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OBIEE Repository Questions (no answers)
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• If we change a table in DM (database) how do we refresh? If any Table is changed how do we
refresh that change in Repository ? In other words If an extra column is added to table how do
we refesh in repository?
• What is Online /off line means? ( I read in Manual and still not clear ..I came from BO
background and in BO it gives diff meaning – Online means connected to security Repository
and Offline means no connection to Repository)
• Why it is not advised to join with foreign keys in Fact tables to primary keys in Logical tables
in Business model and mapping layer?
• Why do we need dimensions when it is not visible in Presentation layer? ( I know it is works to
define Hierarchies .Any Example ?)
• How do we put a condition on logical table in Business model Layer (self join ex : country =
‘US’ )
• How do we define Row Level Security in OBIEE?
• For Every repository we have to define groups /users? Is there anyway we can define
users/Groups once(in cetralized way but not with LDAP) use them in every repository?
• ST_DIM.ST_CDE = substr (RWA_FACT.BLDG_ID, 1, 2) Can we add this kind of joins
between tables in Business Model Layer? OBIEE is not allowing, is there any reason?
• Can we create Filter Objects in Repository? (Ex: my filter Name: Prior 10 Years; condition will
be TimeTable.FY_YEAR > 1996)? If so where and how do I create them?
• If I have a summary table and a detail table and let’s say Summary will give QTR revenues and
Detail table will give Monthly Revenue. Can we create only One object and say Revenue and is
depends on the query can it decide to go to Summary table or Detailed Table to get the
appropriate revenue? ( in BO we have Aggregate Navigation )
ANSWERS Questions
1.) How do we add a column to the report
2.) How do we apply a Rank to a report, for Ex : year ,customer ,amount .. If we run a report for
5 years ,I need top 10 customers per year to total 50 rows should be there in a report.
Dashboards Questions
How do we Migrate Dashboards from One Env ( DEV) to Another ENV (QA or PROD)
How do we Pass a YEAR Parameter in a drill report (a report which shows QTRs)
How to put a button to download a dashboard to Excel
How do we create an alerts (scrolling Texts)
How do we setup to send an elerts to email or Cell Phs
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How do we map a dashboard to map (US map and let users click CA )
How do we put sorts on a table (with arrows) on a dashboard sections
Questions and Answers
1. If we change the Table in the database, I think we need to manually refresh that table in the
Repository. That is if we add any new column need to import that column from that table into
Repository.
2. Online: If we want to reflect the changes in the Repository to Presentation Services immidiately
without restarting the services. Reload Server Metadata will Reflect the changes.
Offline: Working on RPD normally.
3. We can restrict the data from a logical table in a BM by putting a condition in the 'WHERE' clause
of that Table Mapping.
4. I dont think we can create a Filter objects in Repository. Rather we can use Repository variables.
5. Use of CASE expression can populate the column data dynamically.
Answers:
1. Just click on the column in the Presentation Catalog it will automatically add that column to the
Criteria.
2. Go to the Column Formula and click Functions you can find various built-in Functions. In that you
can find RANK.
Dash Board:
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1. You can migrate the Dash Boards from one system to another. Go to the following path:
{BI Install Dir}:BIDatawebcatalogpaintshared[Dash Boards]
In this path you can find the Dash Board details those you can find on Presentation Services.
2. YEAR Parameter!!!!! You can put a filter for YEAR to the Request as you are going to get Drill by
default.
3. There is a default button 'PRINT' on the dash board. You can use this to download your dash
board to PDF, HTML, EXCEL.... If you want that option to individual Requests, Go to Edit Dash
Board-->Properties Tab of Request--> Report View-->Select the Required Options and Save.
4. It is not an alert. Implement the Ticker View to get the Scrolling Text of your Request.
5. Use of BI Delivers that is iBots fulfills your criteria.
6. Just click that Arrows while creating the Request that is in the Criteria Tab of the Column.
Answers stated in my point of view. I would be very happy if anyone corrects me.
• Why do we need dimensions when it is not visible in Presentation layer? ( I know it is works to define
Hierarchies .Any Example ?)
Ans : Defining the Hierachy levels are very usefull for creation of level based measure .
Each logical table source of a fact logical table needs to have an aggregation content defined. The
aggregation content rule defines at what level of granularity the data is stored in this fact table. For each
dimension that relates to this fact logical table, define the level of granularity, ensuring that every
related dimension is defined
• How do we define Row Level Security in OBIEE?
Ans : Row level Security is nothing but we are providing Datalevel Security. This we can do in 2 types .
If the user is available in Repository ..then we can restrict that in the mange ->Security->User ->
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Permissons -> Filter ->Add-> in this we can use with Expression Builder and write the Query …
If the user are avilabel in some DB table …then in this case we can use the session variables and give the
permissions by using session variables .
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