Cognos Beginner... 1

[bartee]

I am going to be working with Cognos and have a few basic questions. If anyone can put the following in perspective -- it would be very helpful.

I was given boxes to install of version 7.

1. Impromptu

2. Power Play User

3. Power Play Transformer

Quite simply, how do these products relate to one another?

Are they to be insalled on my developing workstation or server?

Will I need all three in beginning to use Cognos? or is one product more advanced than another?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JGirl]

Here is a quick summary:

Database --> Impromptu Catalog (*.cat) --> Impromptu Report (*.imr) --> Impromptu Query Definition (*.iqd) --> PowerPlay Transformer Model (*.pyi or *.mdl) --> PowerPlay Cube (*.mdc)


1. Use impromptu administrator to model your metadata and create reporting catalogs from a database.

2. Use Impromptu User to write reports from a catalog that run from the database. Also use impromptu user to save query definitions as *.iqd files. (This is basically a SQL query).

3. Use PowerPlay transformer to build cube models using Impromptu generated IQD files. Once you have build a cube model, you 'build' the cube from the database so that you have an *.mdc file (This 'cube' contains a snapshot of data as at the time of build, and is generally much more summarised than reports).

4. Use PowerPlay Client to view the cube *.mdc files.

You would typically build 'multi dimensional powercubes' in powerplay transformer (and view them in powerplay client), to analyse trends in data over time. You would then use the impromptu reports to view the transactional data.

Hope this isnt too over your head. I have no idea what your level of knowledge is, and its hard to sum half of a suite of products into a paragraph!

 

[drlex]

Nice, succinct post JGirl.
I would add (as it has been in multiple threads) that the pdfs that come with the product are very comprehensive, useful and perhaps a little daunting. Find them in the documentation folder after install.
If your company can afford Cognos, they really ought to afford training too, although it is as expensive as the products - even just a one day course can be an eye-opener.
There is little third party information on the applications (alas, no "Cognos for Dummies" book ), so fora like this are particularly useful).
As JGirl notes, without knowing your level of knowledge, it's difficult to post without sounding patronising/condescending/confusing. If you're coming from a background of data analysis/report writing, you should find it both logical and powerful.

lex

soi la, soi carré

 

[bartee]

Ok. Thanks for the overview. I am going into this venture with data analysis and web development experience (online report and query building, etc.).

I have an installation for Impromptu Administrator but not for Impromptu User -- is user part of the Administrator install?

Also,(dumb question but I'm literally at Cognos square 1) should I install the Impromptu Administrator, Powerplay User, and PowerPlay transformer on my machine or server?

Thanks again.

 

[GJParker]

Hi danta

If you have Impromptu Administrator then you don't need User as well.

I would suggest installing all 3 products on your PC as a start as long as it has a decent spec with plenty of memory. You may eventually want to move Transformer to a server to reap performance benefits depending on the complexity and volume of data you wish to add to your powerplay cubes.

I would advise you attend a training course if possible, at least for Transformer and Powerplay as OLAP modelling and reporting are different than conventional report writers.

If you have any more specific questions once you get started the members here will do our best to help you along. In the meantime good luck and have fun.



Gary Parker
MIS Data Analyst
Manchester, England

 

[bartee]

Thank you very much -- I will look into the training.

One more quicky on the install.

For the Transformer, there is an application called Object Store on the CD. Should I be conerned with that at this stage of the game? Also, for the support files on each cd. Should I install or leave alone?

Thanks again for your time.

 

[GJParker]

You will only need to install Object Store if you intend to install Architect which comes on the Transformer CD.

I would recommend not installing it unless necessary.

I would definitely install al of the samples and documentation, you will find these invaluable as a beginner.

HTH

Gary Parker
MIS Data Analyst
Manchester, England

 

[bartee]

So far so good. I have been working with the Discovering PowerPlay and Discovering Transformer documentation to start. I am a bit confused on one issue:

We have MS Sql Server as the primary host for the data that will serve as the source for reporting.

As I mentioned before, the products we have are:
PowerPlay User, Transformer, and Impromtu Administrator.

Is there a seperate product called PowerPlayer Enterprise Server? Can I create cubes using MS Sql Server data given the products I have?

The reason I ask, is because I came across documentation suggesting that SQL can be used with PowerPlay Enterprise Server -- just looking for some clarification.

Thanks in advance for the time.

 

[GJParker]

PPES is a seperate product which allows Powerplay cubes to be accessed over the web.

To use SQL Server data in Powerplay the best method is to create a catalog for your MSSQL data using impromptu. Once you have a catalog you can create reports for your data and save these as IQD files (Impromptu Query Definition)

Transformer uses these IQD files to access the data in your SQL server.

IQD files are basically the SQL needed to retrive the data from your database i.e.

COGNOS QUERY
STRUCTURE,1,1
DATABASE,MIS
DATASOURCENAME,\\K2Server\Cognos\Cognos Work\Live\Data Warehouse\Queries\Q_Customers.imr
TITLE,Q_Customers.imr
BEGIN SQL
select T1."CustCode" as c1,
	   T1."CustName" as c2,
	   T1."RepCode" as c3,
	   T1."RepDesc" as c4,
	   T1."CustClassCode" as c5,
	   T1."CustClassDesc" as c6,
	   T1."CustGroup" as c7,
	   CASE WHEN (T1."Discontinued" = 0) THEN ('Live') ELSE ('Discontinued') END as c8,
	   CASE WHEN (T1."ContractCust" = 1) THEN ('Contract Customer') ELSE ('Non Contract Customer') END as c9
from "MIS"."dbo"."DWCUST" T1

END SQL
COLUMN,0,Customer Code
COLUMN,1,Customer Description
COLUMN,2,Rep Code
COLUMN,3,Rep Description
COLUMN,4,Customer Class Code
COLUMN,5,Customer Class Description
COLUMN,6,Customer Group
COLUMN,7,Discontinued
COLUMN,8,Contract Customer

HTH

Gary Parker
MIS Data Analyst
Manchester, England