Can someone explain "ETL" in English (sounds, icon, working)

[joey2000]

What does this mean, and I don't mean what does the acronym stands for (and frankly who cares)......what IS it? Please.......not extremely vague/ambiguous techno-BS, which is about all I have found on the 'net. Plain English. Actual real life experiences preferred but not mandatory. Thx

[NHDave]

This isn't simple enough?
Extract, transform, load - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bo]

Originally Posted by NHDave

This isn't simple enough?
Extract, transform, load - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe the OP agreed with the note at the top of that article?

"This article contains too much jargon and may need simplification or further explanation."

[NHDave]

I don't see why, I got the the second paragraph before my eyes glazed over.

[Tek_Freek]

Why bother with the second paragraph? The opening statement is easy enough to understand.

Extract, transform, and load (ETL) in database usage and especially in data warehousing involves:

• Extracting data from outside sources
• Transforming it to fit operational needs (which can include quality levels)
• Loading it into the end target (database or data warehouse)

Or am I understanding something a non-computer person wouldn't?

[harhar]

ETL Process – Convert with iConv Data Converters

I can see how it would be somewhat difficult to understand, especially in the world of computers where people assume the meaning of things (on the internet). Techies are bad at metaphor and examples.

From my understanding say you have:

An excel database full of outstanding charges.

Another older database program with outstanding charges.

An already existing database with an entire list of clients.


Here I'm working with 3 databases and they are not all on the same page. If I register a charge, it is no guarantee that it would show up on my list of clients. Which I want it to do so...

I want whenever I make a transaction from wherever that all of my transactions are consolidated into ONE database.

This is what it sounds like to me.

[Nic.]

What is ETL?

Doesn't get any simpler than that.