Read Only Framework Model

[Cognosuser2019]

Hi All,

Can someone tell me the steps to make Framework Manager model read only to a group in Cognos? Only FM modelers should have edit access.

Thanks,
Reshma

[cognostechie]

Why should non FM modelers have 'read' access? What do they need it for?

[Cognosuser2019]

Our client has a group of users who will have access to the packages to perform Adhoc reporting. Those set of users need read only access to FM so that they can go through the model. And only couple of users will have edit access to FM.

[cognostechie]

They don't need to go thru the model . The package is sufficient to make reports. The package has to be designed in a way that it becomes intuitive so that the users do not have to understand the complexities of the database or how the model is constructed (relation between tables, joins etc). This is the whole key of the modeling. The purpose of modeling is to convert the technical complexities into an intuitive, user-friendly solution. If they have to go thru the model to understand it then that means the package is not good enough.

There is no way to have a read only access to the model. You can, however, copy the model to their individual desktop/laptops so that whatever they do with the model will be done in their copy and will not overwrite the original model which should be on some server. Make sure NOT to configure their desktops so that if they try to publish a package, it won't publish anywhere.

[Cognosuser2019]

Thanks for the response. They understand that package is sufficient but they want to be able to have read only access as they will be the one maintaining Cognos fully at a certain point. and I have seen FM models in read only mode earlier but don't quite remember how it was done..

[Michael75]

If your FM model is stored on a network location, you can set up folder security so that only certain groups have write access to the folder in question. Users who have only read access to this folder will see the elements of the model greyed out when they open it in FM. Perhaps this was what you've seen earlier?

[bdbits]

I am with cognostechie but if you must, what Michael75 said.

I would add that you should remember that everyone using Framework Manager - "read-only" mode or not - will require FM licensing.

[Lynn]

I would further add that Michael75's suggestion ought to be implemented anyway. This will ensure that the model files are available to authorized individuals in the organization, is safe from accidental deletes by others, and won't disappear when an employee/consultant leaves the company.

We've all probably seen posts from people asking how to retrieve a model from the content store because the model files can't be located!

[cognostechie]

If your FM model is stored on a network location, you can set up folder security so that only certain groups have write access to the folder in question. Users who have only read access to this folder will see the elements of the model greyed out when they open it in FM. Perhaps this was what you've seen earlier?

Woah ! That's nice ! I never realized it could be done thru the OS ! 

[Michael75]

Woah ! That's nice ! I never realized it could be done thru the OS ! 

I came across this technique in an international organisation where the Database Layer of the model was created and managed by one team (the one with responsibility for the DM). Other countries created their own Business & Presentation Layers model which included their own business logic, and which linked to the common DB Layer.

The point that Lynn made is very important. Granting read only access to a FM model may be an unusual requirement, outside of the linked project scenario I describe. But ensuring that only authorised people have access to the folders where your FM project (and DC model) files reside is something that every organisation should do!

[cognostechie]

I completely agree but I would prefer that practice to be implemented only for modelers. I think Lynn also meant to suggest it only for the BI team but the OP's situation demands access to users. Somehow I do not feel comfortable allowing read-only access to business users. It will invoke lot of questions and meetings because people who are not technical will end up having a hard time understanding why something was done the way it was done and I have seen people judging things based on only what applies in the current scenario without thinking why a few things were done because of how it might effect at a later date. In one company they actually disqualified the best practices because it would require more work to be done. 

[bdbits]

In one company they actually disqualified the best practices because it would require more work to be done.

Oh my... well you know what they say - never time to do it right, always time to do it over.   ::)

[Cognosuser2019]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts..Ye I think I have seen the security implemented in network location. Will try it out.

The users who would be provided read only access to FM are technical team from business side..the plan is to provide edit access to two of the users  and close to 10-15 people will have read access. They do have FM licensing for them. Rest of the Business users will not have access to FM.

Thank you all.

[cognostechie]

10-15 + 2  = 17 have license for it !  Don't ever reveal your company's name. IBM might think of conducting an audit  :D

[cognostechie]

Oh my... well you know what they say - never time to do it right, always time to do it over.   ::)

Exactly, that's what I have seen in many comanies. Now I have got used to it and started looking at it from a corporate perspective :)  Some of the mess created is actually intentional too to get more money from the business and create importance and job security for IT folks.

[Andrew Weiss]

As an alternative solution you can document you framework manager model using a MetaManager and then share the documentation with those users. The documentation can be distributed as a pdf, hosted as an html website or as a native excel document. The excel output makes for a very useful data dictionary.

Give it a try for free at http://www.bspsoftware.com/metamanager. Look for the model documented module.

-Andy.


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