Tips for Beginning Cognos Report Studio Authors: Demonstration of Techniques

Using IBM Cognos 10.2.2 Report Studio
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BEGINNING AUTHORS

• Quick introduction
• Live demonstration of fundamental report authoring
techniques
– Use templates and predefined data items
– Create reports with freeform layout
– Build user-friendly reports with interactive prompts and
drilling
• Demonstrate new visualization capabilities for Active
Reports (RAVE)
• Understand how professional authoring fits into a
successful analytics framework
• Senturus introduction
Today’s Agenda
2Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Introduction: Today’s Presenters
Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved 3
Albert Valdez
Vice President of Learning Solutions
Senturus
Jim Frazier
Vice President of Client Solutions
Senturus

This slide deck is part of the “Tips for Beginning Cognos
Report Studio Authors” recorded webinar. To view the
FREE recording of the entire presentation and download
the slide deck, go to:
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authors/
Senturus’ comprehensive library of recorded webinars,
demos, white papers, presentations and case studies is
available on our website:
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Resource Library
Senturus’ whole purpose is to make you
successful with Business Analytics. Thus,
we offer a series of technology-neutral
webinars, training on specific software,
demonstrations, and no-holds-barred
reviews of new software releases. We
host dozens of live webinars every year
and we offer a comprehensive library of
recorded webinars, demos, white papers,
presentations and case studies on our
website--a wealth of learning resources.
Most of our content is custom created
and constantly updated, so visit us often
to see what’s new in the industry.
www.senturus.com/resources/

What is your current level of experience
with Report Studio?
AUDIENCE POLL #1

• Browser-based Professional Authoring Tool
• Supports Sophisticated Report Design
– Advanced Layouts (Dashboard-style Reports)
– Interactive Reports (Sophisticated Prompting and Drill-
Through)
• Supports Advanced Data Manipulation
– Full access to Common, Database, Macro, and
Dimensional Functions
– Advanced Query Design (Joins, Sets, Query References)
• BUT - it doesn’t have to be complicated!
– Drag-and-drop Graphical User Interface
– The base of most reports is usually pretty straightforward
What is IBM Cognos Report Studio?

• IBM Documentation and other resources at IBM.com
– Hint: search for Cognos Proven Practices
• Senturus.com and other 3rd party sites
– www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
– YouTube
– IT Toolbox (www.ittoolbox.com)
– Cognoise.com
• Tailored learning solutions
What Resources are Available?

Use templates and predefined data items
Create reports with freeform layout
Build user-friendly reports with interactive
prompts and drilling
LIVE DEMONSTRATION OF FUNDAMENTAL
REPORT AUTHORING TECHNIQUES

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• Now available for ALL Reports, including from within
Cognos Workspace Advanced
• The RAVE technology is not based upon pre-defined
chart types but rather on a visualization language
(visJSON) and uses the Grammar of Graphics approach
to describe and define new visualizations
• New visualizations are available through a simple
download from the new
Extensible Visualization Community on IBM Analytics
Zone
– Report authors can browse through a continually
increasing range of visualization options in the
community. Cognos Administrators download visualization
files from the community
The Rapidly Adaptive Visualization Engine (RAVE)

• Extensible visualizations that have been uploaded into
the BI system will appear as new visualization types in
Report Studio
• Using an extensible visualization in an Active Report
provides a number of advantages over the existing
static charts that are used today
– Data can be filtered and/or selected based on actions
that the user does in the Active Report
– Animation from filtering the data in the visualization
using a variety of transition effects, provides a visual cue
to the user of the change that occurred
• Extensible visualizations do not replace the existing
static charts that are in use today
– Both can be used in a Report
The Rapidly Adaptive Visualization Engine (RAVE)

• Expanded Library of Visualizations
– Check out the Dynamic Maps
• Greater control over Visualizations in Report Studio via
the Properties
RAVE in IBM Cognos 10.2.2

• Executives
– Easy-to-use high level information while in the office or
remote
• Remote Professionals
– Access to critical business information while on the road
• Internal Consumers
– Where responsiveness is inconsistent or slow, Active
Reports can serve as interactive Dashboards and as drill-
through sources to additional information
Active Reports Target Audience

• What skills are required to create Active Reports?
– Experienced Professional Report Authors
• Leverages the same Report Studio authoring interface,
however…
– Requires new skills to leverage new features
• Significant, compelling new interactive controls
available in Active Reports that are NOT possible with
standard reports
• Awesome Resource: Active Reports Cookbook:
– www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/library/cognos/repo
rting/active_report/page593.html
IBM Cognos Active Reports Authoring

• Active Reports are an effective way to deliver content
to Mobile users
– Active Reports have built-in interactive features allowing
interactivity without making additional “trips” from
device to server, providing instantaneous response
• The Active Reports can reside on the device for
disconnected access
• New Active Report controls in Report Studio are
designed specifically for iPad interface (Iterator
controls support “swipe” gestures)
IBM Cognos Active Reports – For Mobile Consumers

The RAVE Engine
DEMONSTRATE NEW VISUALIZATION
CAPABILITIES FOR ACTIVE REPORTS

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A Solid Foundation supports a Strong Solution
UNDERSTAND HOW PROFESSIONAL
AUTHORING FITS INTO A SUCCESSFUL
ANALYTICS FRAMEWORK

• Report Studio is a professional authoring tool that
leverages a metadata package, allowing us to create
reports
• Metadata is produced using IBM Cognos Framework
Manager and is based on one or more physical data
sources
• A well-designed architecture makes authoring more
effective and less labor-intensive
– Less data manipulation
– Easier to identify and understand
– Better query performance
– More stable and reliable results
Business Analytics and Professional Authoring

Good Data Architecture = More Effective Reporting
21
ERP Data
CRM Data
DataIntegration
Conforming
Business Process
Dimensional Models
Standard
Reports
WebPortal
Other Sources
Information Security
Data Warehouse
DataAbstractionModel
Adhoc
Querying
Planning Data
Slicing&
Dicing
Dashboard
Authoring
Report
Authoring
Dashboards/
Scorecards
SourceSystemsofRecord
Threshold
Alerting
Self-service Reporting
& Analysis
Single Version of the Truth
Threshold-based
Alerts
Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Business Process Dimensional Model - Example
22
Customer Key
Product Key
Sales Rep Key
Request Date Key
Order Number
Line Number
Order Quantity
Order Amount
Cost Amount
Margin Amount
Customer Key
Customer Name
Customer Type
Size Range
Tenure Range
Customer Country
Customer State
Customer City
Customer Zip
…
Product Key
Product Name
Product Type
Product Line
Product Category
Color
Weight
Size
Manufacturer
…
Requested Date
Key
Fiscal Year
Calendar Year
Quarter
Month
Day of Week
Day Name
…
Sales Rep Key
Sale Rep Name
Sales Region
Sales Territory
Sales Manager
Sales VP
Region Type
…
Customer Dimension
Territory Dimension
Product Dimension
Date Dimension
Orders Fact
Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Who we are
SENTURUS INTRODUCTION

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Senturus: Business Analytics Consultants
Business
Intelligence
Enterprise
Planning
Predictive
Analytics
Our Team:
Business depth combined with technical expertise.
Former CFOs, CIOs, Controllers, Directors

www.senturus.com
Upcoming Events

Senturus Education Solutions
COGNOS TRAINING OPTIONS

• Just getting started with IBM Cognos? Talk to the
experts!
• We have added several dates for nearly every course
to allow more flexibility and fit your schedule
• Interested in a private training engagement?
• Give Senturus a chance to deliver a tailored training
solution – you won’t be sorry!
Cognos Training Options

Coupon Code: BegAuth200
• Any Senturus live, online training course
• First ten people to use it
• Expires at midnight (PT), Saturday, March 21, 2015
Special, Limited Time Offer: $200 Off Training
31Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

BI Assessment
• Comprehensive Review of BI Stack Components: Server and Application Layer,
Data & Transformation Layer, and BI Tools Layer
• Deliverables include Grading and Roadmap for each of the Stack Components
• Cost Starting at $9,995 $8,995 before March 27
Cognos Health Check
• Comprehensive Review of the Gateway, Dispatcher and Content Server
Configurations
• Findings and Recommendations for each of the Cognos Server Components along
with Sizing
• Cost Starting at $3,500 $2,995 before March 27
Contact info@senturus.com or 888.601.6010 ext. 85
Senturus BI Assessment And Health Check
32Copyright 2015 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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THANK YOU!
www.senturus.com
888-601-6010
info@senturus.com
Copyright 2015 by Senturus, Inc.
This entire presentation is copyrighted and may not be
reused or distributed without the written consent of
Senturus, Inc.

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