Build a Cube using Cognos 8 Framework Manager

[ram]

Hi Developers,

I understand from the groups postings that Powerplay is also a part of the Cognos 8 Suite. We can also use the cubes built in Powerplay in Analysis Studio.

But, can we create a cube without Powerplay i.e. using the Cognos 8 Framework Manger. If it is possible, then does it meet the functionality of the powerplay cube in all respects...

Thanks,
Ram

[MFGF]

Hi,

You can still use Cognos Powercubes in Cognos 8, yes.  They are not created using Framework Manager, though - Cognos Transformer is still used, just as it was with PowerPlay.  You can get a "Cognos 8" badged version of Transformer, but in reality it's just Transformer 7.3 under the covers (it even installs into the cer4 folder).

Framework Manager does not create cubes.  It will allow you to model a relational or text source to achieve similar functionality to a cube (you create Regular Dimensions and Measure Dimensions, known collectively as DMR [Dimensionally Modelled Relational] structures) but behind the scenes your queries are still reading from the underlying data source(s) to bring in data, so unless you are careful performance can suffer.  To make this a viable solution your data would ideally be in a data warehouse including pre-aggregated tables or materialized views, and the database query optimizer should be aggregate-aware.

The net result is that you end up with OLAP capabilities on a non-OLAP datasource, rather than a real cube.

Best regards,

MF.

[ram]

 Hi,

Thank you for your timely response.

I read that Cognos 8 suite replaces all the previous cognos product functionalities viz. Series 7 tools, Reportnet, Metrics Manager( Development and analysis of Reports, Metrics, Cubes, etc.).

When we take a look at the various components of Cognos 8, they don't use any earlier version tools, like,

1)Report Studio and Query Studio with Framework Manger
2)Metric Studio with Metric Designer
3)Event Studio.

But, for working on Analysis Studio (for analysis of cubes), we require a CUBE built on Series 7 tool Powerplay Transformer.

Can we accept the statement that Cognos 8 Suite is still dependent on the Series 7 tools for the development of a Cube.

In the next version of Cognos 8 suite, we can expect a Cube Designer tool which publishes a cube to the Cognos 8 portal. (Because, now, we need to point a package to a cube and then use it in Analysis Studio.)

This is just for the general discussion on the Cognos 8 features.

Thanks,

Ram

[MFGF]

Hi,

Just to clarify - although Transformer installs and works just as it did in the 7.3 release, it has been officially included in the 8 release by Cognos.Ã,  When you start it up it is branded as a Cognos 8 tool (the splash screen says Cognos 8 ), and it is included in the Cognos 8 documentation and support agreements.

I could similarly say that Map Manager is the same as it was in the 7 release (for Visualizer), but as you know it's officially part of the 8 suite now - same thing with Transformer.

I'm sure Cognos would definitely not accept that the 8 release is still dependent on Series 7 cube development tools - Transformer is shipped and branded as 8 now.

I have heard lots of speculation on what's happening in future releases of 8 with regard to cube building capabilities (some of it on these very forums), but so far I have heard nothing from any official Cognos sources, so it would be remiss of me to comment on what may/may not happen in the future.Ã,  Is your statement about us being able to expect a cube designer tool a confirmed fact officially endorsed by Cognos, or just hopeful speculation of what you'd like to see? :-)

Best regards,

MF.

[mgibson]

I might add to that.  In my view Cognos 8 is certainly dependant on V7 software - even if it has been rebranded as 8.  We run a Linux platform, and you cannot get the requried PP software for creating cubes on Linux - so I certainly don't consider it to be a fully functioning part of the C8 suite.

I'm hoping they do something about this in the near future.

[BRAINMan]

Hi there,

there are some minor drawbacks when using AnalysisStudio (AS) on a relational basis. E.g., filtering is only possible within one level. Also prompting in AS is quite difficult when saving an Analyis and trying to reopen it from within CognosConnection. Performance is also a big issue. For the performance-issue we found a solution which speeds up AS tremendously. I presented this solution on the "Cognos Performance 2006" in Nürnberg/Germany in Oktober 2006. It also works with Query- and Report-Studio. This solution (so called: "Compression of Metadata") was developed for a big Automotive Company in Stuttgart/Germany and we received the Cognos Performance Award 2006 for it.

If you are interested in the conceptional way of the solution, just let me know!!!

BRAINMan

[vissuma]

Hi there,

there are some minor drawbacks when using AnalysisStudio (AS) on a relational basis. E.g., filtering is only possible within one level. Also prompting in AS is quite difficult when saving an Analyis and trying to reopen it from within CognosConnection. Performance is also a big issue. For the performance-issue we found a solution which speeds up AS tremendously. I presented this solution on the "Cognos Performance 2006" in Nürnberg/Germany in Oktober 2006. It also works with Query- and Report-Studio. This solution (so called: "Compression of Metadata") was developed for a big Automotive Company in Stuttgart/Germany and we received the Cognos Performance Award 2006 for it.

If you are interested in the conceptional way of the solution, just let me know!!!

BRAINMan

Hi BRAINMan We have lot of performance issues in Cognos 8 Analysis studio and Query studio. I am interested to know more about your solution "Compression of Metadata". I appreciate your help in this regard.

vissuma.

[BRAINMan]

Hi Vissuma,

in order to maximize performance in ReportNet or C8 there are a couple of things necessary.

Just let me give you a list of things which need to be done:

- e.g. timebased relational datamodel so that you can use one queryMacro for all QuerySubjects of your FM-Model
- merging all relevant QuerySubject to only one QuerySubject
- setting the correct entries for the determinants of all relevant QuerySubjects

The result of all these things was, that this mentioned Automotive Company close to Stuttgart doesn't see the spinning hour glass in QS anymore because of a dramatic reduction in sql-prepare-times.

There are some other things, which need to be done. I could send you some more information on this topic, if you want to. My e-mail-Adress is jkindig@braincourt.de. Feel free to contact me.

Regards, BRAINMan

[BRAINMan]

Hi Jeff,

thanks for emailing me! Jeff, this is already my third or fourth try to answer your email (with an attached document). So far, I have always got it back with an error message.

Would you just try to contact me again - but with another email address?!

Regards, Jochen

[paul_finn]

Hi Vissuma,

in order to maximize performance in ReportNet or C8 there are a couple of things necessary.

Just let me give you a list of things which need to be done:

- e.g. timebased relational datamodel so that you can use one queryMacro for all QuerySubjects of your FM-Model
- merging all relevant QuerySubject to only one QuerySubject
- setting the correct entries for the determinants of all relevant QuerySubjects

The result of all these things was, that this mentioned Automotive Company close to Stuttgart doesn't see the spinning hour glass in QS anymore because of a dramatic reduction in sql-prepare-times.

There are some other things, which need to be done. I could send you some more information on this topic, if you want to. My e-mail-Adress is jkindig@braincourt.de. Feel free to contact me.

Regards, BRAINMan

Hi BRAINMan,
I've tried contacting you at the address above but my message was rejected. Are you still available at that address or is there another one I can reach you on. I'm very interested to read about your compression of metadata technique.

Thanks & regards,
Paul

[Darek]

If it is not proprietary, could you post it here instead?

[raro]

I'm very interested to read about your compression of metadata technique.

Hi Paul, you might contact rroeber#now-consulting.de for more information also. Jochen and Ralf developed and integrated the concept together :-).

regards,
RaRo

(edit: spam-changed mailaddress)

[paul_finn]

Hi Paul, you might contact rroeber#now-consulting.de for more information also. Jochen and Ralf developed and integrated the concept together :-).

regards,
RaRo

(edit: spam-changed mailaddress)

Thanks for the update RaRo. I've sent a mail as you suggested.

Regards,
Paul