IBM Cognos Dynamic Cubes

Chapter 4. Modeling dynamic cubes 61

Figure 4-1 shows the Welcome window of IBM Cognos Cube Designer.

Figure 4-1 Welcome window of IBM Cognos Cube Designer

4.2.2 Creating a new project

To create a new project, launch IBM Cognos Cube Designer and either select the Create

New from Metadata option on the Welcome window, or choose the Create New Blank

Project option. Selecting to create a new project from metadata will opens the Select a

database schema dialog, which will display the Cognos BI data sources that you have access

to. All configured data sources from your Cognos BI Server environment to which you have

access, are displayed. From here, you can select the schema you want to use and move

forward with the metadata import step.

If you choose to create a new project without importing metadata, the Cognos Cube Designer

workspace starts and you can either begin to build the framework of your cube or you can

choose to import metadata at that point.

4.2.3 The Cognos Cube Designer workspace

The Cognos Cube Designer workspace is organized into three main areas, from left to right in

your window: Data Source Explorer, Project Explorer, and Model Explorer. Each area can be

expanded or collapsed to free additional real estate in the window for the area you are using

at a given time.

62 IBM Cognos Dynamic Cubes

Figure 4-2 shows the workspace of Cognos Cube Designer.

Figure 4-2 Workspace of IBM Cognos Cube Designer

򐂰 The Data Source Explorer is where you can view tables, views, and other objects from a

reporting data warehouse. These objects are created during the metadata-import step that

we describe in a later section. This area contains the source objects that you will use to

create your dimensions and measure dimensions for your dynamic cube.

򐂰 The

Project Explorer is where the dynamic cubes, dimensions, measure dimensions, and

other objects will be created as you build your application. This area is organized in a tree

view, which is similar to the organization of objects you see in the metadata tree in the IBM

Cognos reporting studios. When you created your new project in 4.2.2, “Creating a new

project” on page 61, a model object was created for you at the root of your project. A

dynamic cube project will have a single model, but you may have multiple dynamic cubes

and other objects such as dimensions, measure dimensions, calculations, and so on in

your model.

You can create your dynamic cube objects in the Project Explorer or you can create them

in the Model Explorer. In either case, the objects themselves will be added to the Project

Explorer.

򐂰 The

Model Explorer is where the main object edit windows are located. Although you can

create dimensions and cubes directly in the Project Explorer, the main object definition