Linking Universes

[Smithsc]

I am trying to create a link between 2 universes.
I have a core universe which has previously been exported and an active universe which I want to link to the core. I've selected Edit / Links, clicked the Add Link button, found the core univers and clinked open.

This all goes fine until I then click OK. The Universe Parameter window closes and all I see is the current tables on my active universe. The manual says I should be able to see the core components (dimmed) but they are not there. Also, if I go back into Edit / Links, the previously selected core universe is not there.

Am I missing something out or is there a bug in the system?

Do the 2 universes have to come from the same data source? My 2 universes are from different ones.

I am using Universe Designer XI.

Many thanks for any help.

 

[hilfy]

When you link a universe, it will use the same connection as the universe you're linking it to. This means that the underlying data structures have to be the same for both connections in order for linking to work. So, this is not a way to get two different connections into the same universe.

Here's how we use linked universes:

We have multiple databases with the exact same structure - one for each client. So we build a "core" universe that is connected to one specific client. For each of the other clients, we have a universe that is linked to the core universe but it uses a connection to that client's data. This way we only have to update the core universe and the updates will appear in all of the universes linked to it. The two things that I've found that don't come through the link are Contexts and Heirarchies - those have to be manually updated in each universe.

-Dell

A computer only does what you actually told it to do - not what you thought you told it to do.

 

[Smithsc]

Thanks for the information hilfy.
Is there any way of linking 2 universes from different data sources together?

 

[hilfy]

In Webi and Deski you can create multiple queries from different universes and then merge the data. In order to do this, the dimensions that link the data between the two have to be of the same data type. If you need to combine counts from the two, you'll have to work with variables to do that because measures don't merge.

-Dell

A computer only does what you actually told it to do - not what you thought you told it to do.

 

[Smithsc]

I appreciate the help hilfy. Could you very briefly explain how I can merge the data together. I've looked through all the manuals I've got and also the online help and none of them explain merging data.

Many thanks

 

[hilfy]

1. In Webi, create your two queries and run them.

2. On the design tab, check the buttons on the lower toolbar at the top of the screen - I think it's the third one from the left, but we've upgraded to 3.1 which has a slightly different screen layout - one of them will be either "Merge" or "Merge Dimensions" or something of the sort. Click on it.

3. In the screen that comes up, it will show the fields for each query at the top so that you can select a field from one and then the corresponding field in the other then click on the merge button. A dialog will appear where you can rename the merged dimension if you want, click on OK, and the fields will now appear in the bottom of the screen.

4. In the list of fields and dimensions, for each merged dimension you'll see a name and a button with a plus sign so that you can expand it. When it's expanded you'll see the two separate dimensions. Generally you'll put the merged dimension on the report instead of the individual ones, but in some situations you need the value from just one of the queries.

Good luck!

-Dell

A computer only does what you actually told it to do - not what you thought you told it to do.