4.

2 Build a model with IBM Cognos Framework Manager

In the modeling scenario for this chapter, John Walker is the company modeler
who is creating a basic sales model based on the Great Outdoors data
warehouse. John’s requirements are to create a reporting package for IBM
Cognos BI that allows authors and analysts to query the data source for sales
information by product, time, and order methods and to compare the sales
figures to sales target values.
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 45
John has already looked at various report samples and interviewed users to
better understand how he needs to present the data to the authors. Some
authors want to perform only basic relational queries against the data source,
and other authors, particularly analysts, want the ability to navigate through the
data to better understand how the business is doing and where it is being
affected positively and negatively.
To that end, John will deliver the following packages, both based on the relational
data source:
_ A package for basic relational queries
_ A package for OLAP-style queries
We provide the final result model for this chapter as a reference in the additional
material that is supplied with this book.
4.2.1 Import metadata using Model Design Accelerator
The Model Design Accelerator is a graphical utility that is designed to guide both
novice and experienced modelers through a simplified modeling process. The
Model Design Accelerator applies IBM Cognos leading practices to produce
single star schemas quickly.
You can create multiple star schemas using the Model Design Accelerator
several times. Then, you can link the results together. You can add features to the
model using standard IBM Cognos Framework Manager functionality. The
following steps describe how to import metadata using the Model Design
Accelerator.
1. Open IBM Cognos Framework Manager, and click Create a new project
using Model Design Accelerator, see Figure 4-17.
Figure 4-17 IBM Cognos Framework Manager welcome panel
46 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
2. Enter an appropriate project name, in this example GO Sales, as shown in
Figure 4-18, and specify the location for the project. Click OK. If the specified
folder does not exist, you are prompted with a message asking if you want to
create one.
Figure 4-18 New Project dialog box
3. Select the design language for the project, in this example English, and then
click OK.
4. Select the GOSALESDW data source as shown in Figure 4-19, which was
already created by the IBM Cognos BI administrator, and then click Next.
Figure 4-19 Metadata wizard: Select Data Source dialog box
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 47
5. In the list of objects, expand GOSALESDW Tables, and then select the
following tables:
– GO_TIME_DIM
– SLS_ORDER_METHOD_DIM
– SLS_PRODUCT_DIM
– SLS_PRODUCT_LOOKUP
– SLS_PRODUCT_TYPE_LOOKUP
– SLS_PRODUCT_LINE_LOOKUP
– SLS_SALES_FACT
6. Click Continue. The IBM Cognos Framework Manager User Guide window
opens, displaying information about the Model Design Accelerator. The
information in this window explains the steps to create a model using the
Model Design Accelerator. You can close this window.
7. In the Model Accelerator pane, right-click the Fact Table query subject in the
center of the pane, and click Rename.
Modeler permissions: If given appropriate permission, modelers can also
create their own data source connections either through the Metadata
wizard by clicking the New button or directly in IBM Cognos Administration
by selecting Configuration Data Source Connections. Refer to the
IBM Cognos BI Administration and Security Guide for details about how to
create a data source connection.
48 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
8. Type Sales Fact to rename the fact query subject, and then press Enter. The
result displays. See Figure 4-20.
Figure 4-20 Model Accelerator pane
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 49
9. In the Explorer tree pane, expand gosalesdw SLS_SALES_FACT, as
shown in Figure 4-21, select the measures that follow, and then drag those
measure to the Sales Fact query subject shown in Figure 4-22 on page 50.
Figure 4-21 Model Design Accelerator: Explorer Tree
50 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
Figure 4-22 Model Design Accelerator with query items added to Sales Fact
10.Rename New Query Subject 1 to Products.
11.In the Explorer tree pane:
a. Expand the SLS_PRODUCT_LINE_LOOKUP table, and drag the
PRODUCT_LINE_EN data item into the Products query subject.
b. Expand the SLS_PRODUCT_TYPE_LOOKUP table, and drag the
PRODUCT_TYPE_EN data item into the Products query subject.
c. Expand the SLS_PRODUCT_LOOKUP table, and drag the PRODUCT_
NAME data item into the Products query subject.
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 51
The Relationship Editing Mode for: Products dialog box opens. See
Figure 4-23.
Figure 4-23 Model Design Accelerator Relationship Editing dialog box
This dialog box opens because IBM Cognos Framework Manager cannot
determine the relationship between the SLS_PRODUCT_LOOKUP table and
the SLS_SALES_FACT table. You need to establish the relationship yourself.
52 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
12.Ctrl-click SLS_PRODUCT_LOOKUP - PRODUCT_NUMBER and
SLS_PRODUCT_DIM PRODUCT_NUMBER.
13.Click the Create a Model Relationship icon in the top-left corner of the
dialog box. The Modify the Relationship dialog box opens. See Figure 4-24.
Figure 4-24 Modify the Relationship dialog box
The SLS_PRODUCT_ LOOKUP table has an entry for each product for each
language, which results in a many-to-many relationship with the PRODUCT
table. After you generate the basic model, you will eventually add a filter to
filter out all non-English product names, thus creating a one-to-many
relationship.
14.Click OK, and then click OK again to close the Relationship Editing Mode
dialog box.
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 53
15.In the Explorer Tree, expand SLS_PRODUCT_DIM, and add the following
items to the Products query subject, as shown in Figure 4-25.
– PRODUCT_KEY
– PRODUCT_LINE_CODE
– PRODUCT_TYPE_KEY
– PRODUTCT_TYPE_CODE
– PRODUCT_NUMBER
– PRODUCT_IMAGE
– INTRODUCTION_DATE
– DISCONTINUED_DATE
Figure 4-25 New Relationship and added query items to the Products query subject
54 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
16.Rename New Query Subject 2 to Time.
17.In the Explorer Tree pane, expand the GO_TIME_DIM table, click DAY_KEY
and then Shift-click WEEKDAY_EN, and then drag the selected items to the
Time query subject. The results displays. See Figure 4-26.
Figure 4-26 New relationship and newly added query items to the Time query subject
Chapter 4. Create reporting packages with IBM Cognos Framework Manager 55
18.Rename New Query Subject 3 to Order Methods.
19.In the Explorer tree pane, expand the SLS_ORDER_METHOD_DIM table,
and add the following items to the Order Methods query subject, as shown in
Figure 4-27:
– ORDER_METHOD_KEY
– ORDER_METHOD_CODE
– ORDER_METHOD_EN
Figure 4-27 New relationship and added items to the Order Methods query subject
56 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.1 Handbook
20.Click Generate Model, and then click Yes to the message. The Model Design
Accelerator creates a model based on your selections. When complete, the
model is visible in the IBM Cognos Framework Manager UI. See Figure 4-28.