My current reporting environment depends upon hotfiles because our data team is so darn lazy... But what replaces hotfiles with Cognos 8?
database tables :P
Hotfiles are no longer supported.
You could try and "create virtual" tables in FM (e.g.
you can use the following as the sql for a Query Subject (using sql server) :
SELECT 1 as EMP_NO, 'Jack' as Name
union ALL
SELECT 2, 'Bill'
union all
...
or for Oracle:
SELECT 1 as EMP_NO, 'Jack' as Name from dual;
union ALL
SELECT 2, 'Bill' from dual;
)
You can also use XML or CSV files as datasources...
So these Virtual Tables are exactly that, Virtual? If you access a field from the table it will actually execute SQL to bring the data set then query that data set?
They are created in the RDMS memory as soon as you run the query.
You can treat a query subject created with the above sql as any other normal database table.
There's only one but... If you add an extra line to your query subject you'll have to republish the package again.
Which means what exactly? The Cognos 8 Implimentation hasn't happened yet, so I am not accustomed to it yet.
Also can this be automated? Run this Query every week, for example.
Is there a size limit to these? If we get too crazy with this, will degrade the servers? This would be a huge win for us. We could basically create our own summary tables and make reporting very easy.
Publishing can be automated, but I would recommend you to create some custom tables in your/an RDBMS because these can be indexed and are easier to maintain....
As far as I know there's no limit to these "virtual tables". But I think it's better to sit down with a consultant and examine what the best possibilities are...
You could e.g. also consider using Composite Information Server that can do the things also and maybe even better... Composite Information Server (CIS) is an application that you can download from the cognos site and it comes with C8. I think (after reading your comments again) that Composite would probably even better suit you, because you can use CIS as a data layer between your RDBMS and C8 and that can be used to automatically fill your "hotfile" tables. CIS uses MySQL for its repository. But again I would advise you to sit down with an experienced C8 consultant.
How are you using the hotfiles? Are they really meant to overcome the fact that multiple queries are not easily accomplished in Impromptu? C8 can handle multiple queries in a single report, and those queries can be joined with customized cardinality. As long as you model the entire scope of data together, C8's report studio can overcome a lot of shortcomings in the model/mart.