Cognos 8.3 New Features

Hi,

Today i was jst wondering what might be the upgrades in the next version of Cognos which my firend was told me(Cognos8.3) . Following are the few updates i got from the site.


Thanks,
Soma

C8 and C7 comparison

C8 and 7 comparison

I am just curious how the XML tag organization was different between the cognos 7 and cognos 8 version. Since my client is in the verge of migrating to Cognos 8 environment. I was just comparing both the XML tags for a simple report. For comparison to be simple, i created a simple list report with 4 to 5 columns both in cognos 7 and 8. First i took the Query section alone, which usually will come before the report layout.

1) Since tabular model concept was not there in Cognos 8 there is no tag named in cognos 8.
2) Cognos 8 report will directly access the data item from query, so Cube, dimension and factlist tags are not present in C8.
3) The hierarchy of Query in C8 is
Queries > Query > Selection > Data Item.

Whereas in Cognos 7
QuerySet > BIQuery > Cube > Factlist and Dimension
> Tabular model > data item
4) There is one tag called Source in the query, i need to explore this. Will do in upcoming blogs if i come to know any.

Thanks and Regards,
Soma

Cognos Java Script Learning I

I am now expanding my knowledge on using Java Script in the Cognos ReportNet. I have gone through the following Cognos help link which describes the code to clear the selections from multiple multi-select boxes with a single click.

We have to use the following Javascript in the HTML Item to deselect the selections of a List Box.

listBox_..._deSelectAll() for all the list boxes.

I am writing a custom function in Java Script called ClearAll() which will clear the all the list boxes referring inside the function.

function clearAll()
{
listBox_Parm_Region.deSelectAll()

listBox_Parm_Product.deSelectAll()

}

In the above function Parm_Region and Parm_Product are the list box name in the Prompt page.

I am calling that function on the click of one button. The following code is used to add a button in the prompt page. When clicking that button, function ClearAll will be executed.

" <button style="" class="clsPromptButton" onmouseover="this.className = 'clsPromptButtonOver'" onmouseout="this.className = 'clsPromptButton'"

onClick="clearAll();">Deselect All "

http://support.cognos.com/knowledgebase/googlesearch?load_kb_document=1&dr=kb1&uniqueid=134543

I didn't triy the above code. I just skimmed and i understand the functionality. I have to try the above code soon.

Creating IQDs through FM

I was just skimming through the questions of Cognos community in Orkut.
I saw a thread where the user asks whether we can create IQD using Framework manager?

Please find below for my response. Yes we can create IQDs from Framework manager.

In the business layer make sure you have included all the columns from different tables to the query subject.Click on the properties of the Query subject in Business layer. You will find a property called Externalize Method: Change it from default to IQD.While publishing the package, the publish package wizard there is a place where you have the local/physical file path where you need your IQDs to be created.

Thanks and Regards,
Soma

Calculated Data Item in Cognos ReportNet

Today i have a requirement in my project. I need to generate a sales report for products which includes grouping at all levels of the product hierarchy. I need have a group footer which will show the corresponding measures summary for the particular level of grouping. As for as the numerical fields from the database are concerned i know the ReportNet column will calculate the sum at the corresponding levels if we give aggregation 'TOTAL' at Cube(Query) Level. I need to calculate the percentage based on 2 columns from Database. There is no problem in the detailed rows as for as the calculation is concerned. but when it comes to show the percentage at the sub group summary. I am not aware of using the aggregation = 'CALCULATED' property at Cube (Query) level. So for i am using the work around, I will calculate the totals for each sub group level in a data item and use it in another data item to calculate the percentage at the corresponding levels. This will definitely affect the performance of the report since the number of Data items and Calculations are more in this kind of approach.

So if we give Aggrgation proprty of a Data Item both at TMOD and Query level, we can use the particular calculations even in the Sub grouping level summaries.

Your feedbacks and Comments are welcome as it will provide a way to improve. May be my insight says my english is not much good. I am working on that, Please excuse.

Master Detail Relationship in Report - Check the Filter condition of the Master query before including the detail query

For last couple of days i am working on the Master Detail Report. I heard Master Detail Reports involve outer joins in the Report which will affect the performance drastically. We have explained this scenario to our customers. We cant achieve the requirement of Customer without the Master Detail Query. Customer has accepted for this, since they compromised on the Prompts they are going to select are few. I have added a in the report. I tried to include a parameterized detail query, It shows a error when i am selecting the parameters for detail query since the filter condition for Master query is not valid. Later i modified the Master Query filter, then i am able to include the detail queries. Now only i know that the parameter filters of Master Query is validated before ReportNet it let us to include the detail query.

Cognos ReportNet Architecture

Cognos ReportNet

Cognos ReportNet uses Platform Independednt technologies such as
1) XML -Extensible markup Language
2) SOAP - Simple Object Access Protocol
3) WSDL - Web Services Definition Language

ReportNet Architecture:
We have 3 layers in the Cognos ReportNet: Web Server, Application Layer and Data Layer

User Interfaces:
Following are the interfaces through which we can access Cognos ReportNet.
* Cognos Connection
* Report Studio
* Query Studio
* Framework Manager

In the above four except Framework Manager (FM) all are web based whereas FM is windows based.

Cognos Connection:
1) Public Folders:
2) My Folders:
3) Directory:
4) Capabilities:
5) Schedule Management:
6) Server Administration:
7) Deployment:

Cognos Application Firewall and ReportNet Gateway - Tier 1 Web Server layer

Cognos Application Firewall:Cognos Firewall in addtion to the organization Firewall provides high levl secutiry to ReportNet on top of ReportNet Gateway.

ReportNet Gateways:
Following are some of the gateways supported by Cognos ReportNet - CGI, ISAPI, APACHE_MOD and SERVELET.

* CGI Gateway: It is the default gateway supported by all webservers. It delivers slow performance.
* ISAPI: It is used for Microsoft IIS -faster with MS IIS.
* APACHE_MOD: With Apache Web Servers
* Servelet: To use this gateway, Your web servers should support this.

When a ReportNet gateway receives a request, it encrypts passwords to ensure security; extracts information needed to submit the request to a ReportNet server; attaches environment variables.

Tier II - Applications - ReportNet Server
Runs the Reports and Queries forwarded by ReportNet Gateway.
Renders the Cognos Connection Interface.
Content Manager - which manages ReportNet Information.
Dispatcher - operates services and route requests.

Content Manager:
1) It stores all ReportNet information in Relational Database (Content Store).
2) We can install Content Manager any number of times for a ReportNet Installation, But only one is active at any time.
3) Following are the information stored by Content Manager:
Reports - Report Specs, Properties, Security Settings and outputs.
Packages - Metadata, Reports and Folders
Server Configuration - Directory information, Cognos Namespace, Information about contact, Distribution Lists, Data Sources and Printers.
Personal User Information - It consists of My Folders and My Pages.
4) It contains names, descriptions and tool tips in different languages to support Multilingual Capabilities.
5) It also Performs Content Store Management Functions such as Export and Import.

Content Access Manager: Primary Security component of ReportNet.
#) It Provides ReportNet with a consistent set of Security Capabilities and APIs - Including authentication, authorization and encryption.
#) Some security capabilities, such as user authentication, are external to ReportNet but are exposed to ReportNet by Access Manager.
#) Other capabilities, such as authorization, are internal to ReportNet, and are implemented by Access Manager.
#) For many security-related functions, Cognos Access Manager requires certificates and interacts with a Certificate Authority.
Dispatcher:
1) Starts all ReportNet Services configured in the computer, routes the requests, distributes configuration changes.
2) It is a Multi Thread application, which uses one or more thread per request. 3)
3) When a dispatcher starts, it registers itself with the content manager.
4) The Services managed by dispatcher includes the following:
Presentation Service, Batch Report and Report Services. Job and Schedule Monitoring Service and Log Service.
Presentation Service - Used in cognos Connection and Query Studio.
* Accepts the User imformation
* Stores and Retrieves information in content Manager.
* Creates Cognos Connection page in Report Viewer

Batch and Report Services - Used to run reports and retrieve Metadata from Content Manager.
It also includes many components like Metadata Service, Query Engine and PDF engine.

Job and Scheduling Service - It manages the scheduled jobs and reports, which are run y Batch service. It also send e-mail.

Log Service - manages all logs generated by the dispatcher and other services.

TIER III- DATA CONTENT STORE
The ReportNet data tier contains the content store which may be anyone of the RDBMS.

It is used by content manager to store the information that are visible and mabager through cognos Connection. Information stored in the Content Store may include - Packages, Folders, Reports, Saved outputs, Directories, Server Coonfigurations and ReportNet Deployment.
Content Manager user JDBC API to access the content store. ReportNet comes with respective JDBC drivers specific to different Databses available in the market.

Cognos does not publish the content store schema. It periodically updates the schema isolating the changes from the user through stable user interfaces and API.

Much of the information in Content Store, Such as Report Results and XML report specs are stored as Binary Large Object Fields (BLOB). All the report outputs in different formats are compresses and stored in content store. Content Manager uncompresses when it is sending to User.

Master Detail Query

Hi,
Today i got a chance to create/modify one report. I need to add one Master/Detail functionality in that report.

Below are my learnings regarding Master/Detail report.

There are 2 types of Master Detail Query:

1) Filterized Detail Query
2) Parameterized Detail Query

Steps to Create Master Detail Query in Cognos ReportNet:

A master-detail query is an outer join. It is useful when you want to include ALL records in the master query regardless of whether there are matching records in the detail query or not. (These instructions are based on CRN V7 MR3.)
1. On a blank report page, drag in a new list item (called MasterQuery in this example). Populate it as needed.
2. Drag in a new list item (called DetailQuery in this example) and drop it into one of the columns of the MasterQuery list. Populate this list as needed. One of these fields (called ID in this example) must be related to an associated field in the MasterQuery list to link the two queries. This step must be done correctly to allow DetailQuery to be an available selection in Step 5 below.
3. On the Menu Bar, select Data > Master/Detail Relationships...
4. Select MasterQuery in the top listbox.
5. Add DetailQuery as a filtered query and set MasterQuery.ID=DetailQuery.ID. If DetailQuery is not shown as an available detail query selection, then double-check that you performed Step 1 correctly.
6. Run your report.

Some further notes:
1) You can add multiple detail queries to a single master query. You can enhance the appearance of the report by hiding the detail query list headers as desired.
2) When you have Stored Procedures in the back end, Filterized Detail Query won’t work in case of Master Detail Reports.
3) By Default in the window where you choose your detail query. It will list all the queries in the report which uses parameter.

Will meet you soon in my next blog with more learnings.

Bye

Master Detail Report - Error

Hi All,

Today i worked on the Master Detail Report. I got some error while creating and running the report. I am confused and validated the report. I got the follwoing error while running the report.

Cognos ReportNet Error:
Master – Detail Report
RSV-SRV-0036
Details: CCLAssertError:0:Fatal: CCL_ASSERT(m_nodeImpl != NULL);

Trace back:
WPBIBusMethod.cpp(201): CCLAssertError: CCL_CAUGHT: WPBIBusMethod::runRequest
WPReportExecutionMethod.cpp(185): CCLAssertError: CCL_RETHROW:WPReportExecutionMethod::checkRequestForExceptions
WPExecuteRequestThread.cpp(169): CCLAssertError: WPExecuteRequestThread::checkException
WPEngine.cpp(1028): CCLAssertError:
WPController.cpp(263): CCLAssertError: CCL_RETHROW: WPController::executeRendering()
LWDataRetrievalEngine.cpp(804): CCLAssertError: CCL_RETHROW: LWDataRetrievalEngine::iterateResultSets
CCLIDOM_Node.cpp(503): CCLAssertError: CCL_THROW:

This is because of not linking the Master and Detail Query properly. Later when i linked those 2 queries properly the error is resolved.

Thanks and Regards,
Soma

Cognos Interview Preparation

Hi All,
I am back. i thought of preparing for some technical interviews. Since i have been into IT field last 2 yrs, Its worth to get thorough in one. So i started of with cognos Reportnet. Following are sone Interview Questions i collected from net.

1) What is the difference between macros and prompt?
Macro No Idea, Prompt is to filter the data.
2) WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIST REPORT AND CROSSTAB REPORT?
List report show data in rows and columns versus a crosstab report show data in grids with dimension in rows and columns and measures in cells or in the intersection points.
3) Give me some examples for Lifecycle reporting, I mean which lifecycle we will use for reporting?
There is no specific reporting lifecycle. We can generate the reports from datawarehouse/data marts or we can generate the reports directly from OLTP systems.
wt i mean generating reports from OLTP systems is Loading data into one system and generating the reports. But this is not recommended.
This will depends on the business.
4) How we check the errors before running the report?
Validate the report icon in the tool bar
5) What is the difference between group and association?
Group - It Eliminates the Duplicate values from the report break the columns it’s having a one to many relationship.
Association- It Eliminates the Duplicate values from the report and its having one-one relationship....
6) What is IQD? What is contained in IQD? How you create IQD in ReportNet Framework?
IQD Is impromptu query definition, the name it self indicating dat , it contains the SQL statement. To create the iqd in Frame work manager, Create a new query subject with required query items .Set the Externalise method property of that Query subject to 'iqd'.
While the publishing the package select the 'Generate the files for Externalized query subjects'. and publish it to the local machine, which can be used as data source for Transfromer model.
7) What is a loop in Framework manager?
Loop is an very dangerous exception in framework manager we can resolve the loop create alias table. loop Dispaly wrong results in the reportnet.
A Loop is a Closed Path Circuit.
Avoid loops:using shortcuts.we have ambiguous relationships types:hierarchical relationships,recursive relationships,multi-valid relationships.to avoid these relationships using shortcuts.
8) How to create cubes in transformer ?
9) How to create users and permissions in cognos?
Users and Permissions can be given in Access manager - Administration.
Individual users can be created using their names or their Ids (if any) in Access manager and then be given permissions.
This tool is loaded when you install Cognos 7.x in your machine.
In content manager--we have one component called cognos process manager.using process manager we can integrate with third party tools like LDAP or NTLM.we can not create users in reportnet directly.in real time we can use LDAP.
10) What s Cognos Visualizer and Cognos Scripting?

Cognos Visualizer is a tool for creating charts(bar, pie, histogram......) & maps using datasources(datafiles like mdc,iqd,csv,excel etc).

Cognos scripting is like a language, with this we will create macros, Macro is a set of instructions to run a report

Transformer Model files

Hi All,

I am new to Powerplay transformer. Since i have got some experience on the Other OLAP tool SSAS (SQL SERVER ANALYSIS SERVICES), I didnt find this tough enough to learn. I have learnt some primitive steps on how to build the cube in Powerplay but that is not enough for designing big cubes and not well versed on the design considerations. Sure i hope i will gain fluentzy as the day proceeds.

If you are worked in Powerplay Transformer, you may wonder why we need 2 formats of model files (.mdl and .py?) like me. I found out what are the advantages and dis-advantages of 2 model file formats.

If you come across the Cognos Transformer a OLAP tool to model your cubes, you will be familiar with two file types .pyi and .mdl. The base model for the Cube will be saved in these formats. I wonder why we need two formats to save the model? And what is the major difference between these 2 formats.

Today as I browsed through the help files of the cognos documentation, I come across a File named pp_trns_mdl.pdf (Transformer MDL Reference) which explains all about the MDL. I assure you that I not even looked into those files after I install cognos 2 weeks back .lol!

I just skimmed thru the first few pages of that document; I was absorbed by the answer which I was looking for? The first chapter itself explains about the difference between two formats.

Now let’s look at the different features of those two file type (which is in the File I mentioned):

.mdl – Features

1) You can open the Models saved in the .mdl format in the User interface or in the text editor.
2) The .mdl format is the plain text representation of the model that is compatible between the versions of Transformer.
3) It loads more slowly than .py? Format because it creates all of the transformer objects when it loads.
4) Models saved in the .mdl format are machine independent.

.py? – Features

1) The py? Format is the binary representation of the model.
2) It is not compatible between the versions of the Transformer.
3) It loads faster than .mdl format because the Transformer Objects are not recreated when the model reloads.
4) In general .py? Models are larger than .mdl files.
5) As you edit the model, the size of the associated .py? file increases because it maintains the information on the operations performed during model editing.
6) Transformer uses this information in the variety of contexts such as Client-Server Operations and incremental updates.

Tip provided in the same help file: Storing model operations can cause model fragmentation within the binary model. To eliminate this fragmentation save .py? models periodically in .mdl format.

Best practice: It is a best practice to save your model files both in .mdl and .py? formats.

bye..

Error in Drill though Report

Hi All,

I am trying to run a drill through report from a cube. We are passing a set of parameters from the cube to the report which includes date range. This error is specific when you use data range in Drill through reports.

Error:

RSV-SRV-0032 - Unsatisfied parameter values are preventing the report from running. It is possible that a query used to populate a Prompt control depends on a parameter from either the report or the model.

Solution:

When i tried with the solution in the KB link, it is resolved. The solution is casting the date filter of the drill through report to date type.

The following Cognos KB link will explain about this error in detail.

http://support.cognos.com/knowledgebase/googlesearch?load_kb_document=1&dr=kb1&uniqueid=126199

Error in Big PDF Reports

Hi All,

If you ever wonder what will happen if the reports are too big to be rendered in PDF formats. I faced this following error when i try to render a massive number of records in PDF format.

CCLSystemError:0:Fatal: CCLVirtualMemoryMgr::write failed. Error 0

I found out a solution for this in ITtoolbox in the following thread.

The rootcause of this error is - Report PDF is too long to render.

Meet you all with more errors...

Chart Baseline issue in Excel

Hi All,

I have posted one question one month before in the ITtoolbox forum regarding this issue.

Please find my post below.

Hi,
We are using Cognos Report MR1.3.
We have created a Combination Chart Report.
We are showing the baseline of the chart in the separate color.
When we render the report in PDF and HTML, i can able to see that baseline in the report.
But when i render the report in excel format, we are unable to find the baseline of the combination chart in Excel.
Please help us in this regard ASAP.

Later I found out that the base line in the charts are not supported in the excel format report.

I am able to see the baseline in PDF and html formats of the report.

I also found that cognos has some list of limitations which are not supported in the excel reports.

Your comments are welcome on this...

Model Connection Error

Hi All,

I am getting one error when i try to modify the report of Model1 but the model connection is pointing to some other Model.

Error: ‘RSV - DR - 0004: Unable to find the MetadataRequest connection string’.

Later i found out the cause and rectified by changing the model connection. Next time when you do any modifications between different environments, make sure model connections are correct.

Cognos Error - Exception Encountered when building the cube

Its been long time since i blogged here. Good to see you all again after a long time.

I am getting one starange error in the report - QE-DEF-0425 Exception was encountered while building the cube. We didnt get this error when devloping the report.

This error was not coming before, but it’s started coming suddenly now. The Document#: 1009022 in Cognos Knowledge Base explains the problem but does not give any appropriate solution. :-)

Please find below for the description and cause of this problem (I took from Cognos KB doc).

Description:
Intermittent error encountered when executing a cross tab report.
Error Message:
QE-DEF-0425 Exception was encountered while building the cube
RSV-SRV-0025 Unable to execute this request
Solution:
The maximum size for a measure in a crosstab and chart is 19 digits. You can use the maximum of 19 integer with 0 decimal precision. The default decimal precision is 7, so 100000000000 works but 1000000000000 would generate the error.
If default precision is already been set properly, increase the cgi script timeouts on the web server.
Steps:
1. Open CQEConfig.xml file from \configuration in a text editor. If the has an extension .sample, please rename it to CQEConfig.xml.
2. Change the following line:

to

Note: The value="4" may be set lower if needed.

Project in Framework Manager

Context of Project: A project in Framework Manager (Hereafter referred to as FM) is set of objects that you organize for reporting authors based on the business model and business rules of your organization.

A FM Project appears a s a folder that contains a project file and a set of xml files which supports the Project. These files are unique to each project.

1) Project name.cpf – References the XSD and XML files used to define the project.
2) Model.xml – The actual model data created by the FM Users.
3) Preferences.xml – Preferences of FM Projects.
4) Customdata.xml – Stored diagram information, stored diagram layout, notation, font and Color.
5) Repository.xml – Logged Version history of each project or segment that was added to the repository. This files exists only if u add the files to the repository.
Thanks,
Soma