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Bookmark: “cognos” on SlideShare

slantyyz — 2010-03-25 07:24:53 EST

A good source of instructional PPT decks related to Cognos. Courtesy of Acumetrics.

Code Snippet: IBM Cognos Framework: Documenting the Framework model in HTML using an XSLT Transformation

Acumetrics — 2010-03-24 14:52:56 EST

You've just finished creating your Framework model and published it to your portal for your users. You now have the task to create a functional specification document that your users, future developers, business sponsors etc. will need to reference. The Model Report available in Framework Manager is not in a format that most users can follow so what are your options?

This process to create a nicely formatted HTML report involves transforming the Framework model.xml file into the HTML document by using an XSLT transformation in a Pentaho job. The process is quite simple. You can install the code by downloading the files found in the attached ZIP. Follow the instructions in the demo link for a step-by-step walk through of the process.

The XSLT file was created by the folks at Braintapper and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy. We use this process to document the Framework models for our client's frameworks. I'd like to thank the Braintapper developers for the code.

Notes: You will need to upload the CSS files to your hosting website and replace the CSS file locations in the getelements.xsl file so that they point to your hosted domain.

XSLT Code - Download Code

Instructions - Instructional Video

Code Snippet: SQL Server: Moving the tempdb

slantyyz — 2010-03-24 11:29:49 EST

If you need to move the tempdb to another drive in SQL Server, use this SQL:

use master
go
Alter database tempdb modify file (name = tempdev, filename = 'E:\Sqldata\tempdb.mdf')
go
Alter database tempdb modify file (name = templog, filename = 'E:\Sqldata\templog.ldf')
Go

Don't forget to modify the paths according to your own server paths.

Code Snippet: SQL Server: Updating Logins after a Detach or Restore

slantyyz — 2010-03-24 11:26:34 EST

If you ever migrate a SQL Server database from one server to another, you'll find that the database IDs get messed up when you reattach the database.

Use the SQL below to migrate the database's legacy ids to the new server's ids:

USE dbname
go
EXEC sp_change_users_login 'Update_One', 'oldid', 'newid'

Code Snippet: Quick Conversion of Month Abbreviations to Numbers

slantyyz — 2010-03-24 11:16:56 EST

Whether you're working in Cognos, Pentaho or some other BI tool, you'll inevitably be given a data element with a date format your system doesn't like.

Usually it involves a month abbreviation and having to convert it to a number.

Not all formula languages provide this type of conversion with a built-in command.

The first solution that usually comes to mind is an if->elseif or case / switch block to handle the month abbreviation conversion.

There is a quicker way to do this, using the string location function in your tool of choice, which of course, is never the same between tools.

Here's a quick version in pseudocode:
FIND(UCASE("Jan");"###JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC"))/3

Let's walk through my pseudocode.

FIND is the command that I want to use for searching my string, and here's the syntax: FIND(needle;HAYSTACK)

It should return me with the first position of the string when found. In some formula languages, it's substr or substring.

Gotcha: Some FIND commands are indexed at 1, others at 0. That means the first character could return 0 or 1. I'm going to assume that FIND returns 0. If your FIND command returns 1, you'll have to adjust accordingly.

So let's look at the string positions:

###JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
012345678901234567890123456789012345678

A couple of things worthy of note. I've indexed with zero, and I've left-padded my string with hashes (#). Because of how my pseudocode FIND works, searching for "JAN" will return 3, since that's the first character position it finds. "FEB" will return 6, "MAR" will return 9 and so on.

Since each of these results are divisible by 3, all I need to do is return the position divided by 3 to give me the month number. If your FIND command is indexed with 1, then the string positions would look like this:

##JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
12345678901234567890123456789012345678

You should only pad your haystack string with 2 hashes in this case.

So to recap, perform an uppercase conversion on your abbreviation in case your FIND command is case sensitive, and divide the "found" position by 3.

Easy peasy.

Bookmark: Beware of "Imagine if..." - (37signals)

slantyyz — 2010-03-24 07:15:08 EST

37Signals has a nice bit on managing scope creep. Their example is in software development, but it's quite universal.

Bookmark: Professors cite challenges in teaching BI in college

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 10:12:40 EST

Is it that hard to teach BI in courses?

A lack of dummy data? Haven't these professors heard of crowdsourcing? Microsoft's own dummy data is available for download.

I see a lot of excuses that might have flown 10 years ago, but they don't fly with me today.

Bookmark: When knowledge makes us hesitate - (37signals)

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 09:10:52 EST

37 signals has a nice little nugget on how new information will make you hesitate and put you on the defensive.

Question: Is Braintapper Exchange Open Sourced?

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 08:53:45 EST

Can I get a copy for my own site?

Bookmark: Visual Business Intelligence - Big BI is Stuck: Illustrated by SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 08:27:12 EST

In a counter post to my previous link to a Beye white paper. While the Beye paper is really sponsored advertorial, Stephen Few's post provides better insight between the differences between "Big BI" vs. "Small BI", and the difference is usability.

Question: How do I set up my user picture/avatar?

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 07:24:48 EST

I notice that some users seem to have a customized picture beside their name. How do I do that?

Bookmark: BeyeRESEARCH - Ease of Use and Interface Appeal in Business Intelligence Tools

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 07:21:05 EST

Registration Required.

BeyeResearch has a white paper on usability in business intelligence tools.

Keep in mind that the author is NOT a usability expert in the same vein as a Jakob Neilsen or Donald Norman, but you might find something interesting there. I didn't find anything more than common sense stuff.

The main problem with enterprise software developers is that they spend more time on completing feature checklists instead of pursuing feature excellence, which in itself includes usability. Most of the developers in BI probably don't even eat their own dogfood in that they aren't really using the crappy software they develop.

Anyways, check it out.

Bookmark: SmartData Collective: Market Decision Making

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 07:10:57 EST

SmartData has a nice little article on decision making, once you get past the Teradata plug at the end of the article.

Question: How do I leave feedback?

slantyyz — 2010-03-23 07:04:59 EST

If I see a bug, or have a suggestion, how do I leave feedback?

Bookmark: The Braintapper Blog / Quick Review: Wall Street Journal Guide to Information Graphics

slantyyz — 2010-03-22 16:12:13 EST

A quick review of Dona Wong's new visualization book.