar to VBScript

Executed inside the tool

Text files that can be edited outside the tool

Documentation inside ER/Studio

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Question BreakIF Question(You) THEN Answers(Datachick)END IF

So why Lazy? Mindless tasks take up a lot of time

You were hired for your brain, not your good looks

More time for modeling, not printing, reporting, etc.

More time to help devs & DBAs

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


PowerShell is your Lazy Enabler

• Windows Feature

• Automates EVERYTHING

• Creating VMs and configuring them

• Running your data modeling tool macros while you are sleeping

• Backing up files, databases, etc.

• Just about anything in Windows and Azure and….

Karen’s Rules for Being Lazy

Don’t spend time doing things that a computer is faster and better at

Automation is your friend

Don’t try to automate everything at once

Don’t try to rebuild an entire data modeling tool in a script

Focus mindful things, not mindless ones

If you’ve automated it, you must ask vendors to make it a feature in their tool

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


So let’s summarize:

• Automating boring tasks makes you happier.

• Happier Data Architects are better Data Architects

• Automated recurring, boring tasks make bosseshappier

• Automating tasks makes for more accurate work

• Saving time for you and your team members makes everyone happier.

10 Tips for Being a Lazy Data Modeler

1. Learn automation features in your tools

2. Use automation features in your tools

3. Learn PowerShell

4. Never run a script on your production models without testing and understanding it completely

5. Ask for developer support

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


10 Tips for Data Modelers

6. Examine your activities. Question all of them.

7. Find mindless tasks that are your TOP candidates for automation

8. Free up junk modeling time to allow you to do mindful work

9. Think in terms of iterative, incremental improvement, not big bang automate the whole world first

10.Be lazy. All the time. Every day. Get more lazy.

More Resources

The Best DBA is a Lazy DBA: Guide to the Minimalist DBA(with Thomas LaRock)

http://fundamentals.sqlpass.org/MeetingDetails.aspx?EventID=853

PowerShell

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/powershell.aspx

Github

https://github.com/

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Call to Action!

1. Find 3 activities you do now that are mindless junk modeling

2. Search for scripts/macros that automate them

• Web Search

• Ask on forums

• Find a similar one

3. Make it your own

4. Use it

Embarcadero T-shirt Draw

Karen Lopez

@DATACHICKMay 2015


Thank you, you were great. Let’s do this next month!

Karen Lopez @datachick

#heartdata

the heart of data modeling: the best data modeler is a lazy data modeler

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