Simulating nested queries - Rollup

[bje]

Hi I am new to Report Studio and I need to summarize data over and over again for a report.  I felt putting that logic into a view was the best choice since I am primarily a DBA, but without params the view runs forever on DB2 and I am Oracle.  Was told to do it in the studio.  Right now I am trying to have one query, query another as many times as it takes to get all the sums,counts etc.  Will this path be successful ?  I looked for some kind of rollup but summaries are just footer entries and grouping is not the same is a rollup or 'Group By' in SQL.  Thanks for any direction you can give me. The docs seem to just skip right over stuff like this.

[MFGF]

Hi,

Why do you need to repeatedly summarize your data?  Can't you do it once in the query (total [your measure] for [your item]) then use the query item in several places in your report, or is there more going on?

Regards,

MF.

[bje]

Hi, well thats encouraging because I am hoping to do exactly that.  The SQL I was given from the previous attempt is nested 4 levels deep with inline views, so they seem to summarize, then join with another table and summarize again etc.  This could just be horrendous SQL or there is more to it - not sure as I dont really understand this performance report completely yet.

I got to tell you its AWESOME having someone to talk to about this stuff, so far its been me and the user guide.

THANKS!

[almeids]

It seems that developers are often thrust into the Cognos environment with no training and little more than SQL writing experience, so the tendency is to throw SQL at a problem (much like a DBA throwing views at it, no offense!).  What I'm trying to say here is I wouldn't be too reluctant to throw away what does sound like horrendous SQL; use the Cognos tools to their full advantage even if it takes a little longer at first, hand coded SQL should be a last resort.  You (or whoever has to maintain what you develop) will be glad of it later.

[bje]

almeids,

I am so happy to have people to discuss this with you cannot possibly insult me so take the kid gloves off and tell me how you feel. Now I used to fly freight and teach flying and all those licenses required book reading and passing the written exams before the checkride.  I then got certified as an Oracle DBA which was more reading and exams and this was all 10 years ago.  My point is I am trainable but I find an extreme lack of info in the user guide and dont find much else anywhere.

Am I missing a 'Reference' that goes along with the User Guide ?

Thanks!!

[almeids]

bje-
   I don't think you're missing anything, Cognos expertise (in my opinion) is not something you can easily pick up from any documentation they provide.  This is at least true of the "art", like metadata and report development, rather than the "science" of installation and setup for which the Cognos docs are suitable.
   It's been a long time since I've taken any of their training but their Fast Track courses were for me a pretty good way to get a feel for the application of the various tools and get going more quickly. 
   Aside from that you have this and other forums - check out FAQs and post anything you can't already find there.  The contributors are very knowledgeable and glad to help (sometimes too glad...for example, I contribute in this forum and don't even have Cognos 8!).
Steve

[bje]

almeids,

Excellent feedback - Thank you.  I am mulling over the advanced reporting class if they will wave the pre-req of paying and sitting thru the the intro class.  Because I am actively writing reports I should not have to sit through that I would think.  Sounds like you found value in the instructor led classes.  The CBT's seem lightweight and no advanced topics.