>It is also true that analysts should not be given access to service databases, because the schema and semantics are likely to change out from under them.
Its not perfect but what we do is create a bunch of table views that represent each of the core data types in the system. We can then do all of the complex joins to collect the data analysts want in to an easy to query table as well as trying to keep the views consistent even as the db changes.
Its not perfect but what we do is create a bunch of table views that represent each of the core data types in the system. We can then do all of the complex joins to collect the data analysts want in to an easy to query table as well as trying to keep the views consistent even as the db changes.