IBM Cognos Business Intelligence 10: The Official Guide

IBM Cognos Business Intelligence 10: The Official Guide

by Dan Volitich, Gerard Ruppert
Released April 2012
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071775922

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Book description

The only authorized guide to IBM Cognos Business Intelligence v10.1

Updated for the latest release of the software, IBM Cognos Business Intelligence 10: The Official Guide explains how to create, implement, and manage an enterprise BI solution. Maximize all of the new and enhanced features, including the powerful modeling, monitoring, and analytics capabilities. Build and deliver reports that foster informed business decisions and better results. Filled with real-world examples and expert advice, this practical resource is ideal for anyone working with IBM Cognos Business Intelligence v10.1--from administrators to end users.

  • Monitor performance using dashboards and scorecards
  • Assign user roles and privileges
  • Provide a single access point to application-specific data via Cognos Connection
  • Access content from Microsoft Office applications and mobile devices
  • Collect and analyze BI data in an interactive dashboard with Cognos Business Insight
  • Use Cognos Administration tools for system management
  • Implement appropriate security measures
  • Create BI reports with relational and dimensional data using Business Insight Advanced
  • Use Report Studio to build dimensional reports and statistical analyses
  • Identify and deliver mission-critical information using Event Studio
  • Monitor business performance with Metric Studio
  • Create, modify, organize, and publish a model in Framework Manager
  • Ensure report integrity with Lifecycle Manager

Table of contents

  1. Cover 
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents at Glance
  5. Author
  6. Contents 
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Introduction
  9. Part I: Introduction to Business Analytics and IBM Cognos 10
    1. 1. Introduction to Business Analytics
      1. Types of Business Analytics
        1. Analytical Reporting
        2. Trending
        3. Scenario Modeling
        4. Predictive Modeling
      2. Starting the Business Analytics Journey: Solid Business Intelligence
        1. The IT Perspective of BI
        2. The Business Perspective of BI
      3. The Pursuit of Business Analytics
    2. 2. Monitoring Performance Using Dashboards and Scorecards
      1. Dashboards Show Current Information
      2. Viewing Metrics with Scorecards
      3. Value of a Balanced Scorecard
      4. Planning for Dashboards and Scorecards
        1. Understand Your Needs
        2. Choose Metrics
      5. Benefits of a Successful Implementation
    3. 3. Introduction to IBM Cognos 10 Business Analytics
      1. Cognos 10 User Roles
        1. Non-Author Roles
        2. Author Roles
      2. Cognos Connection and Cognos 10 Studios
        1. Cognos Connection
        2. Cognos Business Insight
        3. Cognos Query Studio
        4. Cognos Analysis Studio
        5. Cognos Business Insight Advanced
        6. Cognos Report Studio
        7. Cognos Event Studio
        8. Cognos Metric Studio
      3. IBM Cognos Mobile
      4. Accessing IBM Cognos Mobile
        1. Run a Report
        2. Add a Report to Home Page and/or Favorites
        3. Remove Reports from Favorites or Recently Run Reports
        4. Search for Reports
        5. IBM Cognos Mobile for iPad App
        6. Run a Report
        7. Highlight a Report
    4. 4. Enhanced Analytics
      1. Business Analytics—Enhanced
      2. Elements of Enhanced Analytics
        1. Statistical Analysis
        2. Self-Service
        3. Mobility
        4. Analytics with Microsoft Excel
  10. Part II: Accessing and Using IBM Cognos 10
    1. 5. IBM Cognos Connection
      1. Getting Started with IBM Cognos Connection
        1. IBM Cognos Connection Welcome Page
        2. IBM Cognos Connection Interface
        3. IBM Cognos Connection Toolbar
      2. Performing Actions
        1. Setting Properties
        2. Running Reports
        3. Viewing Output Versions
        4. Creating Report Views
        5. Scheduling Reports
        6. Performing Other Actions
      3. Managing Entries
        1. Organizing Entries
        2. Setting Permissions
        3. Managing Versions
        4. Viewing Run History
        5. Creating Jobs
        6. Creating Pages
      4. Customizing IBM Cognos Connection
        1. Setting Your Home View
        2. Working in My Area
      5. Using IBM Cognos Viewer
    2. 6. Microsoft Office Solutions
      1. Getting Started with IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office
        1. Connecting Microsoft Office to Cognos 10
        2. Logging on to Cognos 10 Through Microsoft Office
        3. Importing IBM Cognos 10 Content into an Office Application
      2. Using IBM Cognos Analysis for Microsoft Excel
        1. Accessing IBM Cognos Analysis for Microsoft Excel
        2. Creating a List-Based Report
        3. Creating an Exploration
        4. Creating a Cell-Based Analysis
      3. Publishing Microsoft Office Documents in Cognos
      4. Refreshing Cognos 10 Content in Microsoft Office
      5. Your Presentation
    3. 7. IBM Cognos Business Insight
      1. Getting Started with IBM Cognos Business Insight
        1. Opening IBM Cognos Business Insight
        2. Using the Cognos Business Insight User Interface
      2. Creating a New Workspace
        1. Adding Content
        2. Searching for Content
        3. Saving Your Workspace
        4. Adding Your Workspace as a Favorite
      3. Working with Widgets
        1. Using the Widget Toolbar
        2. Customizing Widgets
      4. Customizing the Workspace
        1. Choosing a Workspace Layout
        2. Editing the Workspace Style
        3. Setting Preferences
      5. Sharing a Workspace Link
  11. Part III: Authoring Content with IBM Cognos 10
    1. 8. IBM Cognos Business Insight Advanced—Relational
      1. Getting Started with IBM Cognos Business Insight Advanced
        1. Opening IBM Cognos Business Insight Advanced
        2. Using the Cognos Business Insight Advanced User Interface
        3. Setting View Options
        4. Working in Preview Mode and Design Mode
      2. Working with List Reports
        1. Creating a List Report
        2. Filtering Reports
        3. Grouping Reports
        4. Summarizing Data
        5. Sorting Reports
        6. Adding Calculations to Reports
        7. Formatting Reports
      3. Creating Crosstab Reports
      4. Creating Chart Reports
      5. Using Predefined Page Layouts for Reports
      6. Running Reports
    2. 9. IBM Cognos Business Insight Advanced—Dimensional
      1. Dimensional Data Sources
      2. Getting Started with IBM Cognos Business Insight Advanced
        1. Generating Crosstab Reports
        2. Adding Filters
        3. Creating a Calculation
        4. Creating Page Layers
        5. Enabling Drill-Down and Drill-Up
        6. Creating Custom Groups
    3. 10. Report Authoring—Relational Data
      1. Getting Started with IBM Cognos Report Studio
        1. Opening IBM Cognos Report Studio
        2. Using the Cognos Report Studio Interface
        3. Object Hierarchy
      2. Creating List Reports
        1. Grouping Data
        2. Filtering Data
        3. Adding Query Calculations
        4. Formatting Data
        5. Summarizing Data
      3. Adding Prompts to Reports
        1. Adding a Cascading Prompt
        2. Formatting Prompt Pages
        3. Displaying Prompt Values in Reports
      4. Formatting Reports
        1. Creating a Header
        2. Changing the Font Size
        3. Setting a Background Color
        4. Adding a Border to an Object
        5. Applying Conditional Highlighting
        6. Formatting Titles
      5. Creating Crosstab Reports
      6. Creating Chart Reports
    4. 11. Report Authoring—Dimensional Data
      1. Model Types and Dimensional Structure
        1. Navigating Dimensional Structures
      2. Generating a Report from a Dimensional Model
        1. Inserting Hierarchies into Reports
        2. Attributes in Reports
      3. Focusing Dimensional Data
        1. Dimensional Query Behavior
        2. Creating Efficient Dimensional Queries
      4. Navigating with Dimensional Functions
        1. Family Functions
        2. Relative Functions
        3. Relative Time Functions
        4. Complex Functions
        5. Prompt Macro
    5. 12. Advanced Report Authoring
      1. Create Drill-Through Access
        1. Set Up a Target Report for Drill-Through Access
        2. Set Up a Source Report for Drill-Through Access
      2. Master Detail Relationship
        1. Create a Master Detail Relationship
      3. Adding a Microchart to a Report
      4. Selecting Ancestors
        1. Modify the Style for Multiple Items
      5. Query Management
        1. Query Types
      6. Specify What Appears when No Data Is Available
      7. Dynamic Data Formatting Using Variables
      8. Dynamic Column Rendering in a List Report Using Variables
      9. Bursting Reports
      10. Advanced Prompting
      11. HTML Items
      12. Singleton
        1. Insert a Singleton Object
        2. Edit a Query Associated with a Singleton Object
        3. Associate Multiple Singletons to One Query
      13. Table of Contents
        1. Set Up the Table of Contents
        2. Add a Table of Contents Entry for a Particular Data Item
        3. Add Bookmarks to the Table of Contents
      14. Active Reports
        1. Create an Active Report
        2. Add a Control with Static Data
        3. Add a Control with Dynamic Data
        4. Add Interactivity to Controls
        5. Save an Active Report
    6. 13. Statistical Reporting Overview
      1. Basic Concepts
        1. Variable Types
        2. Statistical Analyses
      2. Business Scenario: Shampoo pH Levels
        1. Creating a New Statistics Analysis
    7. 14. Event Management
      1. What Is an Event?
      2. Creating an Agent
        1. Opening Cognos Event Studio
        2. Navigation in Event Studio
        3. Specify a Condition
        4. Adding a Task
        5. Test an Agent
        6. Specify the Task Execution Rules
        7. Preview the Data
        8. Save an Agent
        9. Scheduling an Agent
      3. Maintaining an Agent
        1. Modify an Event Condition
        2. Modify a Task
        3. Delete a Task
        4. Change the Order in which Tasks Run
        5. Specify Default Options for Tasks of an Agent
      4. Using Agents in Cognos Connection
      5. Run an Agent Manually
      6. Schedule an Agent in Cognos Connection
      7. Create an Agent View
    8. 15. Scorecards and Metrics
      1. Metric Studio
        1. Opening Metric Studio
        2. Accessing Metrics
        3. My Folders
        4. Scorecards
        5. Metric Types
        6. Strategies
        7. Metric Security
      2. Metric Designer
        1. Create a Metric Designer Project
        2. Import Sources
        3. Create a Metrics Extract from a Cube Package Source
        4. Create a Metrics Extract from a Relational Package
        5. Execute Metrics Extracts
        6. Publish to Cognos Connection
        7. Ensure that Scorecards Have Unique ID Codes
        8. Choose the Best Time Setting
      3. Metric Maintenance
  12. Part IV: Administration of IBM Cognos 10
    1. 16. IBM Cognos Framework Manager Fundamentals
      1. A Crash Course in Model Design Accelerator
      2. The Results of the MDA
      3. Building the Model by Hand
        1. Metadata
        2. Metadata Modeling
        3. Components of a Framework Manager Project
        4. Architecture
        5. Star Schema and Snowflake
        6. SQL Generation
      4. Creating Components
        1. Projects
        2. Relationships
        3. Namespaces
        4. Query Subjects
        5. Query Items
        6. Folders
        7. Shortcuts
        8. Packages
        9. Analyze Publish Impact
      5. Tools
        1. Model Advisor
        2. Update Objects
        3. Context Explorer
    2. 17. Queries, Relationships, and Determinants in IBM Cognos Framework Manager
      1. Car Rental Example
        1. Business Rules
        2. Sample Data
      2. Building an IBM Cognos Framework Manager Project
        1. Importing the Metadata
        2. Creating the Relationships
        3. Building the First Model: Mistakes, Traps, and Determinants
      3. Building Relationships to Build SQL
        1. Star Schemas
        2. Query Types
      4. The Model Is Not the End
    3. 18. Maintaining Models in IBM Cognos Framework Manager
      1. Macros
        1. Creating a Macro
        2. Macro Functions
        3. Additional Macro Examples
      2. Security
        1. Configure Package Access
        2. Specify Object Security
        3. Specify Data Security
      3. Dimensionally Modeled Relational Models
        1. Why Dimensionally Model Metadata?
        2. A Dimensional Primer
        3. Building the Dimensionally Modeled Relational Model
      4. Other Interesting Features
        1. Dynamic Query Mode
        2. Document the Project
        3. Diagram Copy and Paste
    4. 19. Security
      1. Authentication
      2. Authorization
      3. Organization
        1. Users, Groups, and Roles
        2. Default Users
        3. Default Groups
        4. Default Roles
        5. Securing the Default Roles
        6. Users, Group, Roles, Capabilities, and Licensing
        7. Adding Users, Groups, and Roles to the IBM Cognos 10 Namespace
      4. Access Permissions
        1. Setting Access Permissions
        2. Access Permissions Interaction
      5. IBM Cognos 10 Capabilities
        1. Accessing Capabilities
        2. Capabilities You Might Want to Change
      6. Groups and Roles: What Is the Difference?
      7. Using Roles, Access Permissions, and Capabilities
        1. Business Case: Configuring Initial Security
        2. Business Case: Wait! That’s Not What I Wanted!
      8. User Modes and Licenses
        1. Creating License Roles
        2. Modify the Default Capabilities
        3. Modify the User Interface Profiles
        4. Modify the Custom and Standard Roles
      9. Troubleshooting and Testing
    5. 20. IBM Cognos Connection Management
      1. Organize Content
      2. Administering Properties
      3. Status
        1. Activities
        2. System
        3. Schedules
      4. Security
        1. Accessing My Folders Content
        2. Accessing a User’s Properties
        3. Default User Profile
      5. Configuration
        1. Data Source Connections
        2. Content Administration
        3. Export Content
        4. Import Content
        5. Distribution Lists and Contacts
        6. Printers
        7. Styles
        8. Portlets
        9. Dispatchers and Services
        10. Query Service Caching
      6. Index Search
    6. 21. IBM Cognos Lifecycle Manager
      1. Introduction to IBM Cognos Lifecycle Manager
        1. Location
      2. Validation Project
        1. Create a New Validation Project
        2. Compare Results
      3. Benchmark Project
        1. Create a New Benchmark Project
        2. Run the Second Benchmark
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: IBM Cognos Business Intelligence 10: The Official Guide
  • Author(s): Dan Volitich, Gerard Ruppert
  • Release date: April 2012
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071775922