Methods and apparatus for improving data warehouse performance

An apparatus to transform a first database into a second database, comprising:

• an organizer to generate a first mapping file associated with a fact table of the first database, the first mapping file referenced by a first hierarchical directory file path, to append a second mapping file associated with a dimension table, the second mapping file referenced by a second hierarchical directory file path, and to append the second hierarchical directory file path to the first hierarchical directory file path to facilitate access to the first and the second mapping files, respectively;
• a compression engine to copy data from the fact table of the first database to the first mapping file, and copying data from the dimension table of the first database to the second mapping file to form the second database;
• and
• a data retriever to retrieve data from the second database using the first and second mapping files via sequential navigation of the first and second hierarchical directory file paths in response to receiving a request to access data in the first database.

An apparatus to access a database, comprising:

• an input to receive a query;
• and
• a data retriever to:
• retrieve a first file path associated with a top level of a hierarchical directory file path structure and responsive to the query;
• identify a first mapping file associated with the first file path;
• and
• extract a first nested navigation path from the first mapping file to identify a first level of the hierarchical directory file path structure.

An apparatus to retrieve data, comprising:

• a data retriever responsive to a query to:
• retrieve a first file and extract a plurality of first level file paths;
• select a first one of the plurality of first level file paths to identify a first dimension associated with the query;
• and
• identify a plurality of subcategories of the first dimension by evaluating a second file associated with a first one of the plurality of first level file paths.

A hierarchical directory file path, comprising:

• a fact table path indicative of a highest level of the hierarchical directory file path, the fact table path comprising an associated fact table mapping file;
• a dimension table path indicative of a first sub-level of the fact table path, the dimension table path comprising an associated dimension table mapping file;
• and
• a directory tag path indicative of a second sub-level of the fact table path, the directory tag path comprising an associated directory tag data file.