The Business Analyst's Guide to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting 11

Table of Contents

The Business Analyst's Guide to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting 11

Credits

About the Author

Acknowledgement

About the Reviewer

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Permissions

Multidimensional queries

Additional resources

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting

The Interactive Reporting document: The BQY

The EPM Workspace

Navigating the EPM Workspace

Installing the Interactive Reporting Web Client

Opening documents in the Workspace

Opening documents from the local machine

The Web Client interface

The Section Catalogue

Menus

Toolbars

Section Title Bar

Status Bar

Saving documents

Saving documents to the Workspace

Saving documents to the local machine

Save options

Password protecting the document

Password protecting the design mode

Offline mode

Importing BQY documents into the EPM Workspace

Editing Interactive Reporting file properties

Summary

2. The Query

The Query section layout

Sections window

Section Title Bar

Status Bar

Working with pre-built data models

Building a query

Request items

Removing request items

Filters

Filter interface

Show Values

Custom Values

Manual entry

Transfer values

Loading filters from a file (importing)

Modifying the AND and OR operators

Variable filters

Filtering on request items

Removing filters

Sorting

Query processing

Query options

Identifying metadata (table and column remarks)

Summary

3. The Data Model

Creating a data model

Duplicating a query

Removing a query

Building a data model

The Elements window

Adding tables to the data model

Joins

The Topic View

Working with meta topics

Creating meta topics

Promoting to a meta topic

Editing meta topics

Changing the data model topic view

Updating the data model

Changing the table definition

Combining multiple queries in one model

Local results

Limitations of local results

Derivable queries

Limitations of derivable queries

Importing external data

Importing a file

Refreshing external data

Importing tips

Fixing additional columns

Fixing datatype and join issues

Importing custom SQL files

Refreshing imported SQL

Summary

4. Advanced Querying and Filtering

Structured Query Language (SQL)

How SQL is translated from Request, Filter, and Sort

Advanced request items

Modifying column definitions

Concatenation

String manipulation

Value replacement

Date/time functions

Nesting functions

Datatypes

Advanced filtering

Custom SQL filter option

SubQuery option

Custom SQL SubQuery

Custom SQL and custom join conditions

Custom join conditions

Combining queries

The query log and exporting SQL

Summary

5. Results and Tables

Results section

The Tables sections

Creating a table section

Duplicating a table

Removing Table sections

Removing Results sections

Adding and modifying content

Data layout

Auto-populating table columns

Moving columns

Hiding/showing columns

Identifying computed items

Removing columns

Filters

Creating filters

Filters on multiple sections

Status Bar

Filter performance

Sorting

Sorting performance

Creating totals

Grand totals

Break totals

Impact when adding filters

Removing totals

Grouping columns

Computed items

Computed item examples

Concatenation

String manipulation

Conditional functions

Date/time functions

Numeric functions

Date Groups

Summary

6. Pivots

Creating Pivot sections

Pivot this Chart

Pivots created using results or tables

Removing Pivot sections

Adding content

Row and column labels

Facts

Data functions

Removing content

Arranging label content

Managing label and data headings

Data labels

Corner labels

Sorting

Manual sorting

Analyzing content

Drill

Drillup

Focus and hide

Focus

Hide

Hidden item

Unhide

Totals and computed items

Totals

Data functions for totals

Removing totals

Renaming items in row or column label

Grouping

Computed items

True totals and surface values

Formatting and conditional formatting

Conditional formatting

Exporting and printing

Summary

7. Charts

Creating Chart sections

Charts created using results or tables

Chart this pivot

Removing Chart sections

Adding content

Removing content

Chart types

Vertical and horizontal bar charts

Vertical and horizontal stack bar charts

Vertical cluster bar chart

Pie charts

Area and stacked area charts

Line charts

Ribbon charts

Bar-Line charts

Scatter / Bubble charts

Legend

Data functions

Analyzing content

Drill

Drillup

Focus

Hide

Hidden Item

Unhide

Adding reference and trend lines

Sorting Chart labels

Chart formatting and properties

Chart properties

Inserting text labels

Grouping and computed items

Grouping

Computed items

Exporting charts

Summary

8. Reports

Creating Report sections

An overview of the Report layout

Headers and Footers

Report setup

Design guides

Adding content

Elements window

Query elements

Graphics

Fields

Resources

Adding pivots and charts

Adding a table

Adding graphics, fields, and resources

Removing content

Resource Manager

Building Report tables

Table window

Table dimensions and facts

Dimension and fact properties

Break totals

Sorting results

Removing elements

Report groups

Adding report group content

Sorting groups

Focusing and hiding report group content

Creating and modifying expressions

Table expressions

Predefined field expressions

Report groups

Custom fields

Formatting expressions

Combining data from multiple queries

Adding computed items and modifying items

Exporting and printing

Summary

9. Dashboards

Creating Dashboard sections

Understanding the Dashboard layout

Editing the dashboard

Dashboard objects

Query objects

Reports

Graphics

Controls

Gauges

Live Charts

Resources

Building a dashboard

Adding sections

Adding graphics and resources

Adding gauges, live charts, and controls

Removing content

Adding content example

Configuring gauges

Gauge properties and color ranges

Configuring live charts

Live chart properties

Working with controls

Control types

Script Editor

Building an interactive dashboard

Populating Drop Downs with a script

Setting a filter from a Drop Down control

Exporting and printing

Summary

Index

The Business Analyst's Guide to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting 11

Edward J. Cody

The Business Analyst's Guide to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting 11

Copyright © 2010 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: September 2010

Production Reference: 1010910

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

32 Lincoln Road

Olton

Birmingham, B27 6PA, UK.

ISBN 978-1-849680-36-3

www.packtpub.com

Cover Image by Tina Negus (<tina_manthorpe@sky.com>)

Credits

Author

Edward J. Cody

Reviewer

Robert J. Fronzaglia

Acquisition Editor

James Lumsden

Development Editor

Dhwani Devater

Technical Editor

Arun Nadar

Indexer

Monica Ajmera Mehta

Editorial Team Leader

Mithun Sehgal

Project Team Leader

Lata Basantani

Project Coordinator

Srimoyee Ghoshal

Proofreaders

Arani Roy

Conrad Sardinha

Production Coordinator

Kruthika Bangera

Cover Work

Kruthika Bangera

About the Author

Edward J. Cody is accomplished Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence consultant with over seven years of experience with Hyperion products. Mr. Cody was a speaker at Oracle OpenWorld 2008 on Essbase, and he has spoken at local user groups on ETL software. His experience with Interactive Reporting began with Brio v6 and has continued through the most recent version. He also has extensive experience with Essbase and Financial Reporting.

Mr. Cody has consulted both private and Government organizations throughout his career. He has a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and he has a Master of Science in the Management of Information Technology from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce. His experience includes leading large Data Warehouse and Oracle Hyperion Business Intelligence projects, and he is currently leading an assessment of a major data warehouse and business intelligence initiative. He is well know for his efforts to aid clients in realizing their investment in business intelligence and a data warehouse through building well designed systems, leveraging automation, and reducing BI complexity.

Mr. Cody has designed training programs on the software and decided to author a book on Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting after exposure to user feedback on the complexity of learning the product. He identified that an introductory user guidebook on using the essential features of the software would be beneficial to all software users.

Acknowledgement

I would first like to start by thanking all of you who purchased this book. I hope that you find it a good resource to aid you in your use with the product. I would also like to thank my parents (Ed & Cathy), brother (David), and all of my family and friends for working around my schedule as I wrote this book. I really appreciate your patience and understanding.

I would like to thank all of my managers, peers, and employees that have supported me throughout my career. I would especially like to thank Dan Miller for providing me the opportunity to work in this field. His efforts and the efforts of many others have helped me develop as a professional throughout my career.

I must thank Bob Griesemer, author of the Oracle Warehouse Builder 11g: Getting Started, for setting me up with the opportunity to work with Packt Publishing. Bob is a good friend, colleague, and technical expert. His book is a great resource for all those interested in learning about Data Warehousing. I would also like to thank Bob Fronzaglia, the book's reviewer, for his contributions to the material. Bob has been a long time mentor and friend, and I thank him for his efforts.

I must also thank James Lumsden and all of those at Packt Publishing for their efforts with the book. The team has worked tirelessly with me to produce a quality product and I thank them for all of their time and efforts.

About the Reviewer

Robert J. Fronzaglia is an Operations Research Analysts in the Office of the Secretary Director (OSD), Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation. He is responsible for managing the Department of Defense (DoD) Resources Data Warehouse that contains DoD strategic resource data for budgeting, programming, acquisition, force structure, and manpower.

Before joining OSD, Mr. Fronzaglia was a consultant with MPRI and AT&T Government Solutions where he provided analysis, data warehousing, and Activity-Based Costing support for various DoD organizations. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years as both a Field Artillery officer and Comptroller. He served in staff, instructor, and command assignments in Europe, Southwest Asia, and the U.S. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.

Mr. Fronzaglia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Gannon University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Syracuse University. Academic honors include being selected for the Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society for Scholastic Achievement and for Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges.

Preface

The Oracle Hyperion Interactive reporting product is a highly customizable and powerful business intelligence software product. The software is one of the many products in the Oracle Business Intelligence software suite, an industry-leading business intelligence solution. The product provides users with advanced business intelligence capabilities to efficiently and effectively query, analyze, and disseminate information throughout an enterprise.

Users gain access to the product through the web-based Workspace, the central location for interacting and managing content across all of the Oracle Hyperion products. The tool has two user components, a zero-footprint client and a web client plug-in for web browsers. While the zero-footprint client has many benefits, users typically prefer the Web Client plug-in due to its easy-to-use, flexibility, and robust functionality.

This book examines the power of the Interactive Reporting Web Client software, focusing on the key features of each section of the product. The book starts with a quick introduction to the product interface and the EPM Workspace, with explanation of navigating, importing, and provisioning. It then takes you through a chapter on each section of the product from building a query to building graphical dashboard displays. Reports, Tables, Pivots, and Charts are discussed at length, and an overview of more advanced features including Computed Items, Custom SQL, and Scripting are also included. The book also provides in-depth information on developer topics including building Data Models, creating Meta Topics, and integrating multiple queries into a table in a Report to educate the user on how to identify, build, and modify these advanced features of the product.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Welcome to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting provides the business analyst with an overview of Interactive Reporting and EPM Workspace.

Chapter 2, The Query provides the tools necessary to effectively build and manage queries from a data model, including building request items, creating filters, and sorting.

Chapter 3, The Data Model provides the knowledge to create and edit a data model, including the ability to modify Joins, manage Meta Topics, combine data from multiple queries, and import external content.

Chapter 4, Advanced Querying and Filtering provides the knowledge to implement advanced querying and filtering techniques to enhance reporting and to decrease manual efforts.

Chapter 5, Results and Tables provides the knowledge to perform analysis in a Results and Table section on the data returned from a query.

Chapter 6, Pivots provide a very effective method to summarize and analyze a dataset, providing the ability to quickly modify, compute, and rearrange data while easily repopulating the dataset with new data.

Chapter 7, Charts provide the ability to graphically model data in a variety of different Chart formats including creating and configuring Charts, analyzing Chart content, and methods for exporting and printing.

Chapter 8, Reports provide an overview of a Report, including the knowledge to create and configure Reports as well as analyze content and integrate data across datasets.

Chapter 9, Dashboards provides the tools to create professional executive level dashboards, including an overview of dashboard objects and leveraging custom scripting to add dashboard interactivity.

What you need for this book

This book was written using a standard deployment of Oracle EPM 11.1.1.3. The sections and techniques in this book are primarily version independent, where almost all of the functionality demonstrated will exist in previous versions of the product. References are made to some of the new features in Interactive Reporting 11, especially in the area of charting and dashboards as features have progressed throughout the new versions. The Sales and Cost model examples used throughout the book are from the Oracle 11g Database sample schemas.

Who this book is for

The target audience of this book is the novice to advanced Oracle Hyperion Interactive reporting user. The book focuses on providing an understanding of the product, acclimating users to the software and providing an in-depth understanding on how to easily leverage the powerful functionality of the software.

Permissions

Security can be set to documents in the Oracle Hyperion Workspace to prevent the user from accessing certain features of the product, including creating custom data models, editing queries, and saving and importing documents. This book is written with full access to all of the features of the product. References are made to permissions in certain sections. Contact your system administration resources for more information on your deployment if you cannot access certain features of the product in your environment.

Multidimensional queries

Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting provides the capability to query against a multidimensional data source. Since multidimensional queries are less frequently deployed in Interactive Reporting, the focus of this book is on the relational querying and analysis capabilities of the product. More information on multidimensional queries can be found in the product documentation.

Additional resources

There are many helpful online