Framework manager - determinants

[Sep2013]

Hi everyone,

I am required to create a proof of concept on framework manager.
The client has got 2 star schema data sources from sql server 2012.
Named as

I am working forst time on creating a model from scratch, yr help will be really appreciated.

[velniaszs]

Probably your database view in FM will look something like this (see printscreen). make sure that both facts tables are at the same dimensional level (if not use determinants i.e. if yor facts have different time dimensional levels use determinants on time dimension). After that create DMR level. and you are good to go.

[Lynn]

I hope you've read the manuals and best practice documents to get an idea of how to use the tool properly.

What strikes me is that you have two fact tables containing redundant information....detail and summary. The summary also has targets which means they must be at a higher level of granularity compared to the detail facts. I'd suggest modeling the detail fact table and only the target portion of the summary table. You will need to specify determinants. What other reason would there be to combine the two fact tables beyond comparing targets to actuals?

If you model the common metrics (sales, churn, etc) from both the detail and summary fact tables then it will require the user to understand which metric to pick based on whether they want detail or summary information. Modeling only the detail means you allow Cognos to generate SQL to handle the aggregation of the detail and combine with targets based on multi-fact multi-grain modeling.

[velniaszs]

It was created from 1 fact table (another is a copy fact table ) and some dimensions just to ilustrate relationships between two fact tables. But thanks for identifying issues :)

[Sep2013]

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[blom0344]

I was wondering: Is the credibility issue about whether Cognos is the proper tool or about whether you are the right person for the assignment?  If your skills are basic, then I do not think it is a fair proposition to expect us to design your model.  If this is about positioning Cognos as the right tool, then why not use sample models to demonstrate how it good it is (and it really is  !!)

[Sep2013]

1

[Sep2013]

I am developing FM model, and need help in reviewing my steps.
Steps:
1) bring all data from sql server 2013 to FM without joins.
2)Create namespace for database layer.
3)Move all query subjects to "database" layer.
4)Create joins between different query subjects, check properties for identity,attribute and fact. select prompt types, chec the data types.
4)Create a "Logical Layer" .
5)Create Query Subjects.
6)Map them to query subjects from data base layer.
7)Now "detail fact table" has only "Actual" measures while "Summary table" has "target" and "MTD Actual" values.
8)Fact Net Adds Detail schema has one fact table linked to service detail, companyentity,customers,date,plan definition, plan grouping and provider type.
9)Fact Net Adds Summary has one fact table which includes all facts from above detail table plus target and MTD values, and is linked to CompanyEntity, date, plan grouping and provider type.
10)This means target and MTD values are not at level of service detail, customers and plan definition.
11) I think I need to use determinants to solve this.
12) Should I create one query subject named "Measures" in logical layer and import "Actual" values from detail table and "Target and MTD" values from summary table?
13) How should I specify determinants for them (going into each and every fact?)
14)After I do that, is there anything left to be done in logical layer?
15)Create a presentation layer.
16)create regular dimensions and measure dimensions from logical layer.
17)Rename query items with business names.
18)Publish the package?

[blom0344]

Librealo,
You marked my reply as 'offensive' which triggered a message from the admin directed to me. I can understand that you are in a hurry, hence the URGENT in the post title, but apart from that you are also asking us to tell you how to build your model.  Personally I think that is just too much. As if you are expecting a sort of online training based on a model we have to visualize to give advice on.
The whole idea of peer-to-peer is to answer technical questions on specific topics, assuming participants have had some form of training. An increasing number of new forum members expect a sort of Cognos helpdesk that will provide them answers as if they are entitled to it. (and quickly, mind you)  We're very much motivated to give input on specific issues,but we're not paid to..

[Sep2013]

.

[blom0344]

Well, starting a topic with URGENT ( or HELP for that matter) could be considered 'rude' I guess. If you had any sense at all in the matter, why not send me a personal message, explain your predicament or discuss the nature of my reply.  You are in over your head with this assignment , Cognoise can give you feedback on certain issues, but it's your project. We are not able to open it in FM. As mentioned by another member, the documentation deals extensively with determinants , conformed dimensions and the lot.  Start with the POC and if tecnical issues arise, then post the specifics for us to comment on

[Lynn]

Libraleo (now known as Sep2013),
I responded to your post with a number of things for you to consider and study further. You sent me a personal message shortly thereafter asking me to guide you without indicating any effort on your part to review or act on the information I'd already provided. This crosses over from polite to pushy in my opinion.

Secondly, your personal message addressed me as "Sir." I can understand names may not always be an easy way to detect gender, but my gender is noted on my profile so you could have easily figured out that I am Female. It is ignorant in this day and age to assume that people participating in a technology field are all male.

Finally, I feel that blom0344 gave you a very good suggestion on how to illustrate the capabilities of Cognos given your inexperienced status with the product. Everything you had posted up until that point was essentially saying "here is what I need to do...and please help me with step by step instructions to achieve it". I agree 100% with blom's assessment.

Calling out suggestions that you simply don't want to hear as offensive is not the way to endear yourself within the community.

That said, my advice to you is to have an honest conversation with your employer before the sale is lost. Request training, research the courses that will help you get to the next level with the product. Ask for mentoring from other, more senior, resources in the organization. You can gain practical experience by "shadowing" an experienced developer who prepares the POC.

[MFGF]

I am developing FM model, and need help in reviewing my steps.
Steps:
1) bring all data from sql server 2013 to FM without joins.
2)Create namespace for database layer.
3)Move all query subjects to "database" layer.
4)Create joins between different query subjects, check properties for identity,attribute and fact. select prompt types, chec the data types.
4)Create a "Logical Layer" .
5)Create Query Subjects.
6)Map them to query subjects from data base layer.
7)Now "detail fact table" has only "Actual" measures while "Summary table" has "target" and "MTD Actual" values.
8)Fact Net Adds Detail schema has one fact table linked to service detail, companyentity,customers,date,plan definition, plan grouping and provider type.
9)Fact Net Adds Summary has one fact table which includes all facts from above detail table plus target and MTD values, and is linked to CompanyEntity, date, plan grouping and provider type.
10)This means target and MTD values are not at level of service detail, customers and plan definition.
11) I think I need to use determinants to solve this.
12) Should I create one query subject named "Measures" in logical layer and import "Actual" values from detail table and "Target and MTD" values from summary table?
13) How should I specify determinants for them (going into each and every fact?)
14)After I do that, is there anything left to be done in logical layer?
15)Create a presentation layer.
16)create regular dimensions and measure dimensions from logical layer.
17)Rename query items with business names.
18)Publish the package?

Is this for your POC or is this for a real client project?

What documentation have you studied so far? Did you look at the best-practice documents on the Proven Practice website as suggested by Lynn? A lot of this is covered off. However...

If I were building a project like this from scratch, I would first set up my namespaces. It seems redundant to import your data source query subjects, then create the namespace for them, then move them into the namespace. Why not create the namespace first and import them directly into the namespace?

As Lynn alluded to earlier, there's no point bringing in the aggregated measures from your second fact table if you already have the underlying detail measures in your first fact table. If there are any measures (such as the target and MTD values) in the second fact that are not held in the first, then bring these in to the second fact query subject, but the other measures are redundant. Don't be tempted to put them into the same query subject if they are at different granularities - here lies the way to endless pain and remorse :)

If the only difference in granularity (of the facts) is based on one dimension (Time) - ie one fact table is at daily level and the other is at monthly level - then your required determinants would be defined in the Time query subject. The first would be for month - with group by checked, and the second would be for day with unique checked.

When you create your measure dimensions, you will probably need to think about setting the scope relationship for your second measure dimension so that the measures in it are in scope with the Month level (not the day level).

On a personal note, I was very disappointed to see your response to Blom's post. He was trying to help but you took offence all too easily. Reporting a normal user is a drastic step, but reporting a moderator has even bigger implications for that individual, because the site owners get involved. If a moderator misbehaves, it's appropriate that this happens, but in this instance he really was trying to help you, and wasn't aiming to be offensive in any way. In return you put him in a difficult position, then afterwards edited your post so others couldn't see your angry response. I see this as very poor forum etiquette, and I would politely but firmly ask you to think more carefully before reacting like this in future. The aim of users and moderators alike on here is to help one another, but please do realise that people volunteer their time, skills and knowledge for no reward. Moderators also volunteer extra time and effort in keeping these forums tidy and free from spam. I think I will leave this as a gentle warning this time. Please see others' posts as attempts to help you and do not be so quick to respond angrily in future.

MF.

[blom0344]

The OP and I had a bit of a PM exchange to clear matters, which is a valuable addition to posting directly on Cognoise. I appreciate he took the step to send the first PM and I hope he will still contribute on this great forum of ours!

[MFGF]

The OP and I had a bit of a PM exchange to clear matters, which is a valuable addition to posting directly on Cognoise. I appreciate he took the step to send the first PM and I hope he will still contribute on this great forum of ours!

Thanks for the update Ties. I'm really pleased things are cleared up :) I think Libraleo / Sep2013 is a she, by the way - at least that's what I am deducing from the registered email address :)

MF.

[blom0344]

Hm, starting to get curious. You would - in that case - expect that a girl would correctly 'guess' Lynn's gender   ;)

[MFGF]

Are you telling me Lynn is a girl too? ;)

[Lynn]

You guys are funny  ;D

I think my age (which isn't on my profile) puts me quite a way past "girl" into the "ma'am" or "(old-ish) lady" territory.

;)

[blom0344]

At my age you are definitely still a 'girl'  8)

[MFGF]

You guys are funny  ;D

I think my age (which isn't on my profile) puts me quite a way past "girl" into the "ma'am" or "(old-ish) lady" territory.

;)

Ah! So you *are* female? I shall henceforth call you "Ms Lynn" so I don't forget your gender. Either that or you should email me every day to remind me :)

If you're into "Ma'am" or "lady of mature years" territory, I'm convinced that also puts me into the "old codger" classification. :)

MF.

[RKMI]

Ah! So you *are* female? I shall henceforth call you "Ms Lynn" so I don't forget your gender. Either that or you should email me every day to remind me :)

If you're into "Ma'am" or "lady of mature years" territory, I'm convinced that also puts me into the "old codger" classification. :)

MF.

NERD!!! Sorry, I was not the only one thinking this reply  ;D

[Lynn]

Or perhaps Geek is more appropriate  ;)
I suspect most of us here fall into one camp or the other

http://io9.com/the-difference-between-geeks-and-nerds-settled-by-a-ge-590379134
http://www.mastersinit.org/geeks-vs-nerds/

[RKMI]

Or perhaps Geek is more appropriate  ;)
I suspect most of us here fall into one camp or the other

http://io9.com/the-difference-between-geeks-and-nerds-settled-by-a-ge-590379134
http://www.mastersinit.org/geeks-vs-nerds/

Ahh!!!! Nice share Lynn. I'm glad like "Vampires (or) Jersey Shore (or) Harry Potter (or) Real Housewives" are not on either infographic.

[MFGF]

Or perhaps Geek is more appropriate  ;)
I suspect most of us here fall into one camp or the other

http://io9.com/the-difference-between-geeks-and-nerds-settled-by-a-ge-590379134
http://www.mastersinit.org/geeks-vs-nerds/

Hilarious! :)

I think I fall fairly and squarely in the middle of the two camps! Does that make me a gerd?

[cognostechie]

I think I am Nerd transitioning to a Geek so does that makes me a Neek   ?

MFGF - Gerd would mean that first you are a Geek and then a Nerd ?  ;)

It might have to do something with the percentage of each category you are in.