COGNOiSe.com - The IBM Cognos Community

IBM Cognos Analytics Platform => Cognos Analytics => Reporting => Topic started by: Blacksails on 22 Sep 2017 04:44:43 PM

Title: Multiple Packages and joins
Post by: Blacksails on 22 Sep 2017 04:44:43 PM
Hello everybody, i know that is possible to add and use more than package on a report.but i want to know if is it possible to use toolbox of queries and using joins and set operations between two queries from different packages.If no, will  be it released in a future releases ?it is possible to use data module and packages in same report? Thank you

Inviato dal mio SM-T719 utilizzando Tapatalk

Title: Re: Multiple Packages and joins
Post by: adam_mc on 25 Sep 2017 10:02:35 AM
As far as I know, unless there has been some new enhancement for 11.0 (we are on 11.0.6), it is not possible to use more than one package in a report.
We have worked around this by creating packages containing multiple namespaces/query subjects and then using joins/unions in Report Studio.
You will need to get together with your Framework Manager modeler to create the appropriate package to satisfy your reporting needs.

I am not overly familiar with data modules.
However, It does seem that you can create a data module from a package:

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ca_mdlg.doc/c_data_modules.html

It also seems to indicate that you can potentially use more than one package (although it appears there are limitations):

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ca_mdlg.doc/t_ca_mldg_src_package.html

Hope this helps.
Adam.
Title: Re: Multiple Packages and joins
Post by: robblob on 25 Sep 2017 10:25:47 AM
Quote from: adam_mc on 25 Sep 2017 10:02:35 AM

I am not overly familiar with data modules.
However, It does seem that you can create a data module from a package:

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ca_mdlg.doc/c_data_modules.html

It also seems to indicate that you can potentially use more than one package (although it appears there are limitations):

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ca_mdlg.doc/t_ca_mldg_src_package.html

Hope this helps.
Adam.

You can use a package as a data source for a module, but it pulls it in as a package and does not expose the query subjects or items within.  I've exhausted all that I know to do to join two packages together in report studio, but haven't found anything that works, unfortunately.  I have gone back to framework manager to make the desired joins.
Title: Re: Multiple Packages and joins
Post by: adam_mc on 25 Sep 2017 11:05:51 AM
When I first started with Cognos, it seemed perfectly reasonable to want to use more than one package in a report.

However, over the years, as I've become more experienced in Cognos, it has really become apparent to me that it is the correct definition of a package in the FM model that drives everything. 
For me, by definition, a package should contain all the necessary elements to allow all the necessary use cases.
So, it doesn't surprise me that IBM hasn't added this in CA 11 - In my opinion, I'm not sure they ever will.

If you think you need to use more than one package, then those two (or more) packages weren't designed in such a way as to satisfy all the necessary reporting requirements.
Therefore, going back to the FM model is the appropriate course of action.

You then need to decide whether to redesign those existing packages to contain all the necessary elements or create another package which combines the two.
Be careful if you choose to redesign your existing packages as this potentially may cause problems for any existing reporting over those packages.

Title: Re: Multiple Packages and joins
Post by: Lynn on 26 Sep 2017 02:45:43 AM
A report may be based on multiple packages only if they are published using Dynamic Query Mode (DQM). If you want to use the new dashboard tool in 11 over packages they will also need to be DQM.

Dashboard-style reports that present KPIs across different areas of a business are one example of a situation where multiple packages within a report are needed.