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IBM Cognos 8 Platform => COGNOS 8 => Framework Manager => Topic started by: wyconian on 21 May 2008 05:31:30 AM

Title: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: wyconian on 21 May 2008 05:31:30 AM
Hi all

I've just joined a new project and have been looking at the framework.  My colleagues have set up some (not all) of the facts to use summary calculations e.g. total(net_sales) as opposed to just net sales. 

That strikes me as an odd thing to do in the framework as we're using auto aggregation.  Also it seems to be screwing up some functions (ranking, conditional rendering etc etc) when we use the measures in a report not to mention mixing the granularity in the fact.

Do you think I've got this right and we should make the effort to change the framework or do you think this is OK?
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: almeids on 21 May 2008 08:24:46 AM
I'm no FM expert by any means but that strikes me as odd too.
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: blom0344 on 21 May 2008 10:18:00 AM
Definitely not okay! Hardcoding aggregates is not the way to go. For one thing , this makes it literally impossible to judge the aggregate behavior from the reporting tools and makes it impossible as well to change this on the fly when needed.

Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: wyconian on 22 May 2008 05:48:16 AM
Thanks that's exactly what I thought.  The only question now is how do I tell them they should redesign, at least part of, the framework and rework the reports? Big breathe ...
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: blom0344 on 22 May 2008 06:10:50 AM
Big chance that your colleagues were used to , say , designing BO universes. (Well, I was)
Took me some time to readjust and not define the facts with hardcoded aggregates..
Good luck..
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: almeids on 22 May 2008 09:44:38 AM
Try diplomacy.  Don't start your request with "Hey dummies...".
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: wyconian on 22 May 2008 09:48:14 AM
Well that's my normal approach gone then.
Title: Re: Summary calculations in facts
Post by: almeids on 22 May 2008 12:06:09 PM
While I think the expression overused, LOL works here.   :D