In this article, we will explore the installation and usage of Data Quality Services (DQS) in SQL Server 2012. DQS is a powerful feature that allows you to cleanse, match, and transform incoming data. It consists of two components: Data Quality Server and Data Quality Client.

Installation

Prior to installing DQS, ensure that your machine meets the minimum specifications required for SQL Server 2012. You also need an instance of SQL Server 2012 running on the machine where you plan to install DQS. The Data Quality Client requires .NET 4.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher. Microsoft Excel is not a requirement, but it can be useful for mapping source data to knowledge base information.

To install DQS and the Data Quality Client, mount the SQL Server media and execute the setup.exe application. Select the “Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server 2012” option and choose the “Data Quality Services”, “Data Quality Client”, and “Integration Services” features. Follow the installation process, providing necessary information such as the account for SQL Server Integration Services.

Post-Installation

After the installation, it is important to note that the “Data Quality Services” feature is not completely installed. To complete the installation, run the DQS Installer (DQSInstaller.exe) executable. You can run it from the command prompt or from the Start menu. The installer will prompt you to enter a Database Master Key, which is used to encrypt provider key information.

Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Data Quality Services is working by starting the Data Quality Client from the Start menu. Upon connecting to the server, the main Data Quality Client window will be displayed.

Usage

Data Quality Services provides a built-in knowledge base that you can use to validate your data. It includes domains such as Country/Region, US – Counties, US – Last Name, US – Places, and US – States. You can also expand the knowledge base by importing and defining your own domains.

DQS Projects are created to cleanse, match, and export clean data to a SQL Server database or file. You can also use DQS Projects to profile data and gain insights into the quality of your data. Additionally, DQS includes a cleansing task that can be incorporated into SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages.

Conclusion

Data Quality Services is a valuable feature in SQL Server 2012 that allows you to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your data. By installing and using DQS, you can cleanse, match, and transform your data before loading it into your database or data warehouse environment. Take advantage of the built-in knowledge base and consider expanding it with your own domains to meet the specific needs of your organization.

For more information and detailed instructions on installing and using Data Quality Services, refer to the SQL Server 2012 documentation.