Parameter Maps

The last example in Table 16-1 makes use of a parameter map called Language_lookup{}.
Parameter maps are two-column look-up or substitution tables defined within your
Framework Manager model. In our example, we pass the string en-us to the parameter map,
which returns the string EN to the macro as the mapped value for the key en-us.
Parameter maps are used when your data sources and session parameters do not
contain the exact information you need in your model. In the case of the Language_lookup
parameter map, you know that people from different countries will be using this model.
Each connection (or session) made to Cognos Connection could result in one of many
runLocale values. At least 15 different runLocales; exist for English alone, including en,
en-us, en-au, en-ca, en-gb, and so on. Each of those runLocales can use the same base
language, English.

Session Parameters
When working with macros, two types of session parameters are available:
Environment
Session Parameters and Model Session Parameters.
 The environment session parameters are set when the user signs on to Cognos
Connection, opens a Cognos Studio, or opens Framework Manager. By default,
when a user logs in through an authentication provider, the standard
environment session parameters available for use in macros include runLocale,
account .defaultName, and account.personalInfo.userName. Depending on your
authentication source, additional parameters might be available as some
authentication providers support custom session parameters. Additional
environment session parameters are defined by your administrator through
Cognos Configuration to make them available to Framework Manager.
For example, you could have an additional attribute in your LDAP provider
called Citywhich is used to indicate the City in which a user works. This
session parameter could be used in a macro to filter data on the user’s city.
 You define model session parameters within Framework Manager. These
parameters are created using hard coded values, macro functions, query items,
and other session parameters.

what is Governor settings in cagnos? Answer

#3
Governors setting is used to reduce system resource
requirements and improve performance. You set
governors before you create packages to ensure the metadata
in the package contains the specified
limits. All packages that are subsequently published will
use the new settings.
There are a number of governors that you can set. Governor
settings in the model can be
overridden by governor settings in Report Studio.

1.Report Table Limits

You can control the number of tables that a user can
retrieve in a query or report

2.Data Retrieval Limits

You can control the number of rows that are returned in a
query or report

3.Query Execution Time Limits

You can limit the time that a query can take

4.Large Text Items Limit

You can control the character length of BLOBS (binary large
objects) that a user can retrieve in a
query or report

5.Allow Enhanced Model Portability at Run Time

You can use a separate but structurally similar data source
at run time. The database schema must
be the same between the two data sources.

6.Allow Usage of Local Cache

Select this governor to specify that all reports based on
this model should use cached data.

7.Outer Joins
You can control whether outer joins can be used in your
query or report.

8.Cross-Product Joins
You can control whether cross-product joins can be used in
your query or report.

9.Use With Clause When Generating SQL

You can choose to use the With clause with Cognos SQL if
your data source supports the With
clause.

10.Suppress Null Values for Dimensional Data Sources

This governor is supported for SAP BW data sources only. It
does not work with relational or
OLAP data sources.
Some queries can be very large because null values are not
filtered out. Because null suppression is
performed by the underlying data provider, in this case SAP
BW, this reduces the amount of data
transferred to the various Cognos 8 client products, thus
improving performance and returning
only relevant data in the report.

what is view? types of views? Answer

#1
View is mirror image to the base table(main table) i,e it is
a logical pointer to the base table.
for the view it does not occupy space for the data but it
occupy space for the structure
Two types of views
1) simple 2) complex view
simple view created on single table
complex view created on multiple tables.

what is filter?give me one example that you created a report in your project? Answer
#1
Filter is a condition which restricts the amount
of data displayed in the report.

Eg: You have history data from year 2000 to 2008. But
your report is to display only the "monthly trend for year
2007", in such scenario you will have to put filter in year
= 2007.
How to Improve the Performance of the Report? i need this urgently . Answer
#1
1. check the governor settings.

2.Avoid using 'NOT' function in the query

3.Avoid using more no:of filters, complex calculations and

complex reports.

4.Move all the calculations and filter conditions from

report level to FM level.
5.Check the client server balancing

6. check the table qualifying and weighting

what is reprompt? Answer

#1
if u want to select multi items and we dont need finish
button we use reprompt button.
In Cascading Prompt we have two things -:
1.) Single Select Auto Submit.
2.) Multi Select and Reprompt Button.

hese are the questions asking in many interviews, so pls help me,,, How did you get
requirements from the client? How did you send reports to the client? How did you
interact with your client? I mean through e- mail or phone or in any other way?
Answer
#5
onsite coordinaters(who r working n clientsite) collecting
req.s from client&will send us BRDs and v'll prepare
DLDs&send them as how much time taken for developing the
reports.and after developing the reports v'll put them n
public folder.they 'll verified&deploy those to testing team

Architectural difference between cognos reportnet and cognos8? Answer

#1
There is no major changes in cognos reportnet and cognos8,
both r same and version wise its upgraded and in cognos8
new tools like metric studio and its more supportive for
different metrics.

How do you create IQD in FWM? Pls, give the procedure with an example. I told him
that we could create using Native SQL method in FWM; it is correct or do you do
another method there? Answer
#3
1. As per my knowledge goes, we cannot create IQDS By
using NativeSQL. We Can create by using setting the
externalize property and select property to IQD.
2. In Detail:
3. Select the Query subjects and go to Properties.
4. Select externalize method option.
5. Select property to IQD.
6. Save the model
7. While publishing Specify the location for IQD files.
8. You can find your IQDS in the specified location
after publishing the package

what is the difference b/w mdx and sql? Answer

#2
MDX is a multidimensional expression, we can query directly
to OLAP source by using MDX and SQL is a structured query
language, where as we can query to the RDBMS source.
When we r dragging the query items into the report area
automatically MDX generated that query will send to the
OLAP source directly.

in reportnet how u burst the reports for every 5th day, 10 th day, 15 th day, 20 th day
Answer
#1
set burst options in report studio,
enable the report for bursting in cognos connection,
create 4 report views for that report,
create a shcedule for each report view - the 1st for every
5th day, the 2nd for every 10th day, the 3rd for every 15th
day, & the 4th for every 20th day.

Iam sure, this can work.....

There are some reports,we have to provide security to that reports like the hr
manager should have access to hr department reports only and the accountant should
have access to accounts reports where as the CEO can have access to all the reports.
How to deal with this situation using Cognos? Answer
#1
Firstly your application should have security set up in
place. eg: u must have LDAP server set up.

Having said that once u have users and roles have been
defined in security server u will create a macro in FM
with account.defaultuserName() session parameter.

Above defined macro will work as explicit filter when user

logs into cognos portal and based on given permissions
he/she will be able to see only his/her pertaining data
when ever then run report.

In which type of report we can create school time table in cognos? [I want period
numbers in rows like period 1, Period 2, period 3, period 4, period 5 and class
numbers in columns like 8th class, 9th class, 10th class and subject names in cells]
Genelally school time table is prepared in crosstab report, but subject names are not
measures and a crosstab cell can not contain non-measures. This is my problem,,,,,
Answer
#2
Step1: Create a crosstab with row as Period and Column as
Class Number.

Step 2: create a data item Subject as

case subject_name
when 'English' then 1
when 'History' then 2
when 'physics' then 3
...
end

step 3:pull this data item as measure cell.

step 4: create a conditional string variable with

expression as
=dataitem
Create values for this variable as your subject names eg,
English, History, Physics etc.

Step 5: Apply this conditional variable on measure cells in

crosstab. Set conditional text for different values.

how u create cubes in ur project Answer

#1
Cubes can be built by running the powerplay transformer
model (.mdl file). We need to define the dimensions and
measures in the transformer model, need to mention the
sources (.iqd file, .xls file etc.) and need to provide the
cube name and path. Then we can build it manually as well
as it can be built using any third party scheduling tools.

Can we use more than 1 Fact table ? Answer

#1
yes why not. dont you remember reverse star schema and
constellation schema.

what is a join? what are the types of joins? Answer

#1
JOIN: A join is a query using which we can query data from
more than one table
TYPES OF JOINS:

1.EQUI JOIN
2.SELF JOIN
3.OUTER JOIN
a.left outer join
b.right outer join
c.full outer join
4.cartesian join
 
advantages of cascade prompt ??? Answer
#3
Cascading Advantages------------------

As per my Knowledge-------------------

Ex----- When ever we need Hirarchical information such kind

of situation we will use Cascading Prompt.

A Prompt which takes a value from the previous prompt this

is known as Cascading prompt.

Ex---- We need to put prompt on Country--------- Means

Country------------ Region-------------- City.

If you select any Country (India)---------- it will display

the
Region.

Then Select any Region (AP) -------------------it will

diplay the State.

by selected values. Like that-----------------it will

display the City also.

I think now its clear.

What are the Adv of Star Schema and Snow Flake Schema? Answer
#2
Star Schema:
Definition: The star schema is the simplest data warehouse
schema. It is called a star schema because the diagram
resembles a star with points radiating from a center.

A single Fact table (center of the star) surrounded by

multiple dimensional tables(the points of the star).
Advantages:

Simplest DW schema
Easy to understand
Easy to Navigate between the tables due to less number of
joins.
Most suitable for Query processing
Disadvantages:
Occupies more space
Highly Denormalized

Snowflake schema:

Definition: A Snowflake schema is a Data warehouse Schema

which consists of a single Fact table and multiple
dimensional tables. These Dimensional tables are
normalized.A variant of the star schema where each
dimension can have its own dimensions.

Advantages:

These tables are easier to maintain

Saves the storage space.
Disadvantages:

Due to large number of joins it is complex to navigate

Starflake schema - Hybrid structure that contains a mixture

of (denormalized) STAR and (normalized) SNOWFLAKE schemas

write a query to display to 10 max record from the employee table? Answer
#2
You are question is not clear.....you need decide based on
which column you want first 10 records.....

if you work on Salary column this is the query .......

select distinct sal from emp a

where (select count(*) from emp b where a.sal<b.sal)<=10
order by sal desc