Framework Manager:

You can also use it to add dimensional information to relational data sources that allow for OLAP-style queries. This type of model is known as a Dimensionally Modeled Relational (DMR) model. A metadata model is a collection of metadata that is imported from a database. It describes the tables, columns, and relationships in the database. The overall goal of modeling the metadata is to create a model that provides predictable results and an easy-to-use view of the metadata for authors and analysts. The user interface includes the following panes: The Project Viewer pane, by default, is on the left side of the window and provides an easy way to access all your project's objects in a tree format. The Project Info pane is the center pane and provides access to the projects objects through various methods. The three tabs in this pane (Explorer, Diagram, and Dimension Map) allow you to create, edit, configure, or delete objects. The Properties pane, by default, is located in the bottom middle of the window and allows you to configure various properties for any of the project's objects. The Tools pane, by default, is located on the right side of the window and provides several useful tools. You can use it to switch the project language quickly, to view project statistics, and to perform common tasks for selected objects. This pane also provides a search utility (second tab) and an object dependencies utility (third tab). Simply drag an object (and its children if it has any) to the top panel, select the object or one of its children in the top panel and view the dependant objects in the bottom panel. This is very useful when you want to change an object and assess the impact that the change will have on other objects in the model. ***All panes can be hidden except the Project Info pane, which is the main work area. Types of query subjects:

A Data Source object maps to a corresponding object in the data source and uses a modifiable SQL statement to retrieve the data. This object is identifiable by the small database icon in the top-right corner. A Model object maps to existing metadata in the model. A Stored Procedure executes a database stored procedure to retrieve or update the data. Its icon appears the same as a Data Source query subject. A Query item is contained within a query subject and maps to a corresponding object in the data source. A Regular Dimension object contains descriptive and business key information and organizes the information in a hierarchy, from the highest level of granularity to the lowest, allowing for OLAP-style queries. A Measure Dimension object is a collection of facts for OLAP-style queries. A Shortcut object is a pointer to an underlying object that can act as an alias or reference. A Namespace object is an organizational container that also uniquely identifies the objects that it contains. For example, two different namespaces can both contain a shortcut called Products without causing a naming conflict in the model, which is useful for star schema groupings A Folder object is an organizational container for various model objects. Query item folders are also available to organize items within a query subject. A relationship explains how the data in one query subject relates to the data in another. A scope relationship exists between Measure Dimensions and Regular Dimensions to define the level at which the measures are available for reporting. The Data Sources folder contains the data sources that we used in the project. The data sources are defined in IBM Cognos Connection. The data sources are definitions containing the pertinent information the IBM Cognos BI requires to connect to the underlying data sources. The Parameter Maps folder contains parameter maps that allow for data or some other model value substitution at run time. These parameter

maps are useful when trying to dynamically affect the way that the model behaves when reports are run. The Packages folder contains packages that are published to IBM Cognos BI to make model metadata available to authors. 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. Cascade on Item Reference is for cascading prompts in Report Studio, for example, where the list of Product Type choices is restricted to those within a selected Product Line. Display Item Reference identifies the default value that a manually-created Report Studio prompt displays for a particular query item. For example, to see a list of ORDER_METHOD_EN names when using ORDER_METHOD_CODE in a prompt, set the Display Item Reference property for ORDER_METHOD_CODE to ORDER_METHOD_EN. If this field is left blank, it defaults to the values that are returned by the query item to which it belongs. Use Item Reference identifies the default value that a manually-created Report Studio prompt uses in the querys filter. For example, for a Report Studio generated prompt on ORDER_METHOD_EN to display a list of ORDER_METHOD_EN names but retrieve data through the ORDER_METHOD_CODE, set the Use Item Reference property in ORDER_METHOD_EN to ORDER_METHOD_CODE. Filter Item Reference identifies the value that an IBM Cognos generated prompt uses to filter a query. For example, for Query Studio to display ORDER_METHOD_EN values but use ORDER_METHOD_CODE in the querys filter, set the Filter Item Reference property to ORDER_METHOD_CODE, as shown in Figure 4-35. Launch Context Explorer.

You can launch this window by selecting one or more query subjects, right-clicking one of the selected items, and then clicking Launch Context Explorer.