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In our data-driven world, maintaining the integrity and reliability of data becomes a critical part. Enter SQL Server Data Quality Services (DQS); an innovative feature of Microsoft SQL Server that provides a means to improve the quality of your data. DQS is a knowledge-driven solution that provides both computer-assisted and interactive ways to manage the integrity and quality of your data sources.
What is DQS?
DQS is a tool used for data cleansing, matching, and profiling. It uses a knowledge base to correct, standardize, and enrich data. The knowledge base is built from your data and can be improved over time through computer-learning.
How to Use DQS?
In order to use DQS, you first need to create a knowledge base, followed by performing data cleansing or matching.
Creating a Knowledge Base
The first step in using DQS is to create a Knowledge Base (KB). This essentially involves defining the rules and processes to clean, match, standardize and enrich the data.
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--This example script creates a new empty knowledge base 'MyKB' EXECUTE [DQS_MAIN].[DBO].[DQS_CREATE_KNOWLEDGE_BASE] 'MyKB' |
Data Cleansing
After the KB is set up, you can perform a data cleansing operation, which includes correcting, standardizing and de-duplicating the data.
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--This example script demonstrates data cleaning with DQS EXECUTE [DQS_MAIN].[DBO].[DQS_CLEANING_PROCESS] 'MyKB', 'MyTable' |
Data Matching
Data matching identifies duplicates and combines records in your data source. It can reduce multiple records of the same entity to a single, best record.
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--This example script demonstrates data matching with DQS EXECUTE [DQS_MAIN].[DBO].[DQS_MATCHING_PROCESS] 'MyKB', 'MyTable' |
Conclusion
SQL Server Data Quality Services (DQS) is an invaluable tool for maintaining and improving the integrity and quality of your data. It enables you to perform data cleansing, matching, and profiling. Its knowledge-driven approach means the corrections and improvements DQS makes become more accurate over time.