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Chapter 4. Data modeling: End to end 151

Figure 4-45 on page 149. The Report Studio opens a new page and displays

the completed report; see Figure 4-47.

Figure 4-47 Report created

This report layout can now be saved and used later to produce this report from

“My Home” of IBM Cognos BI.

4.5.3 Create a Cognos model from a logical dimensional model within

Data Architect

After installing the cube model as a package into IBM Cognos BI and creating an

example simple report as demonstrated in the previous section, you might notice

that the model within IBM Cognos Frameworks is limited as to the information it

contains. There are no dimensions, facts, attributes, levels, or measures shown

within the model. This is due to the method by which we loaded this model into

IBM Cognos Framework.

Our next example, however, demonstrates an alternative approach about how to

transfer the model from IBM InfoSphere Data Architect into Cognos Framework,

and retain the information we expect to see within our model.

We start with the dimensional model we created in 4.3.3, “Add dimensional

notation to the logical data model” on page 104 and then perform the following

steps to export this dimensional model out of IBM InfoSphere Data Architect:

1. Start IBM Data Architect, then open the project and navigate to find the logical

dimensional model file. In our case, it is IND_CST_DYN_FACT_D.ldm. Select

and right-click this file to bring up the option menu. Select the Export option.

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2. From the Select panel, select Data Model Export Wizard from the Data

folder as shown in Figure 4-48.

Figure 4-48 Data Model Export Wizard menu within InfoSphere Data Architect

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3. Select IBM Cognos BI Reporting - Framework Manager as the Model

Format. For Model, click Browse and navigate to the required model, for

example, IND_CST_DYN_FACT_D.ldm. Click OK.

For Export to field, navigate to a suitable location for the export file. Click

Next. See Figure 4-49.

Figure 4-49 Select the Model panel of the Data Model export Wizard within IBM

InfoSphere Data Architect

4. On the next panel, accept the defaults and click Next, and finally Finish.

We have now exported our logical dimensional model out of IBM InfoSphere

Data Architect. Next, we import this model into IBM Cognos BI Framework

Manager.

1. Start IBM Cognos BI Framework Manager to the initial home page as shown

in Figure 4-37 on page 143. Select Create a New Project and give the new

project a name. We use Redbooks Example2. Click OK, then English.

2. Within the wizard, select the IBM Cognos Model for Data Source, then click

Next.

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3. Select the file created within IBM InfoSphere Data Architect, and then click

Next.

4. The next panel displays the model contained within the export file. For our

example, we import both the logical and physical model. Select the models as

shown in Figure 4-50, then click Next.

Figure 4-50 Import logical and physical models with the wizard within IBM Cognos BI

Framework Manager

5. The final panel gives information about the model being imported. There is

also an option within this final panel to have the model verified after import.

Click Final to complete the import process.

Figure 4-51 on page 155 shows that the model imported here has more

information about its dimensions, fact, attributes, and measures than the first

model that was imported. This model can also be published to the IBM Cognos

BI server in the same manner as the model in the first project through the

contained package. This model can also be further developed within IBM

Chapter 4. Data modeling: End to end 155

Cognos Frameworks Manager as the model was in both IBM InfoSphere Data

Architect and IBM Design Studio.

Figure 4-51 Dimensional logical and physical models from IBM InfoSphere Data Architect, loaded into IBM

Cognos Frameworks manager example

There are a number of different process that can be used to transfer model

information among these three client applications. Our example only

demonstrated two methods, but a third possible process is for the Cognos

Framework Client to import the logical and physical data models in their native

ldm and dbm format.

For further information and examples of developing and working with these

models within IBM Cognos Frameworks Manager, see IBM Cognos Business

Intelligence V10.1 Handbook, SG24-7912.