Cognos 8 BI Transformer Designing OLAP Models (Part 2)

7/24/2019 Cognos 8 BI Transformer Designing OLAP Models (Part 2)

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Cognos Training

Cognos 8 BI Transformer:

Designing OLAP Models

(version 8.3)Student Guide


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C O G N O S 8 B I T R A N S F O R M E R : D E S I G N I N G O L A P M O D E L S ( V E R S I O N 8 . 3 )

IP-2 2008, Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated)Cognos Confidential. For internal use only.

This guide contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced,or translated into another language without a legal license agreement from Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated).

Cognos 8 BI Transformer: Designing OLAPModels (version 8.3)

C88382 - Production

Part Number: 60557

Published May 2008

Copyright 2008 Cognos ULC (formerly CognosIncorporated). Cognos ULC is an IBM Company.

Portions of Cognos(R) software products are protected byone or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,609,123 B1;6,611,838 B1; 6,662,188 B1; 6,728,697 B2; 6,741,982B2; 6,763,520 B1; 6,768,995 B2; 6,782,378 B2;6,847,973 B2.

While every attempt has been made to ensure that theinformation in this document is accurate and complete,some typographical errors or technical inaccuracies mayexist. Cognos does not accept responsibility for any kindof loss resulting from the use of information contained inthis document.

This document shows the publication date. Theinformation contained in this document is subject tochange without notice. Any improvements or changes tothe information contained in this document will be

documented in subsequent editions. This documentcontains proprietary information of Cognos. All rights arereserved. No part of this document may be copied,photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,transmitted in any form or by any means, or translatedinto another language without the prior written consent ofCognos.

Cognos and the Cognos logo are trademarks of CognosULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated) in the United Statesand/or other countries. IBM and the IBM logo aretrademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation in the United States, or other countries, orboth. All other names are trademarks or registeredtrademarks of their respective companies.

Information about Cognos products can be found atwww.cognos.com.


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12

Currency Conversion

Cognos 8 BI

Instructor Notes

Unless specified otherwise in demo or workshop steps, instructors and students will always log on toCognos 8 in the Local NT namespace using the following credentials:

User ID: admin

Password: Education1!


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12-2 2008, Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated)Cognos Confidential. For internal use only.



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C U R R E N C Y C O N V E R S I O N

2008, Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated) 12-3Cognos Confidential. For internal use only.This guide contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced,or translated into another language without a legal license agreement from Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated).

Objectives

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

apply and use currency conversion techniques

Instructor NotesEnsure you set the default directories for opening cubes in C:\Edcognos\C88382.


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Currency Conversion

Convert financial measures using conversion tables inTransformer.

Populate currency conversion tables by either:

adding a data source containing conversion datafrom an external currency table to a model

manually defining new currencies and conversionrates in Transformer

Transformer can convert financial data according to the conversion rates, which mustbe in a currency table added as a data source.

The converted data is then added to the PowerCube.

Instructor Notes

If a measure's formatting is set to show currency symbols, the symbol shown dynamically reflects thelocale of the measure's currency setting. If an administrator chooses to override a currency's symbol,the override is used. (Regional Control Settings)

You can add currency conversion data into a Transformer model using either of these two ways:

Query an external currency table, and then add the data source into your model.

Define new currencies and conversion rates in Transformer by creating a currency table.

Your model must contain a time dimension before you can add a currency table.After the converted data is loaded in to the PowerCube, users can then decide which conversions toapply.


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How is Currency Converted?

Conversions are performed against lowest level date

categories from the time dimension. Conversion rates are for default currency from

Regional Settings.

Currency tables are added to the PowerCube orupdated in the PowerCube.

Rollup rules apply.

Currency conversion tables are based on the time dimension.

Instructor Notes

For example, months in the time dimension correspond to months in the currency conversion table. If youhave conversion rates on a monthly basis in your currency table, data for each month is converted basedon the rate specified for its respective month in the Currency table. The converted data is then rolled upbased on your rollup rules. This rule also applies to calculated measures that are calculated either beforeor after rollup.

This feature is enabled only if there is more than one currency defined in the cube. A default currency(Regional Control Settings) is always defined.


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Default Currency Settings

Default currency settings are determined by the

regional and Language Options

Transformer uses the Regional Options to establish a framework for the currencytables.

Transformer default settings are determined by Regional Options. These settings canbe changed in either the Customize Regional Options dialog box or in Transformer.The Regional Options control the behavior of the Number, Currency, Time, and Datetab properties.

Instructor Notes

The position of the currency symbol (before or after the monetary units) is dependent upon theproperties in the Control Panel Regional Options. For example, if you set your desktop RegionalOptions to French (Standard), the currency symbol will always appear after the monetary units. If youset your desktop Regional Options to English (United States), the currency symbol will always appearbefore the monetary units. Transformer is informed of this setting and will always support the ControlPanel Regional Options.


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Demo 1: Import Currency Data Using a Data Source

Purpose:You are required to convert financial results into different

currencies.

Components: Transformer,Analysis Studio

User ID: admin


Task 1. Verify regional settings in Control Panel.

1. Open Control Panel.2. Double-click Regional and Language Options.

English (United States) should be selected in the preferences list.

3. Click Customizeto view the operating system defaults that apply to English(United States).

Decimal symbol: . (period)

No. of digits after decimal: 2

Digit grouping symbol: , (comma)

4. Close the dialog box, and close Control Panel.

Task 2. Add Currency Conversion data source.

1. Open a Transformer model.

Location: C:\Program Files\cognos\c8\webcontent\samples\Models\Transformer8\EN

Name: Sales and Marketing.mdl


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2. Insert the Currency Conversion data source.

Data source name: Currency Conversion

Data source type: Excel database

Location: C:\Program Files\cognos\c8\webcontent\samples\datasources\cubes\PowerCubes\EN\great outdoors sales\

Filename:currency.xls

Table or range:Currency

3. Expand CurrencyConversion.

4. Modify the properties of the CONVERSION_DATEcolumn.

Data class: Date

5. Generate the categories, and then click OKto accept the warning.

Note: User ID - admin, Password - Education1!

You must generate categories before Transformer will process a currency table.

Task 3. Set up a currency table.

1. From the Filemenu, click Currency Table.

2. Select the Use an external currency data sourcecheck box.

3. Under Base table columns, add the following:

Association role Column name

Label CURRENCY_NAME

Rate CONVERSION_TO_LOCAL

Country code ISO_THREE_LETTER_CODE

Date CONVERSION_DATE


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4. Click Load Table.

This step loads the values contained in the Currency data source into the specialcurrency table created by Transformer.

5. Click OK.

Task 4. Format and specify the measures that can have

currency conversion applied to them.

1. Modify the Revenueand Product costproperties:

Allow currency conversion

Format: $#, ##0

Decimal places: 2

Notice the icons for the measures now include a $ sign to indicate thesemeasures can be converted.

Task 5. View and modify the Currency Record.


2. Under Currencies, click Canadian dollars (CAN).

Conversion rates display for the listed periods.

3. Under Currencies, click (USA)and then click Properties.4. Select the Override the country code.

5. Changethe Currency symbolto US$.

6. Click OKtwice.


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Task 6. Publish the PowerCube directly to Cognos Connection.

1. Insert a new PowerCube called Currency Conversion.

2. Right-click Currency Conversionand click CreateSelected PowerCubes.

3. Publish the PowerCube as a data source and package.Method: Publish the PowerCube using current settings

Task 7. Create a basic Analysis.

1. Log on to Cognos Connection.

URL: http://localhost/Cognos8

Username: admin

Password: Education1!2. Open Analysis Studio and create a BlankAnalysis.

Package: Currency Conversion

3. Expand theTimefolder, and then dragTime to the Rows drop zone.

4. Drag Productsto the Columns drop zone.

5. Expand Measures, and drag Revenueto the Measure drop zone.

The report appears as shown below.


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6. Expand Currencyand drag to theContext filter.

All the values are converted to Euros.

The report appears as shown below:

7. Under Currencydrag United Statesto the Context filter.

All the values are converted back to American dollars.

8. Close Analysis Studio without saving, and then click Log off.

9. In Transformer, close the model without saving and leave Transformer openfor the workshop.

Results:You set up currency conversion in Transformer so that you canaccurately and efficiently convert financial results to differentcurrencies.


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Workshop 1: Currency Conversion

You are required to find a currency conversion method to display various currencies inthe analyses. You will set up currency conversion using an external data source. That

means that all currencies are automatically converted to other currencies. Toaccomplish this task, complete the following items:

Open the Sales and Marketing model.

Add currency.xls as a data source to the model.

Set up a currency table.

Specify Revenue, Product cost, and Gross profit to support currency conversionand format each measure to be $#,##0 with 2 decimal places.

Update the existing currency table by adding the South African Rand to thecurrency table. (currency rates for 2004 - 2007 are 500.000000000)

Modify the Currency Record to distinguish between the Canadian ($CAN) andAmerican dollars (US$)

Insert a new PowerCube and view your results in Analysis Studio.


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Workshop 1: Task Table

Task Where to Work Hints

1. Open the model and

add the CurrencyConversion datasource.

File menu

Data source list

Open Sales and Marketing.mdl.

Insert Currency Conversion datasource using currency.xls.

2. Set up a currencytable.

File menu >Currency Table

Use an external currency datasource.

Add Base table columns.

Load table.

3. Format and specifythe measures thatcan have currencyconversion appliedto them.

Measure properties Allow currency conversion forRevenue, Product cost, and Grossprofit.

Format: $#, ##0

Decimal places: 2

4.Add the SouthAfrican Rand to thecurrency table.


Add a new currency for the SouthAfrica Rand.

Country code: South Africa (ZAF)

Currency rates for 2004 - 2007 at500.000000000.


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Task Where to Work Hints

5.View and modify theCurrency Record.


Set the Canadian Currency symbolto $CAN.

Set the United States currencysymbol to US$.

6. Publish thePowerCube directlyto CognosConnection.

Transformer Insert a PowerCube called NewCurrency.

Publish using current settings.

7.View the result. Analysis Studio New Currency Package.

If you need more information to complete a task, see the Step-by-Step Instructions atthe end of the workshop.


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Workshop 1: Workshop Results

After adding conversion rates to the currency table the Conversion Rates appear asshown below:

After viewing the South African result in Analysis Studio, the result appears asshown below:


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Workshop 1: Step-by-Step Instructions

Components: Transformer,Analysis Studio

Package: GO Data Warehouse (query)

User ID: admin


Task 1. Open the model and add Currency Conversion data

source.



Name: Sales and Marketing.mdl

2. Insert the Currency Conversion data source.

Data source name: Currency Conversion

Data source type: Excel database

Location: C:\Program Files\cognos\c8\webcontent\samples\

datasources\cubes\PowerCubes\EN\great outdoors salesFilename:currency.xls

Table or range:Currency

3. Expand CurrencyConversion.

4. Modify the properties of the CONVERSION_DATEcolumn.

Data class: Date

5.

Generate the categories, and click OK to accept the warning.


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Task 2. Set up a currency table.


2. Select the Use an external currency data sourcecheck box.

3. Under Base table columns, add the following:Association role Column name

Label CURRENCY_NAME

Rate CONVERSION_TO_LOCAL

Country code ISO_THREE_LETTER_CODE

Date CONVERSION_DATE

4. Click Load Table.

This step loads the values contained in the Currency data source into the specialcurrency table created by Transformer.

5. Click OK.

Task 3. Format and specify the measures that can have

currency conversion applied to them.

1. Modify the Revenue, Productcost, and Grossprofitproperties:

Allow currency conversion

Format: $#, ##0

Decimal places: 2


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Task 7. View the result.



Username: adminPassword: Education1!

2. OpenAnalysis Studioand create a Blank Analysis.

Package: New Currency

3. Expand theTimefolder, and then dragTime to the Rows drop zone.

4. Drag Productsto the Columns drop zone.

5. Expand Measures, and drag Revenueto the Measure drop zone.

6. Expand Currencyand drag South Africa to theContext filter.

All the values are converted to the South African Rand.

7. Under Currency, drag Canadato the Context filter.

8. Close Analysis Studio without saving, and then close Internet Explorer.

9. In Transformer, close the model without saving.


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13

Alternative Hierarchies within

a Dimension

Cognos 8 BI

Instructor Notes

Unless specified otherwise in demo or workshop steps, instructors and students will always log on toCognos 8 in the Local NT namespace using the following credentials:

User ID: admin



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A L T E R N A T E H I E R A R C H I E S W I T H I N A D I M E N S I O N


Objectives


discuss primary and alternate hierarchies

describe the benefits of alternate hierarchies

create an alternate hierarchies

define convergence levels and identify uniquenessissues

Instructor Notes

Students should be familiar with:

the Transformer development process

how to build a model

Transformer data sources

the Transformer time dimension

Ensure the default directories for opening cubes and saving reports is C:\Edcognos\C88382.


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Primary hierarchy Alternate hierarchy

What is an Alternate Hierarchy?

Alternate hierarchies provide:

an alternate drill path through the data in thedimension

new perspectives to explore the data

The primary path in a dimension is defined as the most common approach tostructuring the data.

An alternate hierarchy provides a secondary path for exploring the data in thedimension by drilling down.

Instructor Notes

When you create a dimension, the levels and categories are organized in the most common way usedto explore the data. This is referred to as the primary hierarchy. You can incorporate other equally validperspectives in the dimension that benefit the users by creating alternate hierarchies in the dimension.Although the primary path is the method most often used to navigate the levels in a dimension, usersmay occasionally need to see data structured differently.


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provides more direct navigation to the detailed data ina dimension

Why Do We Use AlternateHierarchies?

You can also use an alternate hierarchy to:

offer more intuitive options for analyzing data on an ad hoc basis

present different relationships between parts of the data in the data source

order the categories differently

Instructor Notes

Reasons to apply an alternate hierarchy: To introduce new attributes that are different from those available in your primary hierarchy as a

level in the dimension.

To help reveal other trends and relationships in the data that may not be immediately apparent inthe primary hierarchy.

To apply an alternate hierarchy, instead of adding another dimension to your application, to reducethe total number of categories in your model.


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Direct Access

Alternatehierarchies

Primary

hierarchy

direct access to the lower levels of detail in adimension

bypass higher levels to view a broader scope of data

This type of alternate hierarchy provides flexibility in an Explorer report so that youcan quickly view a greater scope of the lower levels of details.

You do not have to filter through other levels in the same dimension.

Instructor Notes

In the slide example, two alternate hierarchies have been created to provide direct access in theRegion dimension to all the categories at the Employee name level. This provides a view of a broaderscope of data pertaining to the dimension. One path allows users to view lower levels of Employeename data in the context of City, while the other allows them to view lower levels of Employee namedata in the context of Country. Therefore, users do not have to filter by drilling down through all thelevels of the dimension.


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Reorganize the Levels

Alternatehierarchy

Primaryhierarchy

provides a different approach to the primary hierarchyusing the current levels

reorganize the order of levels in a dimension

In some instances, you may need to reorganize the levels to provide differentperspectives and insights into the data.

This approach is especially useful when data related to the dimension must meet therequirements of several different users who want to explore different perspectives ofthe same data.

Instructor NotesTypically, this situation is referred to as a many-to-many relationship within the data where you can usetwo or more levels interchangeably within the hierarchy of the dimension. The slide exampledemonstrates a dimension called Product Line:

The primary hierarchy brings the user from color to the various models to individual product namesfor each product line.

The alternate hierarchy (equally valid) for this dimension is to bring the user from the model to thevarious colors to individual product names for each product line.


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Introduce a New Level

Alternatehierarchy

Primaryhierarchy

provides an additional perspective for the dimension

can introduce a level not currently used in thedimension

Because a dimension has data that contains several attributes, you may prefer to createan alternate hierarchy.

You do this to avoid:

introducing an excessive number of levels in the primary hierarchy

adding an entirely separate dimension

Instructor Notes

You must carefully consider the level being introduced to make sure you maintain the integrity of thedimension structure.


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Convergencelevel

the level at which an alternate hierarchy connects tothe primary path

each convergence level must have unique categories

Convergence Levels

One or more alternate hierarchies can be merged into the primary path at one or morelevels called convergence levels.

Each convergence level must contain only unique categories so that Transformer cancorrectly connect several parent categories to the same converging category.

Instructor Notes

Primary and alternate hierarchies share the category values at the convergence level and below. If youdelete or modify a category in one hierarchy at or below the convergence level, the change isimmediately reflected for the same category in all other hierarchies.


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View time data in different ways and to avoid usingmultiple time dimensions in a model.

For example, you can view data for the calendar orfiscal year in the same model.

An Alternate Hierarchy in a TimeDimension

Many businesses track measures by using more than one calendar.

A common combination is calendar and fiscal years, where a company sets up fiscal

years that span different parts of two calendar years.

Instructor Notes

When you create an alternate hierarchy for a fiscal year, the convergence level is dependent on thestart date of the fiscal year. If the fiscal year were in step with the standard start dates of the calendaryear quarters (that is, January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1), the convergence level is Quarter. If it isthe first day of any other month, the convergence level would be Month.


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Demo 1: Create Alternate Hierarchies

Purpose:Two departments asked for specific reporting paths based on data

contained within a single dimension. To provide direct access forboth departments, you will create an alternate hierarchy.

Component: Transformer,Analysis

Username: admin


Task 1. Create an alternate hierarchy using the Create Drill-

Down command.


Name: Demo 1_Start.pyj

Location:C:\Edcognos\PPT-Alternate_Hierarchies_within_a_Dimension

2. Click the Employee namelevel.

3. From the Editmenu, click Create Drill-Down.The following warning appears:

Instructor Notes

Alternate hierarchies may have performance implications. Rollups occur only in the primary hierarchy.An alternate hierarchy cannot take advantage of any partitioning in the model. Therefore, performancein the alternate hierarchy is poorer than in the primary hierarchy.


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4. Click Noto declare the Employee name level unique.

A blank box appears above Employee name and spans the three ancestral levelsCity, Country, and Region. This represents the alternate hierarchy.

5. From the data source, drag CITYinto the new empty box.

The alternate hierarchy appears as shown below:

You just created an alternate hierarchy that bypasses Region and Country and

summarizes data to City.

Task 2. Add a data source, and declare a convergence level

as unique.

1. Insert a new data source.

Data source name: Product Profits

Type: Delimited-field text with Column titles

Location: C:\Edcognos\C88382\Product Profits.csv

Do not use AutoDesign

The Product Profits data source has been added to the list.

2. Ensure Product Profitsis first in the Data Sources list.

Instructor Notes

Point out that the Product key columns in both data sources is already named the same.


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3. Modify the Product Profitsdata source properties.

Hint: Data source query properties,General tab

Clear Sets the current periodcheck box.

4. In the Data Sources list, right-click Product Profits, and then clickShowScope.

The data source has a conflicting relationship in the Dimension Map structure;that is, a red label is on Product name.

5. Set the Product namelevel as Unique, and then click OKto accept thewarning.

Hint: level property sheet

The Product name level should be colored dark yellow, and its ancestral levelsshould be colored light yellow.

6. Close the Data Sources scope Dimension Map.

Task 3. Create an alternate hierarchy using the drag-and-drop

method.

1. Drag the Profit Rankingcolumn to the upper-right corner of the Productlinelevel. (Do not release the mouse button) as shown below:

A green outlined box appears in the Product line level.


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2. Drag the green box down to just above the Productnamelevel.

3. Release the mouse button.

The alternate hierarchy appears as shown below:

The Profit Ranking level spans both the Product line and Product type levels,creating direct access to the Product name level.

Task 4. Rename alternate hierarchies in the dimension

diagram.




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2. Click the Product linedimension, and then click Show Diagram.

The dimension diagram appears as shown below:

The alternate hierarchy is enclosed in a box (called a drill-down structure) thatsurrounds the drill category and its descendants. It is located below the primary

hierarchy.

3. Click the alternate drill category By Product Name, and then press F2.

4. Type By Profit Ranking, and then press Enter.

Alternatively, you can rename it in the Category property sheet.

5. In the Dimensionpane, click the Regiondimension.

6. Rename By Employee nameto By City.

7. Close the dimension diagram.


1. Check the model and create the PowerCube.

2. Publish the PowerCube as a data Source and package.

Method: Publish the PowerCube using current settings


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Username: adminPassword: Education1!

2. Create a BlankAnalysisin Analysis Studio.

Package:Alternate

3. Expand Date, and drag Dateto the Rows drop zone.

4. Expand Measuresand drag Revenueto the Measure drop zone.

5. Expand Region.

The alternate hierarchy you created called By City displays.

6. Expand Productline.

The alternate hierarchy you created called By Profit Ranking displays.


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7. Expand By Profit Ranking.

The lower levels of drill-down categories display.

8. Drag HIGHto the Columns drop zone.

The analysis appears as shown below:

All Products that have a high profit ranking display in the columns.

9. Close Analysis Studio without saving, and then close Internet Explorer.

10. Leave Transformer open for the next demo.

Results:Two departments can now effectively use the same PowerCube toreport on similar data.


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Demo 2: Create an Alternate Hierarchy in the Time Dimension

Purpose:You want to view a fiscal calendar based on financial quarterly

periods. To compare fiscal results with standard yearly calendarresults, they require both time dimensions in their PowerCube. Thebest method of achieving this is an alternate hierarchy.

Component: Transformer

Username: admin


Task 1. Create an Alternate Hierarchy.

1. Create a new alternate hierarchy converging at the Monthlevel.

Hint: Editmenu, Create Drill-Down

Transformer creates room for a new drill-down hierarchy in the Datedimension.

Task 2. Add Fiscal Quarter to the alternate Hierarchy.

2. Insert a level in the alternate hierarchy.Hint: Right-click the empty level, and then click Insert Level.

Level name: Fiscal Quarter

Association role: Source

Column name: Date

This source column populates the new alternate hierarchy.

3. Click OKto return to the Fiscal Quarterlevel property sheet.


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4. Apply the Calendar quarterdate function.

Hint:Time tab

Date function: Calendar quarter

Calendar quarter generates quarters based on the standard calendar format ofYYYY Q Q, where the last Q is the designated quarter (1, 2, 3, or 4).

5. Click OK.

The new Fiscal Quarter level appears in italics in the new alternate hierarchy.

Task 3. Add Fiscal Year to the alternate hierarchy.

1. Insert a level above Fiscal Quarterin the alternate hierarchy.

Hint: right-click the Fiscal Quarterlevel, Insert Level

Level name: Fiscal Year

Association role: Source

Column name: Date

This source column populates the new alternate hierarchy.

2. Click OKto return to the Fiscal Year level property sheet.

3. Apply the Calendar year date function.

Hint:Time tab

Date function: Calendar year


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4. Click OK.

The Date Dimension appears as shown below:

Task 4. Change the name of the alternate hierarchy and

modify the year begins date.

1. Click the Datedimension label, and then click the Show Diagram.

Resize the dimension diagram if necessary.2. Rename the By Monthdrill category in the property sheet.

Category label: By Fiscal Date

3. Click theTimetab.

4. Modify the years begins date.

Year begins: 20070301

5. Click OK,and then click OKto accept the warning.6. Generate the categories, and click OKto accept the warning.


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7. Expand 2005and 2005Q 1to confirm that Q1 starts on March 2004.


8. Close Transformer without saving.

Results:You met the Finance department's need to view a fiscal calendarbased on financial quarterly periods and a standard yearly calendarin the PowerCube.


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Summary


discuss primary and alternate hierarchies

describe the benefits of alternate hierarchies

create an alternate hierarchies

define convergence levels and identify uniquenessissues

Instructor Notes

If you have reached the end of a teaching day, you can show students how to remove packages anddata source connections in Cognos Connection (except Go Data Warehouse (query), and Go DataWarehouse (analysis). This will "unclutter" public folders. You can also delete the cubes, log files etc.from C:\Edcognos\C88382.


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A D V A N C E D D I M E N S I O N A L M O D E L I N G


Objectives


discuss techniques for customizing dimensions

add a new source level to an existing dimension

create and populate a manual level in a dimension

create orphan categories

modify a dimension using a subdimension

create a special category

create a scenario dimension

create and use calculated columns and categories

Instructor Notes

Students should be familiar with:

the Transformer development process how to build a model

Transformer data sources

working with measures

using multiple data sources in a modelEnsure to set the default directories for opening cubes and saving reports to C:\Edcognos\C88382.


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Customize Dimensions

You can customize dimensions to:

reflect changes in the available data source

accommodate a particular view of the data

add analytical value to the structure of the

application

improve performance and optimize PowerCube

design

You can choose to customize dimensions by:

adding new source levels and manual levels

using subdimensions and special categories

creating scenario dimensions, calculated columns, and calculated categories

removing old categories or levels


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Add a new data source column as a level in thedimension to provide further definition to the existingstructure.

When the required source data already exists, this isone of the easiest ways to update the dimensions.

Add a New Source Level

If you introduce a new source level, it must fit logically into the existing data hierarchy.

Instructor Notes

To add a new level, drag the column to the dimension map. You can also add a new source level byselecting an existing level on the dimension map or dimension diagram using insert level. If the DataSources list does not contain the columns you want, you may have to modify the data source to includeadditional columns of data. Modifying your data source may also require that the data source columnsTransformer currently recognizes be synchronized with those in your updated data source.


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What are Manual Levels?

provide further definition to dimensions when sourcelevels are not available

add more detail by providing intermediary levels

group and organize large numbers of descendant

categories

For example, the number of descendant categories in a dimension is too large tosupport meaningful analysis. To add definition to the dimension, insert a manual levelthat gives a more balanced breakdown of the categories.

Instructor Notes

Use Manual levels primarily for static data. If new categories are added as children of a Manual level,you must connect them manually to the existing structure. You must also define and manually maintainthe individual categories for each manual level in the dimension diagram.By creating manual levels you are imposing an organizational structure on the data even if thatstructure is not embedded in your data source.


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Manual levels contain manual categories that youcreate within the dimension diagram.

Each manual category must have parent-childrelationships defined.

Manual/ParentCategory

Child Category

Populate Manual Levels

Manual Level

For each manual category and for any new categories introduced into the dimension,you must also define parent-child relationships with existing lower-level categories.

Instructor Notes

You can create manual categories only in the dimension diagram. If new categories are generated, youmust relate them to the appropriate categories. Not all branches of the hierarchy need to be populatedwith manual categories.


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Create Orphan Categories

An orphan category in a manual level provides adefault parent for new categories.

Once created, any new categories generatedthat are not specifically defined will becomechildren of this orphanage.

An orphanage is a category in a manual level that is the default parent for any newcategories.

You can create a manual level to establish a category that is used as an orphanage forthe dimension.


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Demo 1: Add a Manual Level, and Manual Categories

Purpose:You want to add more detail to the Retailer Type dimension as well

as view sales in all Sales Territories by Region. This data is notcurrently available; therefore, you will add a new source level withinthe Retailer Type dimension and a manual level within the SalesTerritory dimension, and populate it with categories in theTransformer model.

Component: Transformer,Analysis Studio

Username: admin


Task 1. Open a Model.

1. Open a Transformer model:

Model name:Sales and Marketing.mdl



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Task 3. Create manual categories for the manual level.

1. Click the right side of the Southern Europecategory, and then drag it underthe SalesDistrictlevel.

Note: The pointer should be a crosshair.

2. In the Category label box, type East, and then click OK.

A new manual category is created under the Sales District level, with theSouthern Europe category expanded to country.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create a category calledWest.

4. Create two new categories forAmericas.

Categories: North, South


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5. Create 2 new categories forAsia Pacific.

Categories: North, South

Under the Sales District level, you added six new manual categories.



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Task 4. Establish relationships between manual levels and

categories.

1. Under the Retailercountrylevel, clickAustria, and Shift+click Italy.

2. Drag the categories to the Southern Europe,East category.This action creates the necessary relationship between the categories. Two newrelationships are defined in the dimension hierarchy.

3. Add Spain to the Southern Europe,Westcategory.

4. Add Canadaand United Statesto theAmericas, Northcategory.

5. Add Mexicoand Brazilto theAmericas,Southcategory.

6. AddJapan, China, and Korea to theAsia Pacific,Northcategory.

7. AddAustraliaand Singaporeto theAsia Pacific, Southcategory.

Instructor NotesInstructor Notes

If you associate the wrong category (for example "United States") with a particular manual level (forexample "South"), and undo is no longer an option, you can re-associate the errant category with itsoriginal parent category ("United States" back into "Americas") and then associate it with theappropriate manual level.


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8. Expand each of the manual categories in the new Sales District level.

Notice the defined relationships. The dimension diagram appears as shownbelow:


Task 5. Publish the PowerCube directly to Cognos Connection.1. Check the model.

2. Insert a new PowerCube called Sales Districts.

3. Right-click Sales Districtsand click Create Selected PowerCube.

4. Publish the PowerCube as a Data Source and Package.



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Task 6. View the new manual level and manual categories in

Analysis Studio.

1. View the package in Public Folders.

URL: http://localhost/Cognos8Username: admin


2. OpenAnalysis Studioand create a Blank Analysis.

Package: Sales Districts

3. ExpandTime, and then dragTimeto the Rows drop zone.

4. Expand Measures, and drag Revenueto Measures.

5. Expand Retailers,Americas andAsia Pacific.

The Insertable Objects pane appears as shown below:


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6. Drag theAmericasdimension to the Columns drop zone.

North and South appear. This is the Manual Sales District level you added.

7. Drill down on North.

Notice that Canada and the United States appear as lower-level categories forNorth.

8. Close Analysis Studio without saving the report, and then click Log Off.

9. Close the model without saving, and leave Transformer open for the nextdemo.

Results:You reorganized the Retailers dimension by creating and populatinga new manual level called Sales District. By doing this, you made itpossible for the Director of Sales to view sales data in a new way.


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Demo 2: Create an Orphanage (Instructor Only)

Purpose:The Sales Director wants to determine if there is data without parent

categories, and associate this data to the correct data source in themodel. You will create an orphanage in a manual level toaccommodate his request.

Component: Transformer,Analysis Studio,Microsoft Excel

Username: admin


Task 1. Open and review the model.

1. Open the Model.

Name: Demo 2_Start.pyj

Location: C:\Edcognos\C88382\PPT-Advanced Dimensional modeling

Task 2. Modify the data source.

You will modify the data source to explore this process.

2. In Notepad, open BasicMeasures.csv.

Location at C:\Edcognos\C88382

Instructor Notes

Ensure that you open the file in Notepad as the number of records exceeds a spreadsheet in Excel. Itis recommended that this demo is Instructor Only since it requires you to modify the source files thatwill be used later in the course.


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3. In the first row with data, change the Employee keyfrom 4001to 7777.

4. In the second row with data, change the Employee keyfrom 4001to 8888.

5. Save the file and close it.

Task 3. View unattached categories.

1. Generate the categories.

2. Click the Regiondimension and then click Show Diagram.

3. Completely expand the Orphans of By Region.

There are unattached categories (7777 and 8888) for the Employee key.Task 4. Create an orphanage in a manual level.

1. Delete the orphan categories.

2. Click the right side of the Regionlevel, and then drag it to the left of theRegionlevel.

3. In the Level namebox, type Unknown Fact Data, and then click OK.

4. Click the right side of the By Regiondrill-down category, and then drag itdirectly below the Unknown Fact Datalevel.

5. In the Category labelbox, type Unknowns, select the Category is anorphanagecheck box, and then click OK.


The category Unknowns may appear in a different vertical position in thedimension diagram, depending on where you drag the mouse when creating thecategory.


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8. Click the Regiondimension, and then click Show Diagram.

9. Expand Unknownsto the Employee namelevel.

The new orphanage category Unknowns now contains the unattachedcategories 7777 and 8888.

Your dimension diagram appears as shown below:


Task 5. View the Results in Analysis Studio.

1. InTransformer, insert a new PowerCube called Orphanage.

2. Right-click the PowerCube and click Create Selected PowerCube.



Task 6. Explore the results.

1. Launch Analysis Studio.


2. Create a BlankAnalysis.

Package: Orphanage

3. Expand Date, and then drag Dateto Rows.

4. Expand Measures, and drag Revenueto Measures.


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5. Drag Regionto Columns.

The report appears as shown below:

Notice that Unknowns now displays with the Regions.

6. Drill down on Unknowns.

Your report appears as shown below.

The unattached members 7777 and 8888 display.

7. Close Analysis Studio without saving, and then click Log Off.

Task 7: Reset the Data.

1. Open the Basics Measures.csv in Notepad.

2. In row 2, reset 7777to 4001.

3. In row 3, reset 8888to 4001.

4. Close the model without saving and leave Transformer open for the next demo.

Results:You created an orphanage in the manual level to accommodate the

request of the Sales Director.


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highlight important data in the model

groups regular categories from any level in adimension, without regard for their normalhierarchical organization

viewed as part of the dimension hierarchy but arenot part of the main dimension rollup

Special Categories

A special category is a specifically designed view of the data that is created outside themain dimension hierarchy in the dimension diagram.

Instructor Notes

For example, you want to categorize a group of products that are not normally related to each other,such as best-selling products or the products that will be discontinued. In the dimension diagram, thechildren of the special category appear both in the main hierarchy and in the special category. Any

changes to a regular category in this group are reflected in both instances.

Special categories are unstructured and must be maintained manually. If a grouping can be based on acolumn in the data source, then you can use an alternate path rather than a special category. Thissaves the need to manually maintain a special category. By default, measure values are summarized inspecial categories. You can disable this by changing the Category Rollup setting (General tab on theSpecial Category property sheet).


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Demo 3: Create a Subdimension and a Special Category

Purpose:You want to report on all new sales representatives worldwide.

While all regional directors base the reports on salesrepresentatives by country and city, Asia Pacific directors do notuse country, and refer to city as "Area". To fulfill these requests,you will create a subdimension for Asia Pacific, and create a specialcategory for new sales representatives.


Username: admin


Task 1. Create a subdimension.

1. Open the model.

Name: Employee expenses.mdl


2. Click the GO Region dimension label, and then click Show Diagram.

3. ExpandAsiaPacific.


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4. Right-click theAsia Pacificcategory label, and then click Create/DeleteSubdimension.

A box appears around Asia Pacific and its descendants. You created an AsiaPacific subdimension with a By Asia Pacific drill category. When you create a

subdimension, Transformer inserts a new drill category below the category youselected as the root of the subdimension. It then re-references all descendantsof the subdimension's root category.

5. Change the name to By Asia Pacific.

The dimension diagram appears as shown below.

Task 2. Define properties of the subdimension and levels.

1. In the subdimension, create a new manual level to the left of CitycalledArea.

2. Create two new categories called Northand South.

3. Shift+click OsakaCity, Shanghai,Tokyo, Seoul, click the right side of one ofthe selected categories, and then drag the crosshair to theAsia Pacific, North

category.


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4. Shift+click Singaporeand Melbourne, click the right side of one of theselected categories, and then drag the crosshair to theAsia Pacific, Southcategory.

5. Click Generate Categories, and then click OK to accept the warning.

The subdimension diagram appears as shown below:

Task 3. Create a special category for New Reps.

1. Click the right side of the GO Regionroot category label, and then drag thecrosshair below the outline of the main dimension box.

2. In the Categorylabelbox, type New Reps, and then click OK.

The new special category appears outside the main dimension box.

Task 4. Define the related categories.

1. Expand By Asia Pacific, North,Tokyo, and Level 1 Sales Representativeto see the sales rep Saburo Aoki.

2. Expand ByAsia Pacific, South, Melbourne, and Level 1 SalesRepresentativeto see Dave Smythe.

3. Shift+click Saburo Aokiand Dave Smythe.

These are the new sales reps.

Instructor Notes

Show students the alternative method: Use Find to locate the sales reps.

Multiple entries of Dave Smythe and Jake Cartel exist because it is a slowly changing dimension. Forexample, an employee may have changed positions or moved locations etc.


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4. Drag these Employees to the New Repsspecial category.

Each category now appears as a child of the special category. These categoriesstill remain in the regular dimension hierarchy.

The New Reps category appears as shown below:


Task 5. View the results in Analysis Studio.

1. View the properties for the Employee expensesPowerCube.

2. Change the PowerCubefile nameto C:\Edcognos\C88382 and then clickOK.

3. Right-click the EmployeeexpensesPowerCube, and then select CreateSelectedPowerCube.

4. Publish the Employee expenses PowerCube as a Data Source and Package.


5. LaunchAnalysisStudio.

Note: User ID - admin, Password - Education1!Package: Employee expenses

6. Create a BlankAnalysis.

7. ExpandTime, and dragTimeto Rows.

8. Expand GO Region, and drag GO Regionto the Columns.

9. Expand Measuresand drag Expensetotalto Measure.


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10. Drill down onAsia Pacific.

North and South are lower-level categories for Asia Pacific.

11. Drill down on North.

12. Drill down onTokyo andLevel 1 Sales Representatives.

Saburo Aoki is still included for Tokyo.

13. From the InsertableObjectspane, drag New Repsto the columns.

Expense figures appear for the two new sales representatives whom you addedto the special category.

14. Close Analysis Studio without saving the report, and then click Log Off.

15. Close the model without saving, and then leave Transformer open for the nextdemo.

Results:You created a new subdimension for the Asia Pacific director and aspecial category for new sales representatives. The Director ofSales can now report on all new sales reps worldwide, and eachregional director can report on their respective areas according totheir needs.


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Scenario Dimensions

analyze several sets of figures, or scenarios, that donot roll up to a single root category.

Levels

Scenario Dimension Budget

Actual Planned Forecast

These 3 categories represent financial datathat cannot be combined

Scenario dimensions are useful if you need to analyze financial data, such as budgets.Instead of calculating just one set of budgetary figures, you may want to calculateseveral sets, or scenarios (for example, Actual, Plan, Forecast).

Scenario dimensions do not roll up to a single root category, because the resultingaggregation would not be meaningful.

Instructor Notes

You can set any dimension (other than the time dimension) to display "na"values instead of the

rolled-up data. You can also set the default category that a dimension will display when added to acrosstab in an analysis. A scenario dimension changes the appearance of rolled up figures, but doesnot affect the actual data that is moved from the data sources into the cube when the cube is created.


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Demo 4: Create a Scenario Dimension

Purpose:The Finance department requires a cube that will allow them to

analyze their budget data. Their data consists of actual, budget, andoperational plan data. They want to analyze this data from differentperspectives of the business, such as by product line, and by salesterritory. To meet this requirement, you will create a cube based ona model that contains a scenario dimension.


Username: admin


Task 1. Create the model.

1. In Transformer, create a new model.

Model name: Scenario

Data source name: Scenario

Data source type: Delimited-filed text with column titles

Location: C:\Edcognos\C88382\go_sales_scenario.csv

2. Click Next, clear the Run AutoDesigncheck box, and then click Finish.

3. Expand the Scenariodata source, and then double-clickORDER_DAY_KEY.

4. Set the Data classto Date, and then click OK.


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5. Create the following dimension map:

6. Drag REVENUE, COST_OF_GOODS, and QUANTITYto theMeasureslist.

Task 2. Specify a scenario dimension.

1. Generate the categories.

2. Click the SCENARIOdimension label, and then click Show Diagram.

3. Right-click the SCENARIOroot category, and then click Properties.

4. Select the Hide the valuecheck box, and then click OK.

5. Under the Scenario level, right-click theActualcategory, and then click Set asDefault Category.



1. Check the model and create the PowerCube.




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1. Launch Analysis Studio.


Package: Scenario2. Create

Date post:	23-Feb-2018
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