Course Description
IBM Cognos Transformer: Design OLAP Models (V10.2) is a four-day course that provides developers with knowledge of OLAP modeling concepts using Transformer. Participants will learn how to design, build, and maintain PowerCubes for use in IBM Cognos BI so that end users can easily analyze data.
Overview of IBM Cognos BI
- Discuss IBM Cognos and Performance Management
- Describe IBM Cognos BI components
- Explain how to extend IBM Cognos BI
Transformer Fundamentals
- Discuss the basics of OLAP analysis
- Review Transformer capabilities and its role in IBM Cognos 8 BI
- Discuss Transformer components
- Define categories and members
The Transformer Development Process
- Describe the purpose of a model plan
- Match business requirements to the model
- Discuss an approach for creating a model plan
Data sources in Transformer
- Discuss the types of data used by Transformer
- Create data source files and define properties
- Preview source data and SQL
- Add IBM Cognos data sources to the model
- Discuss data filtering
Building a Model
- Create model structures and modify property sheets
- Confirm the data source origin
- Generate categories to populate the model
- Modify the model using the dimension diagram
- Verify the model and create a PowerCube
- Publish as a data source and package
Considerations for Designing Successful PowerCubes
- Describe model types and data entities
- Define members and member unique names
- Address changes that Impact a MUN
- Discuss when category codes can change
The Time Dimension
- Define a regular time dimension
- Examine standard and nonstandard time dimensions
- Limit the range of valid dates
Relative Time
- Compare trends over time
- Set the current period
- Create relative time categories
- Customize relative time categories
Use Multiple Data Sources
- Discuss the use of multiple data sources
- Plan the data sources
- Define data source types
- Uniqueness
- Identify and resolve conflicts between data sources
- Validate a multiple data source model
- Discuss a unique move
Working with Measures
- Discuss the purpose and uses of measures
- Describe regular and calculated measures
- Set measure properties
- Compare rollup options
- Create a calculated measure
- Create calculations before or after rollups
- Create a category count
Allocated Measures
- Discuss measure allocation
- Allocate measures as a constant and by another measure
- Check measure distribution
Currency Conversion
- Apply and use currency conversion techniques
Alternate Hierarchies within a Dimension
- Discuss primary and alternate hierarchies
- Describe the benefits of alternate hierarchies
- Create an alternate drill-down path
- Define convergence levels and identify uniqueness issues
Advanced Dimensional Modeling
- Discuss techniques for customizing dimensions
- Add a new source level to an existing dimension
- Create a manual level in a dimension
- Create orphan categories
- Modify a dimension using a subdimension
- Create a special category
- Create a scenario dimension
- Use calculated columns and categories
Customize Cube Content
- Create various types of PowerCubes
- Omit dimensions and exclude measures
- Create and apply dimension views
Examine IBM Cognos Security
- Examine the security environment
- Identify the IBM Cognos BI security model
- Define authentication and authorization
- Identify security policies
Applying Security
- Review model security
- Create custom views
- Assign security to custom views
- Assign custom views to PowerCubes
- Combine custom views with dimension views
- Examine a union of custom views
Maintain Models and PowerCubes
- Maintain models and PowerCubes
- Understand data source, model, cube updates
- Synchronize the model and data source
- Incrementally update PowerCubes
- Copy and activate a newer version of the PowerCube without affecting users
Considerations for Drill Through
- Identify conformed values between data sources
- Discuss using drill through in IBM Cognos BI
- Define a report drill through
- Define a package-based drill through
- Identify drill-through values
- Discuss modeling recommendations
Optimize PowerCubes
- Examine cube groups
- Plan for disk space
- Optimize PowerCube inputs and outputs
- Determine factors that affect PowerCube build time and user response time
Partition PowerCubes
- Identify the pros and cons
- Develop a partitioning strategy
- Create a time-based partitioned cube
- Automatic vs. manual partitioning
- Understand multi-file PowerCubes
Blank Model Plans (Optional)
Identify Common Data Structures (Optional)
Agenda
Course Outline
Overview of IBM Cognos BI
Discuss IBM Cognos and Performance Management
Describe IBM Cognos BI components
Explain how to extend IBM Cognos BI
Transformer Fundamentals
Discuss the basics of OLAP analysis
Review Transformer capabilities and its role in IBM Cognos 8 BI
Discuss Transformer components
Define categories and members
The Transformer Development Process
Describe the purpose of a model plan
Match business requirements to the model
Discuss an approach for creating a model plan
Review the relationship of the model plan to the Transformer model
Data sources in Transformer
Discuss the types of data used by Transformer
Create data source files and define properties
Preview source data and SQL
Add IBM Cognos data sources to the model
Discuss data filtering
Building a Model
Create model structures and modify property sheets
Confirm the data source origin
Generate categories to populate the model
Modify the model using the dimension diagram
Verify the model and create a PowerCube
Publish as a data source and package
Considerations for Designing Successful PowerCubes
Describe model types and data entities
Define members and member unique names
Address changes that Impact a MUN
Discuss when category codes can change
The Time Dimension
Define a regular time dimension
Examine standard and nonstandard time dimensions
Limit the range of valid dates
Relative Time
Compare trends over time
Set the current period
Create relative time categories
Customize relative time categories
Use Multiple Data Sources
Discuss the use of multiple data sources
Plan the data sources
Define data source types
Uniqueness
Identify and resolve conflicts between data sources
Validate a multiple data source model
Discuss a unique move
Working with Measures
Discuss the purpose and uses of measures
Describe regular and calculated measures
Set measure properties
Compare rollup options
Create a calculated measure
Create calculations before or after rollups
Create a category count
Allocated Measures
Discuss measure allocation
Allocate measures as a constant and by another measure
Check measure distribution
Currency Conversion
Apply and use currency conversion techniques
Alternate Hierarchies within a Dimension
Discuss primary and alternate hierarchies
Describe the benefits of alternate hierarchies
Create an alternate drill-down path
Define convergence levels and identify uniqueness issues
Advanced Dimensional Modeling
Discuss techniques for customizing dimensions
Add a new source level to an existing dimension
Create a manual level in a dimension
Create orphan categories
Modify a dimension using a subdimension
Create a special category
Create a scenario dimension
Use calculated columns and categories
Customize Cube Content
Create various types of PowerCubes
Omit dimensions and exclude measures
Create and apply dimension views
Examine IBM Cognos Security
Examine the security environment
Identify the IBM Cognos BI security model
Define authentication and authorization
Identify security policies
Applying Security
Review model security
Create custom views
Assign security to custom views
Assign custom views to PowerCubes
Combine custom views with dimension views
Examine a union of custom views
Maintain Models and PowerCubes
Maintain models and PowerCubes
Understand data source, model, cube updates
Synchronize the model and data source
Incrementally update PowerCubes
Copy and activate a newer version of the PowerCube without affecting users
Considerations for Drill Through
Identify conformed values between data sources
Discuss using drill through in IBM Cognos BI
Define a report drill through
Define a package-based drill through
Identify drill-through values
Discuss modeling recommendations
Optimize PowerCubes
Examine cube groups
Plan for disk space
Optimize PowerCube inputs and outputs
Determine factors that affect PowerCube build time and user response time
Partition PowerCubes
Identify the pros and cons
Develop a partitioning strategy
Create a time-based partitioned cube
Automatic vs. manual partitioning
Understand multi-file PowerCubes
Blank Model Plans (Optional)
Identify Common Data Structures (Optional)
Audience
This offering is intended for Developers who understand the business need for ad hoc queries and analysis, and have experience gathering requirements and analyzing data. It is also recommended that students take the IBM Cognos Repo