1z0-591 Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Essentials Questions and Answers

Security Manager – is used to setup users, groups, synchronize LDAP users and Groups, set access rights for Objects (tables, columns) and to control over when and what data a user can access.

Note: When you open the administration tool, you can reach the security manager by the Menu :

Manage > Security

Metadata Repository Builder's Guide

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/bi.1111/e10540/toc.htm

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/bi.1111/e10540.pdf

Setting an Implicit Fact Column in the Subject Area

For each subject area in the Presentation layer, you can set an implicit fact column. The

implicit fact column is added to a query when it contains columns from two or more

dimension tables and no measures. The column is not visible in the results. It is used

to specify a default join path between dimension tables when there are several possible

alternatives or contexts.

Initialization blocks are used to initialize dynamic repository variables, system session variables, and nonsystem session variables.

A: Much of the configuration of OBI that used to be done in the NQSConfig.ini files can now be done using this front end console, which in turns updates the NQSConfig.ini file. Things in the NQSConfig.ini file that are set by EM are noted in the file with '# This Configuration setting is managed by Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Manager'. Some things that needs to be setup manually in the NQSConfig.ini file are:

1. Usage Tracking

2. Dynamic Libraries

3. Query Optimization Flags

4. MDX Member Name Cache Section (SAP BW)

5. More specific General Settings where EM doesn't contain the level of detail required

D: Cache Management Techniques include

• Inspecting the cache reports

• Configuring the cache parameters

• Setting caching and cache persistence for tables

• Using the Cache Manager

• Inspecting SQL for cache entries

• Modifying the Cache Manager column display

• Purging the cache entries manually using the Cache Manager

• Purging the cache entries automatically

• Using event polling tables

• Seeding the cache

A: OBIEE Federated Repository

Instead of moving data in to a single database, OBIEE – BI Administration can access multiple databases and create a single federated repository.OBIEE BI Answer uses this federated repository and build the ad-hoc reports and dashboards.

D: Repository Metadata Consists of 3 Layers

* The Physical Layer (Schema)

* The Business Model and Mapping Layer

* The Presentation Layer

Note:

Denormalized data in the transactional system could be divided into different tables to increase performance.

Oracle Business Intelligence Office Plug-In is a Windows application that is an optional feature under the Oracle Business Intelligence Presentation Services. The Plug-In provides a way to browse the Analytics catalog, select a report, and then drop that report into Microsoft Word or Excel.

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In an Ibor or Agent, in the 'Destinations' tab you can set the 'Specific Devices' However, it is a Device or Delivery Profile the one used for alerts, see this OBIEE guide:

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User's Guide

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/bi.1111/e10544/toc.htm

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/bi.1111/e10544.pdf

page 218

What Are Devices and Delivery Profiles?

Devices and delivery profiles control how you will be reached when an alert is

generated by an agent and which devices receive the content:

¦ Device — A device is the medium used to deliver content to you. The content of

an agent can be delivered to a range of devices as an e-mail or SMS message.

¦ Delivery profile — A delivery profile specifies which devices to use to deliver

content to you, based on the priority of the content. You can define several

delivery profiles to meet your needs, and switch

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Users in Oracle BI Answers can create queries that span multiple subject areas, as long as the subject areas correspond to the same business model.

Open up the Administration tool, go to Manage then variables.

See screenshot below.

Then follow this picture to create a new Initialization Block.

Name your Initialization block init_block_test.

Dynamic Repository Variables:

You initialize dynamic repository variables in the same way as static variables, but the values are refreshed by data returned from queries. When defining a dynamic repository variable, you will create an initialization block or use a pre-existing one that contains a SQL query. You will also set up a schedule that the Oracle BI Server will follow to execute the query and periodically refresh the value of the variable.

Note: The value of a static repository value is initialized in the Variable dialog box. This value persists, and does not change until an Oracle BI Administrator decides to change it.

The Oracle BI repository development process adheres to the classic Software Configuration Management (SCM)process, which utilizes a three-way merge to manage concurrent development.

The merge process involves three repositories:

The (Original|Received|Master|Parent) repository. The repository that you received before changed. You must keep it preciously unchanged.

The Modified repository. The repository that contains the customizations you made to the original repository.

The Current repository. Generally, the repository that is in production and where some customisations could have been performed by other people.

In a multiuser environment (MUDE), Developers check out the file and make changes locally. Then, these changes are automatically reconciled and merged into the master repository.

MapViewer is shipped as part of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Its main deliverable is a J2EE application that can be deployed to a J2EE container, such as that for Oracle Fusion Middleware. MapViewer includes the following main components:

* A core rendering engine (Java library) named SDOVIS that performs cartographic rendering. A servlet is provided to expose the rendering functions to Web applications.

* A suite of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow programmable access to MapViewer features. These APIs include XML, Java, PL/SQL, and an AJAX-based JavaScript API.

* A graphical Map builder tool that enables you to create map symbols, define spatial data rendering rules, and create and edit MapViewer objects.

* Oracle Map, which includes map cache and FOI (feature of interest) servers that facilitate the development of interactive geospatial Web applications.

Oracle Maps can be configured now in the map viewer as a built in layer.

CurrentMonth can be calculated by a sql statement.

Note:

REPOSITORY VARIABLE(DYNAMIC)

· Initialized when BI server is started

· Assigned value dynamically based on the result of a query

· Value is dependent of the sql provided in Initialization Block

Create a dynamic variable and provide a Name and Default Initializer.Create a new initialization block by clicking on the New button in the above screen.

Provide Intialization Block variable Name

Click on “Edit Data Source” button and provide the sql to be used for the variable, e.g.

select lower(sys_context('USERENV','SESSION_USER'))||

'@'||

lower(sys_context('USERENV','DB_NAME'))

from dual;

Example (see step 4 and 5 below): Getting Top-N Sales Reps for Year and Year-1

1. Under the “Business Model and Mapping” Layer, right click the “F1 Revenue” and select “New Object” -> “Logical Column…”

2. In the “Logical Column” Window give for Name: Year Ago Revenue as seen below:

3. Goto the “Column Source” Tab and select “Derived from existing columns using an expression” radio button then click on the “Edit Expression” icon.

4. Enter the following expression in the “Expression Builder” Window by selecting “Functions” in the “Category:” list, “Time Series Functions” in the “Functions:” list then “Ago” “Time Series Functions:” section.

5. Select the “<>” in the “Ago( )” function, then select “Logical Tables” in the “Category:” list, “F1 Revenue” in the “Logical Tables:” list, then double click the “Revenue” in the “Columns:” list.

Etc.

The “Edit Column Formula” dialog box has a second,

very tiny tab called, “Bins.” You can use this tab to have OBIEE

build a CASE statement for you in a formula (you can also create

a CASE statement yourself by using one of the functions that

appears under “Expressions” if you want). A CASE statement is a

lot like an IF-THEN-ELSE statement, except that it’s a little easier

to read when you have multiple options. Basically, it puts values

in different buckets that you define.

Note:

Figure:

A single query can be performed accessing data from both tables through a join on the columns in the foreign key relation.

BIEE 11g Install High level Steps :

Software Required

1. Database (Oracle, IBM DB2 or MS-SQL)

2. Repository Creation Utility (RCU)

3. OBIEE 11g (11.1.1.3 is latest OBIEE as of 30 April 2011)

4. WebLogic 10.3.3 (Optional – Only required for 64 bit machine or IBM AIX)

5. JDK 1.6 64 bit (Optional – Only required for 64 bit machine)

After creating your base metrics, try using the Calculation Wizard to automate the process of creating time-series metrics or comparison metrics such as: Change, Percent Change, Index, and Percent. The Wizard may save you many hours of time and frustration, especially if you have to create more than a handful of these metrics. In addition, the Wizard allows you to include customized logic to handle nulls in the base metrics. You may refer to the Oracle documentation for further detail.

Oracle BI Cluster Server Components

* Oracle Business Intelligence Cluster Controller: The Cluster Controller determines which BI Server works in the cluster. It monitors the operation of servers in the cluster. The Cluster Controller is deployed in active-passive mode.

* Clustered BI Servers: The BI Cluster Server feature supports up to 16 BI Servers in a network domain to act as a single server. BI Servers in the cluster share requests from multiple Oracle BI clients.

* Master BI Server: A clustered Oracle Business Intelligence Server is designated as the Master BI Server. The Oracle Business Intelligence Administration Tool connects to the master BI Server for online repository changes.

* Cluster Manager: The Cluster Manager is available in the Administration Tool when a repository is opened in online mode. The Cluster Manager enables Oracle BI Server clustered instances.

Consistency check is one of the process to check whether a repository is yielding proper results in Answer reports. It checks whether;* All logical columns are mapped correctly to physical columns (B).* All logical dimension tables have a logical key.* There are at least two logical tables in the business model; one is a logical fact table, the other is logical dimension table with join condition.* There are no circular logical join relationships.* A presentation catalog exists for the business model.

Web Catalog does contain object permissions: folder, reports, etc. The repository has objects permissions to Subject Areas, etc.

B: Click Refresh All from the Oracle BI menu in PowerPoint to refresh all the refreshable objects in the presentation.

C: Right-click Table and select Insert as List from the shortcut menu. The Edit Prompts and Levels dialog box appears. Accept the default options and click Insert.

The Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration page provides the Manage Map Data link. This link displays the Manage Map Data page, where you can manage the logical and display versions of the data from various physical data sources. This defines the layers that content designers use when creating map views. The data that is available for managing maps and data is stored in Oracle Database as part of MapViewer.

Using this page, you provide:

* (A) Logical names to prevent any existing BI column mappings and map analyses from breaking because of changes to the physical data or to the data source.

* Display names so that the geographic data is meaningful to end users.

Note: Administering Maps Using Administration Pages

For (C) –layers, see 3-7 below.

For (D) –import images, see 11-12 below.

To administer maps using Administration pages:

Sign in to Oracle Business Intelligence.

In the global header, click Administration.

Click the Manage Map Data link to display the Manage Map Data page.

Click the Layers tab.

Click the Import Layers button to display the Import Layers dialog.

In the dialog, select the connection and the layers that are needed for zooming and drilling. (This tab is not prepopulated by other selections on the Administration pages. You can use any layers or images with any map.)

Click OK when you have finished selecting layers that are appropriate for the subject area with which you are working.

Back on the Layers tab, select a layer, then click the Edit Layer button to display the Edit Layer dialog in which you associate layers with attribute columns so that you can display BI data in the map view.

Click OK when you have finished editing the layer.

You use this tab to associate layers with BI data. If you use the City column in multiple subject areas, then you must associate it with a layer for each subject area.

Click the Background Maps tab, then click the Import Background Maps button to display the Import Background Maps dialog.

In the dialog, select the connection and the main maps to use.

The connection that you select for the main map can be different from the connection for the layers or images.

Click OK when you have finished selecting main maps.

Back on the Background Maps tab, select a map, then click the Edit Background Map button to display the Edit Background Map dialog in which you name the map and specify the order of layers and their zoom levels.

Click OK when you have finished editing the map.

Optionally, click the Images tab, then click the Import Images button to display the Import Images dialog. You can import images if you plan to use them as a format on maps.

In the dialog, select the connection and the images to use.

Click OK when you have finished selecting images.

Click Back when you have finished working with the Administration page. Your changes are saved automatically.

You can specify a Driving table parameter in a complex join.

Driving tables are for use in optimizing the manner in which the Oracle BI Server processes cross-database joins when one table is very small and the other table is very large.

The BI Server will query the driving table (the small one) and will get a list of values. The BI Server will then generate a second SQL using a parameterized IN list with the values from the first query.

Specifying driving tables leads to query optimization only when the number of rows being selected from the driving table is much smaller than the number of rows in the table to which it is being joined.

You do not use ODBC DSN to compare repositories.

Note: When an ODBC based application connects to a database, it connects to a logical name, the Data Source Name (DSN), which identifies the datasource to which it wants to connect.

Some external repository of configuration information holds the various DSN values that are available, together with the necessary configuration and control information needed by the ODBC driver to establish a connection and manage usage of the data source.

The DSN (data source name) is a data structure that contains the information about a specific data source (database, …), typically used by an ODBC driver to be able to connect to it.

The DSN contains information about the data source such as:

the name,

the directory,

and the driver.

On Windows, the DSN also specifies the ODBC driver to be used to access the database.

Note: This source should be combined with other sources at this level (check box)

Description: Check this box when data sources at the same level of aggregation do not contain overlapping information. In this situation, all sources must be combined to get a complete picture of information at this level of aggregation.

Note 2: To use a source correctly, the Analytics Server has to know what each source contains in terms of the business model. Therefore, you need to define aggregation content for each logical table source of a fact table. The aggregation content rule defines at what level of granularity the data is stored in this fact table.

Use the Content tab of the Logical Table Source dialog box to define any aggregate table content definitions, fragmented table definitions for the source, and Where clauses (if you want to limit the number of rows returned).

It is a best practice to create aliases for all tables. Aliases are created in the Physical Layer of the repository. Some of the benefits of using aliases are given below:

(A) * An alias is used to avoid circular joins and to configure self joins.

* You can create a join relationship which is different than the actual foreign key relationship in the database. This helps in defining relationships to meet business model criteria.

* Aliases can function in numerous ways to define business model e.g. a table can act both as a dimension and a fact using aliases.

(B) * You can rename aliases to make physical and business model easier to understand.

OBIEE - Grain (Level of summarization)

Grain definition in the context of OBIEE.

The following list describes the different grains in navigating a query:

* Aggregation grain. The grain of the aggregate source of from a level based metrics

* Query grain. The grain of the request.

* Time Series grain. The grain at which the time series function aggregation is requested.

* Storage grain. The query in the example can be computed from daily sales or from monthly sales, or from quarterly sales.

Note:

The aggregation grain is defined in the content tab of the logical table source.

When the query grain match the aggregation grain of a logical table source, this one is used to create the physical query.

Download and installation of the client

The client install executable is available for download from the More Products menu in Oracle BI Interactive Dashboards and Oracle BI Answers.

See picture below.

Purge and reseed once a week after the reports have run to improve report response time.