Designer:

Q. What is a Loop? And what are the methods available to resolve a loop?A. In a relational database, a loop occurs when joins form multiple paths between lookup tables. if a query includes more than one path, the information returned can be incorrect. The rows that are returned are an intersection of the results for each path, so fewer rows are returned than expected.

With DESIGNER, you can detect loops in your universe in one of two ways:• You can run the Check Integrity function which indicates the existence of any loops.• You can select the Detect Loops command from the Tools menu.

You can resolve loops in two ways:• Using aliases • Using contexts

Q. What are the disadvantages of using a Alias?A. When we create Alias, it creates a new/extra table and this increases the no.of tables in the universe, and this can be a problem, if performance is a issue.

Q. What is a Context and what are the Disadvantage of using Contexts?A. A context is a rule by which determines which of two paths can be chosen when more than one path is possible in the database.

The disadvantage of using context is that you expose the BUSINESSOBJECTS end user to the database structure. They are forced to decide which context they want to use to run their query. The role of the universe is to shield end users from the database structure, so they do not have to make such decisions.

Q. When to use a Context and when to use a Alias?There is no strict rule to follow for resolving loops. However, whenever possible you should use an alias instead of a context. When you use a context, you expose the BUSINESSOBJECTS end user to the database structure.

A context can be confusing for end users when they are forced to make a decision about the meaning of an object. For example an object called Country can have several meanings; the customer’s country of residence, the shipment destination, or the product’s country of manufacture. When you run a query inBUSINESSOBJECTS or WEBINTELLIGENCE, you are also asked to indicate the correct database path to follow.In this situation, it would be more appropriate to create aliases with familiar names such as Customer’s Country of Residence, Shipment Destination, or Product’s Country of Manufacture.

Q. How Check Integrity determines whether a database has been changed?A. The Check Integrity function sends a request to the database for a list of tables. It then compares this list with the tables in the universe. It carries out the same action for columns. In the Structure pane, Check Integrity marks any tables or columns not matching those in the list as not available. These are tables or columns which may have been deleted or renamed in the database.

Q. What is a Chasm trap?A. Many to one joins from two fact tables converge on a single lookup table. This type of join convergence is called a Chasm trap. Chasm trap returns too many rows. And the type of join is Converging many to one joins.

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Q. What is a Fan trap?

A. A one to many join links a table which is in turn linked by a one to many join. This type of fanning out of one to many joins is called a Fan trap. Fan trap returns too many rows. And the type of join is Serial many to one joins.

Q. How is Chasm trap is solved ?A. Its detected by visual analysis of the schema.

A chasm trap is solved in the following way: 1. Creating a Context.2. Using Multiple SQL statements for each Measure.3. Creating Multiple Universes(WEBI).

Q. How is a Fan trap solved?A. Its detected by visual analysis of the schema.

A Fan trap is solved in the following way:1. Creating an Alias and applying Aggregate Aware function.2. Using Multiple SQL statements for each Measure.

Q. Does Cardinality have any effect on the generation of the query ?A. Cardinality has no effect in the generation of SQL. Its sole purpose is to provide enough information to DESIGNER so that it can detect and resolve loops.

Q. When do u use a Context ?A. When you have dimension objects in one or both fact tables, you should always use a context.

Q. When do u use Multiple Universes(loops scenario) ?A. You can use multiple universes to solve a Chasm trap in a WEBINTELLIGENCE universe when Multiple SQL for Measures cannot be used as there are dimension objects defined for one or both of the fact tables.

Q. What are the different @ Functions ?A. • @Aggregate_Aware• @Prompt• @Script• @Select• @Variable• @Where

@Prompt: The @Prompt function lets you create an interactive object. In the Query Panel, this type of object causes a message to appear. This message prompts the end user to enter a specific value.@Script: This function recovers the results of Visual Basic for Applications macro (VBA macro).@Select: This function enables you to re-use the Select statement of an existing object.

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Q. Can Dimension and Measure objects both be used for Drill down analysis ?

A. NO, Measure object cannot be used in Drill down analysis.

Q. A Measure Object can be defined from which of the Aggregate function?

A. Measure object can de derived from any of the following Aggregate functions:Count, Sum, Minimum, or Maximum, or a numeric data.

Q. What is the default qualification of a object? How do u assign a qualification to a object?

A. By default, DESIGNER automatically assigns a dimension qualification to an object you create.

For any aggregate object you create, you must assign to it a measure qualification. You must assign a detail qualification to an object used strictly for informational purposes such as Address, Age, Phone Number, etc.

Q. What is a LOV ? A. A list of values is a file that contains the data values associated with an object. Lists of values can reveal information about the contents of a database.

Q. In case u are exporting a LOV with a Universe, what kind of care u have to take ?A. To export a list of values with a universe, the universe domain and the document domain must exist on the same data account. A list of values is stored in the document domain.

Q. Can a end-user edit a lov?A. Yes, a end-user can edit an Objects Lov’s.

Q. Is a default lov assigned to a Measure object?A. No default list of values is assigned to measure objects.

Q. Can you can restrict the data values that the end users can view? If yes, how ?

A. From the query panel do the following:set a condition on the object in the following way:1. Drag the object to the Conditions box.2. Select an operator from the list of operators.3. Modify the operand as necessary.

Q. What kind of security levels are available and its invoked by ?

A. Security access levels are assigned to user profiles by the supervisor from SUPERVISOR. The levels are, from highest to lowest: Private, Confidential, Restricted, Controlled, and Public. By default, an object is assigned a Public level.

Q. What are the different Multidimensional analysis methods available in Business Objects?

A. There are 2 Multidimensional analysis methods available in BO, they are:1. Slice and Dice2. Drill Down.

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Q. What is Aggregate Aware ? and when is a Aggregate Aware used?

A. Aggregate awareness is a feature of DESIGNER that makes use of aggregate tables in a database. These are tables that contain precalculated data. The purpose of these tables is to enhance the performance of SQL transactions; they are thus used to speed up the execution of queries.

Q. What is the direction of Aggregate Aware? Top->Bottom or Bottom->Top?A. Top-> Bottom

Q. What is the syntax of a Aggregate Aware function?A. The syntax of the @Aggregate_Aware function is as follows: @Aggregate_Aware(sum(agg_table_1), ... sum(agg_table_n)) where agg_table_1 is the table with the highest level of aggregation, and agg_table_n the table with the lowest level.

Q. When do we say that a object is compatible and when it is not?A. When an object is at the same or higher level of aggregation as the table, it is compatible with the table.When an object is at a lower level of aggregation than the table (or if it is not at all related to the table), it is incompatible with the table.

Q. What are the ways by which u can distribute the Universe?A. There are two ways to distribute a universe: through the repository or through the file system.

Q. What is a Business Objects Repository?A. The Business Objects repository is a centralized set of relational data structures stored on a database. This relational device enables BUSINESSOBJECTS andWEBINTELLIGENCE users to share resources in a controlled and secured environment. The repository is made up of three domains: the security domain,the universe domain, and the document domain.

Q. How do u determine that u r working on the latest edition of the Universe?

A. Each time you export a universe to a universe domain, DESIGNER increments the revision number of the universe. In this way, you can determine which is the latest version of the universe.

Q. Benefits of Linked Universe.

• A dynamic link may considerably reduce development and maintenance time. When you modify a component in the kernel universe, DESIGNER propagates the change to the same component in all the derived universes. • Instead of re-creating common components each time you create a new universe, you can centralize such components in a kernel universe, and then include them in all new universes. • Linked universes facilitate specialization. Development can be split between database administrators who set up a basic kernel universe, and the more specialized designers who create more functional universes based on their specific field.

Q. Prerequisites for Linking the Universes?You can link the active universe to a kernel universe, only if the following requirements are met:• The kernel universe and active universe were created from the same data account and the same RDBMS.• The kernel universe was exported and re-imported at least once.• Exported derived universes are located in the same universe domain as the kernel universe.• All classes and objects are unique in both the kernel universe and the derived universes. (Otherwise, collisions may occur.) • You are authorized to link the given universe.

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Q. Prerequisite for creating a Dynamic Link between Universes?A. You must have exported the kernel universe at least once.

Q What is the use of aggregate awareness function? when to use?A. It is a feature of designer. By using @aggregate aware function we can select aggregate tables from the database helps us to improve the query performance.(read abt this more elaborately from help file version 6.5)

Q When to use local filter and when to use global filter?Q without using alerters how u will highlight the required data?Q Explain Fan trap and Chasm trap with examples?    A) Fan trap: one to many join which in turn links with one to many join,which results a join path problem. this will be resolved by using alias and context. say mostly we will resolve fantrap by using alias table.(ex. refer in help)       Chasm trap:many to one join from two tables converging on a single lookup table,which results a join path problem called chasm trap. we can resolve  it by alias and context. mostly we use context bcoz when there r two fact tables,we hav to use only context.

Q How do u use surrogate key in datawarehousing?

QWhats the use of multi data providers? In which situation we go for multi data provider?(imp question read abt this more elaborately)

   A) If u want to generate the reports from two different universes, we will use multi data providers ( we can link the data providers in the business objects(goto viewdata there u will find linking))

Q How did u resolve the loop using shortcut join?      A) we can resolve loop using shortcut join, it reduces longj oin paths as short as possible. i don't think we can use this type of join in most of the case for resolving a join.

Q When do u go for alias? when do u go for context? which one is best for resolving theloops?A)when there is two to three tables,we will go for alias.if u increase the tables then the performance will be poor. If there r two fact tables we should go for context, we cannot choose alias table in that case.But the problem using context,sometimes it prompts the end user to choose a context, then the user has to face problem which context he has to choose.  

Q What are the linked universes? What are the parameters required for linked universes?A) linked univ. r the universes which share common components such as  parameters,classes,objects etc.the parameters reqd. for linking univ.    1) classes and objects should be unique.    2)it should be present on the same repository.(still some more points r there i can't remember see help)

Q Whats kernel universe?  A) It is the core universe by which derived universes r formed. It contains all possible core  components to derive a linked univ.Q BO supports what type of schemas? Is it support normal schema? it supports star schema, snowflake schema and galaxy(multi star) schema.Q whats the performance tuning of a query? Q whats the third party document? Q whats pragma? Q what are the user requirements in a universe? Q whats universal join in BOs?  A)equi join,outer join,shortcut join,thetajoin,recursive join.

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Q In which format the end user can view the reports?A) adobe format,excel format,business objects format etc.

Q while creating a universe what type of problems have u faced?A)mainly join path problems(resolving loops), aggreagate awareness( say any thing wht ever u know perfectly in the univ.)

Q. in prompt function free refers what, constrained refers what? A)free means we can select many from list of values,where as constrained is we have to select one value from lov

Q whats the latest version in BO? whats the differences between 5.1 and this one?A) i've used version 6.5,the major differences from 6.5 and 5.1 are   1)there is no parameters tab available in 5.1 version,the parameter tab will be present in parameters.(from 6.5 for each univ. there is a seperate parameter file is available but for 5.1 for all univ. there is one parameter file will be existing)     2)derived table option in 6.5( it will reduce complex queries before entering into report and we can make use of complex calculations)     3)index awareness- to improve the performance by reducing the joins.we will create this index awareness for an object.

Q What r the advanced features of this latest version?( same answer for this question(see 20))Q I have three predefined prompts. In a report it will come randomly. How they will come in a specified format?Q How did u test the report?A)By the conditions given by the client, we have to check it by using unit testing of reports( i don't know much abt this.)

Q) What is a Universe? A) A universe is a business-oriented mapping of the data structure found in databases: tables, columns, joins, etc. It can represent any specific application, system, or group of users. For example, a universe can relate to a department in a company such as marketing or accounting. In the BusinessObjects User module, universes enable end users to build queries from which they can generate and perform analysis. Universes isolate end users from the complexities of the database structure as well as the intricacies of SQL syntax.

Q) How many Universes did you create? Q) Tell me how many classes where there, and objects in each class? Q) What is an Object? A) An object is the most refined component in a universe. It maps to data or a derivation of data in the database. Using objects, end users can build queries to generate reports.

Q) What is Object qualification? A) For the purposes of multidimensional analysis, objects are qualified as one of three types: dimension, detail, or measure.

Q) Tell me about a complicated object you have created? Q) What was the size of the database? Which server? Q) What was the Database? Was it a data warehouse? Q) What problems you have faced while creating a universe? Q) Tell me an incident and how you went about solving it? Q) How many Tables was the universe built? Q) What is a loop, how do you resolve them? A) A situation that occurs when more than one path exists from one table to another in the universe.

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Q) What do prefer an Alias or a context? Why? A) Alias - A logical pointer to an alternate table name. The purpose of an alias is to resolve loops in the paths of joins. A) Context - A context is a rule by which Designer can decide which of two paths to choose when more than one path is possible from one table to another. Contexts can be used to resolve loops in the universe. You can create contexts manually, or cause them to be detected by Designer. When contexts are useful, Designer suggests a list of contexts that you can create.

Q) What is join? Explain different types of joins? A) A relational operation that causes two tables with a common column to be combined into a single table. Designer supports equi-joins, theta joins, outer joins, and shortcut joins.

Q) What are linked universes? Have you worked with them, problems faced and solutions? A) Linked universes are universes that share common components such as parameters, classes, objects, or joins. Among linked universes, one universe is said to be the kernel or master while the others are the derived universes.

DATA WAREHOUSE Q’S:

What is Data Warehousing?A data warehouse is the main repository of an organization’s historical data, its corporate memory. It contains the raw material for management’s decision support system. The critical factor leading to the use of a data warehouse is that a data analyst can perform complex queries and analysis, such as data mining, on the information without slowing down the operational systems (Ref:Wikipedia). Data warehousing collection of data designed to support management decision making. Data warehouses contain a wide variety of data that present a coherent picture of business conditions at a single point in time. It is a repository of integrated information, available for queries and analysis.

What is Dimensional Modeling?Dimensional data model concept involves two types of tables and it is different from the 3rd normal form. This concepts uses Facts table which contains the measurements of the business and Dimension table which contains the context(dimension of calculation) of the measurements.

What is Fact table?Fact table contains measurements of business processes also fact table contains the foreign keys for the dimension tables. For example, if your business process is “paper production” then “average production of paper by one machine” or “weekly production of paper” would be considered as measurement of business process.

What is Dimension table?Dimensional table contains textual attributes of measurements stored in the facts tables. Dimensional table is a collection of hierarchies, categories and logic which can be used for user to traverse in hierarchy nodes.

What are the Different methods of loading Dimension tables?There are two different ways to load data in dimension tables.Conventional (Slow) :All the constraints and keys are validated against the data before, it is loaded, this way data integrity is maintained.Direct (Fast) :All the constraints and keys are disabled before the data is loaded. Once data is loaded, it is validated against all the constraints and keys. If data is found invalid or dirty it is not included in index and all future processes are skipped on this data.

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Describes the foreign key columns in fact table and dimension table?Foreign keys of dimension tables are primary keys of entity tables.Foreign keys of facts tables are primary keys of Dimension tables.

What is the difference between view and materialized view?A view takes the output of a query and makes it appear like a virtual table and it can be used in place of tables.A materialized view provides indirect access to table data by storing the results of a query in a separate schema object.

What is ER Diagram?Entity Relationship Diagrams are a major data modelling tool and will help organize the data in your project into entities and define the relationships between the entities. This process has proved to enable the analyst to produce a good database structure so that the data can be stored and retrieved in a most efficient manner.An entity-relationship (ER) diagram is a specialized graphic that illustrates the interrelationships between entities in a database. A type of diagram used in data modeling for relational data bases. These diagrams show the structure of each table and the links between tables.

What is ODS?ODS is abbreviation of Operational Data Store. A database structure that is a repository for near real-time operational data rather than long term trend data. The ODS may further become the enterprise shared operational database, allowing operational systems that are being re-engineered to use the ODS as there operation databases.

What is ETL?ETL is abbreviation of extract, transform, and load. ETL is software that enables businesses to consolidate their disparate data while moving it from place to place, and it doesn’t really matter that that data is in different forms or formats. The data can come from any source.ETL is powerful enough to handle such data disparities. First, the extract function reads data from a specified source database and extracts a desired subset of data. Next, the transform function works with the acquired data - using rules orlookup tables, or creating combinations with other data - to convert it to the desired state. Finally, the load function is used to write the resulting data to a target database.

Is OLTP database is design optimal for Data Warehouse?No. OLTP database tables are normalized and it will add additional time to queries to return results. Additionally OLTP database is smaller and it does not contain longer period (many years) data, which needs to be analyzed. A OLTP system is basically ER model and not Dimensional Model. If a complex query is executed on a OLTP system, it may cause a heavy overhead on the OLTP server that will affect the normal business processes.

If de-normalized is improves data warehouse processes, why fact table is in normal form?Foreign keys of facts tables are primary keys of Dimension tables. It is clear that fact table contains columns which are primary key to other table that itself make normal form table.

What are lookup tables?A lookup table is the table placed on the target table based upon the primary key of the target, it just updates the table by allowing only modified (new or updated) records based on thelookup condition.

What are Aggregate tables?Aggregate table contains the summary of existing warehouse data which is grouped to certain levels of dimensions. It is always easy to retrieve data from aggregated tables than visiting original table which has million records. Aggregate tables reduces the load in the database server and increases

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What is real time data-warehousing?Data warehousing captures business activity data. Real-time data warehousing captures business activity data as it occurs. As soon as the business activity is complete and there is data about it, the completed activity data flows into the data warehouse and becomes available instantly.

What are conformed dimensions?Conformed dimensions mean the exact same thing with every possible fact table to which they are joined. They are common to the cubes.

What is conformed fact?Conformed dimensions are the dimensions which can be used across multiple Data Marts in combination with multiple facts tables accordingly.

How do you load the time dimension?Time dimensions are usually loaded by a program that loops through all possible dates that may appear in the data. 100 years may be represented in a time dimension, with one row per day.

What is a level of Granularity of a fact table?Level of granularity means level of detail that you put into the fact table in a data warehouse. Level of granularity would mean what detail are you willing to put for each transactional fact.

What are non-additive facts?Non-additive facts are facts that cannot be summed up for any of the dimensions present in the fact table. However they are not considered as useless. If there is changes in dimensions the same facts can be useful.

What is factless facts table?A fact table which does not contain numeric fact columns it is called factless facts table.

What are slowly changing dimensions (SCD)?SCD is abbreviation of Slowly changing dimensions. SCD applies to cases where the attribute for a record varies over time. There are three different types of SCD.1) SCD1 : The new record replaces the original record. Only one record exist in database - current data.2) SCD2 : A new record is added into the customer dimension table. Two records exist in database - current data and previous history data.3) SCD3 : The original data is modified to include new data. One record exist in database - new information are attached with old information in same row.What is hybrid slowly changing dimension?Hybrid SCDs are combination of both SCD 1 and SCD 2. It may happen that in a table, some columns are important and we need to track changes for them i.e capture the historical data for them whereas in some columns even if the data changes, we don’t care.

What is BUS Schema?BUS Schema is composed of a master suite of confirmed dimension and standardized definition if facts.

What is a Star Schema?Star schema is a type of organizing the tables such that we can retrieve the result from the database quickly in the warehouse environment. What Snow Flake Schema? Snowflake Schema, each dimension has a primary dimension table, to which one or more additional dimensions can join. The primary dimension table is the only table that can join to the fact table.

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Differences between star and snowflake schema?Star schema - A single fact table with N number of Dimension, all dimensions will be linked directly with a fact table. This schema is de-normalized and results in simple join and less complex query as well as faster results.Snow schema - Any dimensions with extended dimensions are know as snowflake schema, dimensions maybe interlinked or may have one to many relationship with other tables. This schema is normalized and results in complex join and very complex query as well as slower results.

What is Difference between ER Modeling and Dimensional Modeling?ER modeling is used for normalizing the OLTP database design. Dimensional modeling is used for de-normalizing the ROLAP/MOLAP design.What is degenerate dimension table?If a table contains the values, which are neither dimension nor measures is called degenerate dimensions.

What is surrogate key?Surrogate key is a substitution for the natural primary key. It is just a unique identifier or number for each row that can be used for the primary key to the table. The only requirement for a surrogate primary key is that it is unique for each row in the table. It is useful because the natural primary key can change and this makes updates more difficult.Surrogated keys are always integer or numeric.

What is Data Mart?A data mart (DM) is a specialized version of a data warehouse (DW). Like data warehouses, data marts contain a snapshot of operational data that helps business people to strategize based on analyses of past trends and experiences. The key difference is that the creation of a data mart is predicated on a specific, predefined need for a certain grouping and configuration of select data. A data mart configuration emphasizes easy access to relevant information (Reference : Wiki). Data Marts are designed to help manager make strategic decisions about their business.What is the difference between OLAP and data warehouse?Datawarehouse is the place where the data is stored for analyzing where as OLAP is the process of analyzing the data,managing aggregations, partitioning information into cubes for in depth visualization.

What is a Cube and Linked Cube with reference to data warehouse?Cubes are logical representation of multidimensional data.The edge of the cube contains dimension members and the body of the cube contains data values. The linking in cube ensures that the data in the cubes remain consistent.

What is junk dimension?A number of very small dimensions might be lumped together to form a single dimension, a junk dimension - the attributes are not closely related. Grouping of Random flags and text Attributes in a dimension and moving them to a separate sub dimension is known as junk dimension.

What is snapshot with reference to data warehouse?You can disconnect the report from the catalog to which it is attached by saving the report with a snapshot of the data.

What is active data warehousing?An active data warehouse provides information that enables decision-makers within an organization to manage customer relationships nimbly, efficiently and proactively.

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What is the difference between data warehousing and business intelligence?Data warehousing deals with all aspects of managing the development, implementation and operation of a data warehouse or data mart including meta data management, data acquisition, data cleansing, data transformation, storage management, data distribution, data archiving, operational reporting, analytical reporting, security management, backup/recovery planning, etc. Business intelligence, on the other hand, is a set of software tools that enable an organization to analyze measurable aspects of their business such as sales performance, profitability, operational efficiency, effectiveness of marketing campaigns, market penetration among certain customer groups, cost trends, anomalies and exceptions, etc. Typically, the term “business intelligence” is used to encompass OLAP, data visualization, data mining and query/reporting tools. (Reference : Les Barbusinski)

Explain paradigm of Bill Inmon and Ralph Kimball.Bill Inmon’s paradigm: Data warehouse is one part of the overall business intelligence system. An enterprise has one data warehouse, and data marts source their information from the data warehouse. In the data warehouse, information is stored in 3rd normal form.

Ralph Kimball’s paradigm: Data warehouse is the conglomerate of all data marts within the enterprise. Information is always stored in the dimensional model.

Cubes in a data warehouse are stored in three different modes. A relational storage model is called Relational Online Analytical Processing mode or ROLAP, while a Multidimensional Online Analytical processing mode is called MOLAP. When dimensions are stored in a combination of the two modes then it is known as Hybrid Online Analytical Processing mode or HOLAP.  MOLAP 

This is the traditional mode in OLAP analysis. In MOLAP data is stored in form of multidimensional cubes and not in relational databases. The advantages of this mode is that it provides excellent query performance and the cubes are built for fast data retrieval. All calculations are pre-generated when the cube is created and can be easily applied while querying data. The disadvantages of this model are that it can handle only a limited amount of data. Since all calculations have been pre-built when the cube was created, the cube cannot be derived from a large volume of data. This deficiency can be bypassed by including only summary level calculations while constructing the cube. This model also requires huge additional investment as cube technology is proprietary and the knowledge base may not exist in the organization.    ROLAP  The underlying data in this model is stored in relational databases. Since the data is stored in relational databases this model gives the appearance of traditional OLAP’s slicing and dicing functionality. The advantages of this model is it can handle a large amount of data and can leverage all the functionalities of the relational database. The disadvantages are that the performance is slow and each ROLAP report is an SQL query with all the limitations of the genre. It is also limited by SQL functionalities. ROLAP vendors have tried to mitigate this problem by building into the tool out-of-the-box complex functions as well as providing the users with an ability to define their own functions.    HOLAP  

HOLAP technology tries to combine the strengths of the above two models. For summary type information HOLAP leverages cube technology and for drilling down into details it uses the ROLAP model.   Comparing the use of MOLAP, HOLAP and ROLAP  The type of storage medium impacts on cube processing time, cube storage and cube browsing speed. Some of the factors that affect MOLAP storage are:   Cube browsing is the fastest when using MOLAP. This is so even in cases where no aggregations have been done. The data is stored in a compressed multidimensional format and can be accessed quickly than in the relational database. Browsing is very slow in ROLAP about the same in HOLAP. Processing time is slower in ROLAP, especially at higher levels of aggregation.  

MOLAP storage takes up more space than HOLAP as data is copied and at very low levels of aggregation it takes up more room than ROLAP. ROLAP takes almost no storage space as data is not duplicated. However ROALP aggregations

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take up more space than MOLAP or HOLAP aggregations.  

All data is stored in the cube in MOLAP and data can be viewed even when the original data source is not available. In ROLAP data cannot be viewed unless connected to the data source.   MOLAP can handle very limited data only as all data is stored in the cube.

It is a set of specifications which allows the client applications in retriving the data from the DataWareHouse for analytical process.

There r 4 types of OLAPS we have

1.DOLAP(DESKTOP OLAP) 2.ROLAP(RELATIONAL OLAP)

3.MOLAP(MULTIDIMENSTIONAL OLAP) 4.HOLAP(HYBRID OLAP)

1.DOLAP: The OLAP which communicates with DESKTOP DATABASES to retrive the data is called DOLAP. ex:cognos,business object tools.

2.ROLAP: The OLAP which communicates with RELATIONAL DATABASES to retrive the data is called ROLAP.ex:COGNOS REPORT NET,BO,MICROSTRATAGY,HYPERION

3.MOLAP: The OLAP which communicates with MULTI DIMENSIONAL DATABASES to retrive the data is called MOLAP. ex:COGNOS ,HYPERION

4.HOLAP: The OLAP  which uses the combined features of ROLAP,MOLAP is called HOLAP. ex:COGNOS

what is the diferrence beteeen tabular report& cross tab report

Tabular reports is a 2D format and Cross tab reports is a 3D format. Most of the operational/formated reports will be created in tabular form and most of the analytical reports are created in the cross tab report form (Product VS Year VS Sales amount)

what is the difference between condition & filter.

Condition Allows the data to be filtered at the database level , and if created at a Universe level can be used across many reports. Filter will have visibility of data in the report. The over head of the data fetching form the Database cannot be avoided and this is not a reusable component.

what is the diferrence between slice and dice & drill through

1.Slice and dice is you are going to analyze the data in different angle, but drill through is like using a single value you are going to grain the data.Cheers,Sithu

2. slice and dice means change the postion of the data like move the data from rows to columns drill mode means allow u to analyze the data in different angles and different levels of details.. in drill mode different types of analysis's are there like drill up, drill down, drill accross, drill through. drill through means option to select any step or level directly from the current level.. these are the main difference between slice and dice and drill through 3. Slice and dice allows us to show and hide the objects Where as drill allows us to drill the data like drill up, drill down, drill through depending upon the user requirements.

Q) what is the diferrence between slice and dice and cross tab report?

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Slice and Dice : Arrangement of Data Crosstab report is for Comparision. cross tab report is like at the intersection of 2 dimensions measure is displayed.like if we have two dimensions year and product and a measure revenu,revenue is displayed at the intersection of year and product.

Theta join—A theta join is created when the data in two fields from two tables is related via some comparison operator other than equals (=). For example, a not-equal join relates data using the not equal operator (<>). For example, suppose you want to compare the unit price data in Northwind's Order Details table with the unit price data in the Products table. Specifically, you want to see those orders where the unit price of the order differs from the unit price of the product.

General Questions Q) Tell me about yourself, your employment history. Q) How many years of experience do you have in BusObj? Q) Versions? Q) What was your role in the current project? Q) How many users were there? Q) On a scale of 1 - 10, rate yourself on BUSOBJ? Q) Supervisor Q) Designer Q) BusObj Q) Webi Q) Broadcast Agent Q) Business Query Q) Were any experts called from BUSOBJ while you were on the project?

Supervisor QuestionsQ) What is BOmain.key? A) A file that contains the address of the repository's security domain. This file must be distributed to all users who will access the BusinessObjects repository to share universes and documents. By default, the bomain.key is placed in the BusinessObjects\LocData folder on your system.

Q) What is the Business Objects repository? A) The Business Objects repository is a set of relational data structures stored on a database. It enables Business Objects users to share resources in a controlled and secured environment.

Q) What is a domain? How many are there is a basic set up? What are they? A) The repository is made up of three domains: the security domain, the universe domain, and the document domain.

Q) When is the repository created? A) The repository is created by the general supervisor with the Setup wizard during the first-time use of the product. You can create and use more than one repository, typically to manage multiple sites. Q) Can we have multiple domains? If yes. Purpose of having them? A) Yes, Having multiple document domains can help with organization. If you stick with the 'canned' document domain, all documents (BCA, user to user, corporate, universe lov's) all wind up sharing the same domain/default table space. You can create separate domains with separate table spaces for the different types of documents and reduce the risk of space related Repro problems and corruption. Also, you can reduce the risk that problems corrupt your entire Repro.

Q) How do you restrict the users from using a particular universe, a class or object(s) of a universe, a particular document etc? Q) How do you restrict access to the rows of a database? A) 1) In the User pane, click the user or group. 2) In the Resource pane, click the Universe tab. 3) Right-click the universe. 4) From the pop-up menu, click Properties. 5) In the Universe Properties dialog box, click the Rows tab. 6) Set the options as necessary. 7) Click OK.

Q) How do you Create a user? A) 1) In the User pane, click the group in which you want to create a new user. 2) Click on the toolbar. 3) Type a user name, and press the Enter key.

Q) What are the types of user profiles and products can they use? A) Supervisor offers standard profiles representing the various types of Business Objects users. The names of the profiles, as well as their symbols, roles, and products are explained below.

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Profile) General Supervisor Role) The Business Objects system administrator. This is the person who launches Supervisor for the first time. The general supervisor creates the repository, defines users and groups, and manages resources. A general supervisor is the sole user with a global view of the hierarchical organization. Product) All Business Objects Products Profile) Supervisor Role) Defines users and group, manages resources, and ensures security. A supervisor also assigns properties and resources to these users and groups. In addition, a supervisor can restrict access to certain resources. A general supervisor can create several supervisors. Product) Supervisor, BusinessObjects Profile) Supervisor-designer Role) Creates users, groups and universes. This user has all the rights of the supervisor and designer combined. Product) Supervisor, Designer, BusinessObjects Profile) Designer Role) Creates universes and distributes them to end-users by sending them through the file system, or by exporting them to the repository. Product) Designer, BusinessObjects Profile) User Role) The main BusinessObjects user whose tasks are to query, report, and analyze data. Users can produce documents containing data from one or more data sources. There can be an unlimited number of users. Product) BusinessObjects Profile) Versatile Role) This user is authorized to use any combination of products defined by a supervisor.

Q) How do you create a user group? A) 1) In the User pane, click the group in which you want to create a new group. 2) Click on the toolbar. 3) Type a group name, and press the Enter key.

Q) How do you know if a user is Disabled? A) A sad face means the user has disabled him/herself by failing the password check X number of times. A user disabled intentionally via the Supervisor module will have a red circle X over him/her.

Q) How do you enable a User? A) Right click on the disabled user and select enable.

Q) How many strikes does it take before a user disables themselves? A) 3 is the default but a General Supervisor can change this setting in tools/options.

Q) What is a Category? A) A keyword or phrase created by Supervisor and stored in the repository, which end-users can assign to documents when they send them to users, groups, or Broadcast Agent. Users can then filter document searches in the repository by assigned category.

BusObj Questions

Q) How many reports have you created? Explain a few?

Q) What are alerter's, filters, breaks, conditions?A) The Alerters dialog box allows you to create and apply alerters. Alerters use special formatting to make data that fits specified conditions stand out from the rest of the data. This helps draw attention to trends and exceptions in report data. A filter enables you to hide the data you do not want to view and display only the data you want to focus on. In the Apply a Filter on Variable Name dialog box, you choose which values of the selected variable you want to display in the selected block. Select the variables you want to use to insert a break. When you close the dialog box, the variable you select is displayed in the Breaks dialog box. Break Level, sets the level that the block of data will have in the report. You can have more than one break level to organize blocks of data.

Conditions - feature that forces a query to retrieve only the data that meets specified criteria.

Q) What's the difference between master-detail and Breaks? Q) What's the difference between filters and conditions? Q) What are pre-defined conditions? Compare with report conditions? Justify? Q) What are the differences between a formula, variable and user objects? Q) Did you face any problems while creating reports? Name? Solutions? Q) How do you schedule the reports? Q) What is a microcube? How many can a document have?

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A) Local structure in which the data retrieved by a data provider is stored; contains the data users can display in reports inside a document.

Q) Have you worked with multiple data sources? If yes. How do you link them? Q) What are templates? Explain what you have created? Q) How do you resolve #multivalue and #computation errors? Q) Difference between Foreach and Forall? A) Foreach - Adds a dimension to the calculation environment. Forall - Specifies the dimensions you want to include in the calculation.

Q) Define a Cell, Block, and Section? Q) How can you suppress the 'No data to fetch' messages in Reports?

A) There are a number of ways. VBA can be used to set Application.Interactive to Off. But this will also prevent the user from responding to any prompts. You can also adjust your query so that every data provider is a union to a table that returns at least one row, thereby eliminating the possibility of returning no rows. That "special row" should be designed so that it doesn't change (impact) the actual results should they be returned.

Q) When getting 'No data to fetch' msg, how can you make the report to display at least one record?

A) Again, a union can be used to combine an extra row to a data provider, thereby eliminating the "no data to fetch" message. Or you can have two blocks, one hidden behind the other, where one block is displayed when there is data, and the other block (with a hard-coded text message) displayed only when there is no data in the "real" data provider.

Q) How can you import a single-tab report into another multi-table report so the single-tab report will keep its formatting? A) Without VBA, use a template. You'll have to recreate the data provider from scratch. With VBA, you can move (copy) the data provider to the multi-tabbed document, then either via VBA or manually use a template to move the formatting. Bottom line is that you use a template to move the formatting, but have to use VBA or manually move the data provider as there is no feature within the product to do this.

Q) Can you link the 'universe based' query to one based on RDBMS stored procedure?

A) I've never tried this, but I don't see why not. Since you can link a universe-based query to a personal data provider, and that works just fine, I don't see why this wouldn't work.

Q) How can you display 5 top records only? Need more information. Do you want the top 5 records based on some other value? Or the "pure" top 5 based on the query? You have a number of choices... use the "rank" feature in BusinessObjects, use "partial results" and limit the rows returned to 5 (using a descending sort to get the right order), or use a Rank() feature of your RDBMS, assuming one is available. But since we're talking about report solutions, that last one probably should not be considered. Issues with the reporter rank function include the fact that all data is returned, resulting in a (potentially) large cube. But it will handle tied results. And by including a break on some other dimension object, you can determine the top 5 per X, or some other value. Issues with the partial results include the fact that ties are not handled properly, and you can only get the "overall" top 5, not the top 5 per some item.

Q) What's the Detail object used for?

Officially, any non-defining attribute should be a detail object. So while customer ID would be a dimension, customer name, address, phone, and so on should be details. They are used primarily in an environment where lots of report linking is done. If you don't use the linking technique, then details are less of an issue. Since details are associated with a dimension, once their associated dimension is linked to some other dimension, then the detail object is available (and valid) in a block with combined data.

Some objects (date objects come to mine) could be defined in a universe as both dimensions and details. For example, Order Date could be a detail for Order Number. The Order Number only has one Order Date. By setting Order Date to be a detail, you can link on Order Number to some other data provider and continue to use Order Date in the block without the famous "Variables are not compatible" message. Yet you may want to drill on a hierarchy of Order Year, Order Quarter, Order Month, Order Date. In that case, it would have to be a dimension.

Q) When you build a query in Query Panel, is it able to generate sub-query statement within Select clause? - If “Yes”, how to generate such sub-query within Select clause? And what kind of SQL structure is needed to design a universe object? - If “No”, what components will you build in the universe and then build queries in query panel in order to get the same result?

Q) Does cardinality setting in universe structure lead to the queried result?

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- If “Yes”, please explain it or give an example. - If “No”, please explain it or give an example.

Q) If a report needs to query a field which provides “Amount Balance” data, what are the differences between “have” and “have no” “SUM” aggregation in this measure object design?

Q) If I need to query Branch Codes by the criteria: BRANCH.BRANCH_CODE BETWEEN @variable ('Enter from Branch code') AND @variable ('Enter to Branch Code'), what kind of object and how will you design it in the universe?

Q) If your report data provider is from a universe, what kind of change of this universe will not affect the existing report data provider?

Q) If my schema only has 3 tables: A_TABLE (one) to (many) B_TABLE (one) to (many) C_TABLE. A_TABLE is used for A dimension object, B_TABLE is used for B measure object, and C_TABLE is used for C measure object. If I need to query A, B, and C objects in one query, can I get correct data result? - If “Yes”, please explain how it works. - If “No”, please explain how it doesn’t work and how to resolve it. Q) If my schema only has 3 tables: A_TABLE (one) to (many) B_TABLE and A_TABLE (one) to (many) C_TABLE. A_TABLE is used for A dimension object, B_TABLE is used for B measure object, and C_TABLE is used for C measure object. If I need to query A, B, and C objects in one query, can I get correct data result? - If “Yes”, please explain how it works. - If “No”, please explain how it doesn’t work and how to resolve it.

Q) Please explain when you will/won’t enable LOV for either dimension or measure objects.

Q) What are the prerequisites to switch report data provider from a free-hand SQL to a universe?

Q) How to weightage the mapping tables in the universe table structure? And how does it work to optimize your queries? Explain detail objects? –

Q) Detail objects are attached to dimensions, one cannot drill on details nor link on details when linking multiple data providers. While Customer ID would be a dimension, customer name, address, phone and soon should be details.

Q) What is BOMain.Key? – R) BoMain.Key file contains the information about the repository site i.e it contains the address of the repository

security domain.

Q) What is Business objects Repository? – it is nothing but metadata.

Q) What is domain? How many are there in a basic setup? What are they? – R) Domain is nothing but logical grouping of system tables, There are three domains usually in a basic setup,

They are Secure, Universe, Document. Business objects are sometimes called domain objects (where the word domain means the business), and a domain model represents the set of domain objects and the relationships between them.

Q) When is the Repository created? R) In 5i/6i versions after installing the software, whereas in Xi version a repository is created at the time of

installation.

Q) Can we have multiple domains? R) Yes. (Security domain can not be multiple).

Q) How do you restrict access to rows of a database? – R) In XI version it can be done by using row-level security in designer module whereas in 5i/6i it is done by

supervisor.

Q) What is a category?R) It is nothing but grouping of certain entities.

Q) What is a Universe?

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R) It is a semantic layer between Database and the designer used to create objects and classes. (It maps to data in Database).

Q) What is an Object? R) It is an instance of class, its nothing but an entity.

Q) What do you mean by Object qualification?R) Object qualification represents what kind of object is that, usually we have three types of object qualifiers they

are measure, dimension, detailed.

Q) What is the size of data base? R) In general it will be anything between 4-8 Terabytes.

Q) What is a loop? How can we overcome? R) Loop is nothing but a closed circular flow; it can be overcome by making use of Alias and Context.

Q) What is a join? Explain different types of joins? R) Join is used to link to tables depending upon the data requested by the user, Usually we have Inner Join, Outer

Join, Left Join, Right Join, Full Outer join.

Q) What are Linked Universes?R) If the data provided is from two different data providers then we can link those two universes, such type of

universe is called Linked Universe.

Q) What are Alerter, Filters, Breaks and Conditions? R) Alters are nothing but they are used to draw attention to a block of data by highlighting. Breaks are nothing

but grouping the data without any change in the format. Condition is used to retrieve data which meets certain criteria. Filters are used to get necessary data.

Q) What is the difference between master-detail and Breaks?R) In break common fields are deleted (here in this case the table format is not changed) whereas in master-

detail , we declare certain entity as a master to get the detailed information or report in this case the table format is changed.

Q) What is metrics? R) Metrics are a system of parameters or ways of quantitative and periodic assessment of a process that is to be

measured; these are used to track trends, productivity.

Q) What is a Set? Its nothing but grouping of users.

Q) What is the use of AFD? Where it can be stored?R) used to create dashboards. It can be stored in repository, corporate or personal.

Q) what is the source for metrics? measure objects.

Q) Why do we need metrics and sets? Metrics are used for analysis and Sets are used for grouping.

Q) Is there any bug in 6.x? In earlier version of 6.0 they had, but 6.5 is the best version with out any bugs.

Q) What are the general issues in migration process? Alignment, performance.

Q) What is the use of BO SDK? Bo SDK main use is to suppress “no data to fetch” using Macros.

Q) How can we improve performance? By making use of Aggregate tables.

Q) Analysis in BO? Slice-Dice and Drill analysis.

Q) How can you check the integrity? By making use of Check integrity button.

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Q) What are Universe parameters? Name of the universe, description and RDBMS connection, size and rights.

Q) Types of Universes? Simple and Complex.

Q) What is the use of BCA? BCA is used to refresh and schedule and export and save as.html,.rtf,.xls ,.pdf.

1) Types and definitions of joins?Ans: There should be one WHERE clause for each pair of tables being joined. Thus, if four tables are to be combined, three conditions would be necessary.EQUI JOIN: An equi-join is based on the equality between the values in the column of one table and the values in the column of another. Because the same column is present in both tables, the join synchronizes the two tables.THETA JOIN: A theta join links tables based on a relationship other than equality between two columns.OUTER JOIN: An outer join links two tables, one of which has rows that do not match those in the common column of the other table.SHORTCUT JOIN: Shortcut joins can be used in schemas containing redundant join paths leading to the same result, regardless of direction.

The simplest way to create joins in a universe is to specify a join strategy that creates them automatically as we insert tables and columns in the Structure pane from the Table Browser.The Detect JOIN Method: A quick and reliable method for joining the tables in wer universe is to select the Detect Joins command on the Tools menu. we can also click the button on the Editing toolbar to execute the command. The Edit JOIN Method: The Edit Join dialog box is a graphical method for creating a new join, or editing an existing one.The Formula BAR Method: The formula bar is an area within the DESIGNER window that shows the formula or expression defining any join that we click.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2) What are loops and how do we resolve them?Ans: In a relational database schema a common type of join path that returns too few rows is called a loop.In a relational database, a loop occurs when joins form multiple paths between lookup tables. In a database schema, a loop can be identified as a closed pathResolving the Loop:DESIGNER provides three features, which guide we in the loop resolution process:• Detect Cardinalities : The Detect Cardinalities command automatically identifies the cardinalities or nature of the relationships between the tables in the Structure pane.

• Detect Aliases: In SQL an alias is an alternative name for a table. The purpose of aliases is to resolve structural issues in a database arising from SQL limitations.In DESIGNER, an alias is just a pointer to another table.

A designer places one or more aliases in the Structure pane so that BUSINESSOBJECTS and WEBINTELLIGENCEcan generate the appropriate SQL statements for certain types of queries.

• Detect Contexts: A context is a set of joins that specifies one of several paths through tables in a loop. It ensures that joins are not included from different paths within the same SQL query.

3? Can we link Universe and what are the advantages of doing that?

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Ans: Linked universes are universes that share common components such as parameters, classes, objects, or joins. Among linked universes, one universe is said to be the kernel or master universe while the others are the derived universes. A kernel or master universe represents a re-usable library of components. Derived universes may contain some or all the components of the kernel or master universe, in addition to any components that have been added to it.

Kernel Approach: With the kernel approach, one universe contains the core components. These are the components common in all universes. The derived universes that we create from this kernel universe contain these core components as well as their own specific components.

Master Approach: In this approach, one master universe holds all possible components. In the universes derived from this master, certain components are hidden; in other words, the components visible in the derived universes are a subset of the master universe.Component Approach: The third way of organizing linked universes is the component approach. It involves merging two or more universes into one universe.

Benefits of Linking Universe: When we set up a link between universes, any changes we or other designers make to the kernel universe are dynamically reflected in the derived universes. A dynamic link may considerably reduce development and maintenance time. When we modify a component in the kernel universe, DESIGNER propagates the change to the same component in all the derived universes. • Instead of re-creating common components each time we create a new universe, we can centralize such components in a kernel universe, and then include them in all new universes. • Linked universes facilitate specialization. Development can be split between database administrators who set up a basic kernel universe, and the more specialized designers who create more functional universes based on their specific field.

Requirements for Linking Universe:The kernel universe and active universe were created from the same data account and the same RDBMS.• The kernel universe was exported and re-imported at least once.• Exported derived universes are located in the same universe domain as the kernel universe.• All classes and objects are unique in both the kernel universe and the derived universes. (Otherwise, collisions may occur.)• we are authorized to link the given universe.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4) Where are the reports stored?Ans: Reports are stored in Repository created by the Supervisor .------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5) In what form we can present the reports?Ans: Reports can be presented in text, html, excel or pdf fromat.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6) What is the purpose of Checking Integrity?Ans: Check Integrity serves the following purposes:• It detects any errors in the objects, joins, conditions, and cardinalities of weruniverse.• It detects whether there are any loops in the joins.• It detects whether contexts are necessary.• It determines whether any changes were made to the database to which theuniverse is connected.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7) What is the purpose of Parse Checking ?Ans: Parse checking means how DESIGNER is to determine the validity of an object,

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join, or condition. There are two levels for parse checking:• Quick parsing checks only the syntax of components.• Thorough parsing checks both the syntax and semantics of components.Of the two options, Thorough parsing provides a more extensive check and thus ensures the integrity of the components. However, if we wish to create many components in a short time, Quick parsing is generally more rapid.

8) What are Lookup Table and Fact table?Ans: LOOK UP Table:

A lookup (or dimension) table contains information associated with a particular entity or subject. For example, a lookup table can hold information on customers from a geographical perspective such as their names, telephone numbers as wellas the cities and countries in which they reside. In DESIGNER, dimension and detail objects are derived from lookup tables. A lookup table has the following join cardinality structure:

FACT Table:A fact table contains statistical information about transactions. For example, it may contain figures such as Sales Revenue or Profit. In a BUSINESSOBJECTS universe, most measures are defined from fact tables.

9) What is LOV ( list of Values) ?A list of values is a file that contains the data values associated with an object. Thus, lists of values can reveal information about the contents of a database.

By default, each dimension or detail object is assigned a list of values made up of all the corresponding data values in the database. No default list of values is assigned to measure objects.

10) What is Conditional Hiding ?Ans: In the universes that we create, we may find it convenient to hide certain classes, objects or conditions in the Universe pane. we may wish to hide one or more components for any of the following reasons:• The components are from linked universes and are not needed in the active universe .• The objects exist solely to optimize SQL syntax and should therefore be invisible to end users.• we are in the process of developing a component that we do not want end users to view from the Query Panel.• we want to disable components temporarily without deleting them.

11) What is Zabo?Ans: Zabo means Zero Administration Business Objects .we can deploy BUSINESSOBJECTS using either the traditional client/server deployment or using a three-tier web deployment. This new web deployment is called azero-administration deployment of BUSINESSOBJECTS.

In a zero-administration deployment of BUSINESSOBJECTS, only the BUSINESSOBJECTS client software is installed on the Windows PC; all middleware is stored and administered on the WEBINTELLIGENCE web server and the server-side processing is handled by the WEBINTELLIGENCE system This means zero-administration on the client computer yet still gives the client all the powerful query, reporting and analysis features of BUSINESSOBJECTS.

A zero-administration deployment of BUSINESSOBJECTS allows us to:• Install and automatically update the BUSINESSOBJECTS client software from INFOVIEW via an Internet browser.

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• Connect to the BUSINESSOBJECTS repository using a web connection and use middleware installed on the server.• When connected to BUSINESSOBJECTS via a web connection, we can save documents either locally, or in personal storage space on the server.

12) What is End User and Real User ?Ans: Full Clients are users who have a Windows workstation with BUSINESSOBJECTS installed on it. Document processing is carried out on the client. Thin Clients are users who have any client platform that provides a Web Browser. Document processing is carried out on a WEBINTELLIGENCE server and formatted documents are passed down to the client.

13) What is Chasm Trap and how do we detect and resolve it?Ans: Many to one joins from two fact tables converge on a single lookup table. This type of join convergence is called a Chasm Trap. This returns too many rows. We will get incorrect results if we run a query when the following circumstances exist:• A “many to one to many relationship” exists among three tables in the universe structure.• The query includes objects based on two tables both at the “many” end of their respective joins.• There are multiple rows returned for a single dimension.

Chasm Trap cannot be automatically detected but it has to be visually detected.To resolve a Chasm trap we need to make two separate queries and then combine the results. Depending on the type of objects defined for the fact tables, and the type of end user environment, we can use the following methods to resolve a Chasm trap:

• Create a context for each fact table. This solution works in all cases for BUSINESSOBJECTS universes.

• Modify the SQL parameters for the universe so we can generate separate SQL queries for each measure. This solution only works for measure objects. It does not generate separate queries for dimension or detail objects.• Break the universe into multiple universes. One universe for each fact table.This solution only applies to WEBINTELLIGENCE universes when there are dimension objects in one or both fact tables so two SELECT statements are synchronized and not joined.

14) What is Fan Trap?Ans: Serial many to one joins. This is called a Fan trap.This returns too many rows. The fanning out effect of “one to many” joins can cause incorrect results to be returned when a query includes objects based on both tables. we need to visually examine the direction of the cardinalities displayed in the table schema. If we have two tables which are referenced by measure objects and are joined in a series of many to one joins, then we probably have a potential Fan trap. To Resolve Fan Trap, If query contains only measure objects from the two tables causing the Fan trap, we can use the Multiple SQL Statements For Each Measure function to generate separate SQL queries for each measure.

15) Explain Measure, Detail and Dimension Object ?An object maps to data or a derivation of data in the database. For the purposes of multidimensional analysis, an object can be qualified as one of three types: a dimension, detail, or measure. An object is the most refined component in a universe. It maps to data or a derivation of data in the database.

The name of an object suggests a concept drawn from the terminology of a business or discipline. Thus, for a product manager, objects might be Product, Life Cycle, or Release Date while for a financial analyst, objects might be Profit Margin, Return on Investment, etc.

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For the purposes of multidimensional analysis, objects are qualified as one of three types: dimension, detail, or measure.Dimension objects are the parameters for the analysis. Dimensions typically relate to a hierarchy such as geography, product, or time.By default, an object is qualified as a dimension object, which is indicated by the cube symbol that precedes the object’s name.

Detail objects provide a description of a dimension but are not the focus of the analysis. Measure objects convey numeric information by which a dimension object can be measured.A measure object is derived from an aggregate function: Count, Sum, Minimum, or Maximum. This type of object provides numeric information. For example, Sales Revenue is a measure object, Last Name and City Id are dimension objects, and Phone Number is a detail object.

16) What are Aliases and Contexts?whenever possible we should use an alias instead of a context. When we use a context, we expose the USINESSOBJECTS end user to the database structure. They are forced to decide which context they want to use to run their query. The role of the universe is to shield end users from the database structure, so they do not have to make such decisions.

17) When do we use Multiple SQL Statements for Each Measure?we can use this solution for both BUSINESSOBJECTS and WEBINTELLIGENCE universes that contain only measure objects defined for both fact tables. The advantage of using multiple SQL statements is that we can avoid using contextswhich we need to later maintain.

18) When do we not use Multiple SQL Statements for Each Measure?we should not use Multiple SQL Statements for Each Measure when we have dimension or detail objects defined for one or both of the fact tables. If a dimension or detail object is included in a query based on a universe using this solution, a cartesian product will be returned.

This solution can slow query response time. If the drop in query performance is important, than we should consider creating contexts (BUSINESSOBJECTS) or separate universes (WEBINTELLIGENCE) to resolve the Chasm trap.

19) What is Cartesian Product?Ans: Cartesian Product is a situation a situation in which a query includes two or more tables that are not linked by a join .Cartesian product is a situation in which all possible combinations between each row of each table are retrieved.

20) Describe Personal, Shared and Secured Connections ?Ans: A connection is a set of parameters that provides access to a database. A connection is made up of three elements:• the network layer• the connection name and type• the database location and account name.

DESIGNER provides three types of connections: secured, shared, and personal.A secured connection is used to centralize and control access to sensitive or critical data. It is the safest type of connection for protecting access to data. Created with either DESIGNER or SUPERVISOR, secured connections are stored in the security domain of the repository. They may be shared by any designers or supervisors who have been granted the appropriate privileges.

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As a universe designer, we must use secured connections if we want to distribute wer universes through the Business Objects repository. In addition, we can re-use secured connections and update them dynamically as needed.

Shared connections A shared connection is used to access common resources such as universes or documents. It can thus be used by several users.

The parameters of this connection are stored in a file called sdac.lsi or sdac.ssi, located in the LocData subfolder. we can update these parameters dynamically. Universes defined with shared connections are unsecured in terms of Business Objects product security. To protect universes with these connections, we can store them in restricted network folders. However, this may not be entirely safe since unauthorized users who have installed Business Objects product software on their computer can still open the universes; this is so because the connection file in the folder can potentially be read by the software installed on their computers. A shared connection is useful if we need to set up a testing environment for universes before distributing them to the entire user community.

Personal Connectons: A personal connection is specific to one user and can be used only from the computer on which it was created. It is defined either from BUSINESSOBJECTS or DESIGNER. The parameters of this connection are stored in files called pdac.lsi and pdac.ssi, located in the LocData folder. we cannot update the parameters of such a connection, which are static.

In terms of Business Objects product security, a personal connection does not protect a universe from unauthorized access. Thus, anyone who can log into a user’s computer can gain access to restricted universes defined with personal connecti ons. However, i f an authori zed user copi es t he same uni verses t o anot her machine he would not be able to open them since the connection parameters do not exist on that machine. Personal Connections are used rarely given their lack of flexibility in the distribution process. we may occasionally use them to access personal databases on local machines. However, they are more commonly used to access database accounts to test a bit of SQL through the Free-hand SQL option in

BUSINESSOBJECTS.

NOTE: All three types of connections can be modified from DESIGNER. Personal and shared connections can be modified from BUSINESSOBJECTS. Only secured connections can be modified from SUPERVISOR.

21) What are the main components of Designer Window ?Ans: From the main window of DESIGNER, we create wer universe using three areas:• the Table Browser• the Structure pane• the Universe pane.

When we choose the tables and columns from the Table Browser, DESIGNER displays them in the Structure pane and in the Universe pane.

The Structure pane reflects the underlying database structure of the universe. The Universe pane displays the components of the universe from the point of view of BUSINESSOBJECTS or WEBINTELLIGENCE, i.e. the classes and objects.

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22) Describe Online and Offline Mode in Designer ?Ans: Online modeOnline, the default mode, is appropriate for a networked environment in which the general supervisor has set up a repository. In online mode, we can import or export universes. Offline mode Working in offline mode means essentially that we work with universes that are stored locally owner computer. To use this mode, we must have been connected at least once in Online mode. we may wish to use this option whenever we need to work away from wer site, such as with a laptop computer, or whenever wer network goes down.

23) What is Repository and what is it use?Ans: A repository is set up by a general supervisor who stores it centrally on a database. A repository enables users to share resources for Business Objects products; it is made up of the following domains:• the security domain • the universe domain • the document domain. A universe domain holds all the universes that we export. In fact, there may be more than one universe domain in the repository. A document domains holds all exported documents, templates, scripts, and lists of values. If we are not sure whether the general supervisor has set up a repository, check to see whether there is a .key file located in the LocData subfolder of wer BUSINESSOBJECTS folder. This encrypted file contains the address of the repository.

24) What is Startegy ?Ans: A strategy is a script that reads structural information from a database or flat file. This information can pertain to tables, columns, or joins.

DESIGNER uses the following built-in strategies for creating the components of universes:• the Objects Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to define classes and objects automatically from the database’s tables and columns• the Joins Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to define joins automatically from the database’s tables and columns• the Table Browser strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to read the table and column structures from the database’s data dictionary

Object: From the list box, select an object strategy. The built-in strategy creates classes, and names them based on the tables in the database; it also creates objects, and names them based on the columns in the database. It replaces all underscore characters (_) with spaces.

Joins :From the list box, select a join strategy. A description is displayed below the name of the current strategy.Tables :From the list box, select a table strategy. The built-in strategy reads the structure of database tables.

26) What is Class ?Ans: A class is a collection of objects based on business categories. A class is a logical grouping of objects within a universe. In general, the name of a class reflects a business concept that conveys the category or type of objects.A class can be further divided into subclasses. As designer, we are free to define hierarchies of classes and subclasses into a model that best reflects the business concepts of our company.

27) What is Aggregate Awareness ?Ans: Aggregate awareness is a feature of DESIGNER that makes use of aggregate tables in a database. These are tables that contain precalculated data. The purpose of these tables is to enhance the performance of SQL transactions; they are thus used to speed up the execution of queries.The reliability of the technique depends on the accuracy of the aggregate tables. In fact, they must be refreshed at the same time as all fact tables. A universe that is “aggregate aware” has one or more aggregate objects with alternative definitions based on these tables. These definitions correspond to levels of aggregation. For example, a Profit object can be aggregated by

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month, by quarter, or by year. Queries built from such a universe return information aggregated to the appropriate level at optimal speed.

28) How do we set up Aggregate Awareness in an Universe?Ans: Setting up Aggregate Awareness in an Universe is a four part process:i) Build the Objects:

1. Identify all the possible definitions (table/column combinations) of the objects.2. Arrange the objects by level of aggregation.3. Build the objects using the @Aggregate_Awareness function.

ii) Specify the Incompatible Objects1. Build an objects/aggregate tables matrix.2. For the first aggregate table, decide whether each object is either:

- at the same level of aggregation or higher (compatible)- at a lower level of aggregation (incompatible)

3. Check only the boxes of objects that are incompatible for that table.4. Repeat the steps for the remaining aggregate tables.

iii) Define any necessary Contexts.Define one context per level of aggregation.

iv) Test the Resultsi) Run Several queries ii) Compare the results

29) What is Concatenated Objects and How do we create it ?Ans: A concatenated object is an object we create by combining two existing objects. For example, let’s say that we wish to create an object called Full Name, which is a concatenation of the objects Last Name and First Name in the Customer class. To do so, first create a new object in the Customer class and call it Full Name. Remember to enter a description for the object such as “This object is a concatenation of the customer’s first and last name.”

30) What are the Business Objects SDK?

SDK is software Development Kit which are mainly used to customize Business Objects.SDK is mainly licensed together with documentation (and code samples) .

WebI SDK can be programmed using JSP or ASP using whatever generic editor we want for JSP or ASP.

I have used VBA, JSP BO SDK. Additional I have also used BO web Service SDK.

31) What is the Business Objects web server?32) Describe the steps to create the Universe?33) How to create User's rights for specific Universe in the Supervisor ?34) What is Web Intelligence?

WebIntelligence : WEBINTELLIGENCE provides users with a light-weight, easy-to-use interface calledthe Web Panel to create and modify documents. WEBINTELLIGENCE, you can access the data in your corporate databases or data warehouses from within your office, your home, or around the world, using your corporate intranet, extranet, or the World Wide Web.

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WEBINTELLIGENCE allows users to access, analyze, and share data over intranets and extranets for both traditional relational databases and online analytical processing (OLAP) servers. WEBINTELLIGENCE allows users to view, refresh, create reports.

WEBINTELLIGENCE uses the same universes created for full-client users. These universes are the sole data providers for WEBINTELLIGENCE documents. All users need to do to create and edit WEBINTELLIGENCE documents is to log into a web server and download a Java applet or ActiveX control from the corporate intranet, extranet, or the web. They can then build queries to create documents that display accurate, up-to-date data from their corporate databases.When users have finished editing the queries, they send them to the server, where they are processed, formatted and sent back as HTML documents. Once you’ve used WEBINTELLIGENCE to query a database, we can take theinformation and turn it into documents as simple as tables, or as complex as dynamic documents with drillable charts.

We can then save those documents for your own personal use, send them to other users, publish them to the repository as corporate documents, or schedule them for automatic refresh and distribution through BROADCAST AGENT.

35) Describe the three modules of Web Intelligence ?• WEBINTELLIGENCE INFOVIEWThe indispensable web-based entry point for accessing both WEBINTELLIGENCE and BUSINESSOBJECTS documents, and all other types of files that are stored in the repository or in personal document storage areas. INFOVIEW also lets users manage, save, distribute, print and schedule documents for automated processing by BROADCAST AGENT.

• WEBINTELLIGENCE REPORTER allows users to create and edit WEBINTELLIGENCEdocuments. The “client” for WEBINTELLIGENCE is a Java applet or an ActiveX control called the Web Panel, which is automatically downloaded for users to build and edit documents.• WEBINTELLIGENCE EXPLORER allows users to drill in “drillable” WEBINTELLIGENCE documents to analyze data on different levels of detail, as in the example on the previous page.

36 ) What is Web Intelligence SDK ? Give example of where have you used Web Intelligence SDK?

WEBINTELLIGENCE SDK (Software Development Kit) is an extension of WEBINTELLIGENCE which enables us to customize the look, behavior, and workflow of a WEBINTELLIGENCE deployment to match the needs of a wide useraudience. From a developer’s viewpoint, this means that you have tight control over how your WEBINTELLIGENCE deployment operates and how it appears to end users. From the users’ viewpoint, this means they can access documents and perform queries and analysis in an environment with which they are familiar. A common use of WEBINTELLIGENCE SDK is to align WEBINTELLIGENCE deployments with current corporate intranet or extranet solutions.

Example SDK: I have used Web Intelligence SDK in order to :

Personalized UI: Embed prompts in web pages. You can determine which prompts are returned depending on a user’s profile and you can determine the results sent back to the user based on their input. Add a hyperlink to a document which launches the Web Panel.

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37) What is Broadcast Agent ?BROADCAST AGENT provides scheduled or batch processing of BUSINESSOBJECTS and WEBINTELLIGENCE documents. All the end user has to do is send a document to BROADCAST AGENT using BUSINESSOBJECTS or WEBINTELLIGENCE, and specify scheduling and distribution information. No understanding of the server configuration is required. BROADCAST AGENT lets users to automate simple actions such as refreshing and printing documents, and also control processing with conditions which trigger distribution when pre-defined events occur. Users can choose to publish documents to the repository, on a web server or on the server file system. Users with access to the repository can view documents that BROADCAST AGENT has processed in BUSINESSOBJECTS or WEBINTELLIGENCE. BROADCAST AGENT supports HTML publishing on the web, on channels and on your intranet or extranet.

38) What is Info View ?Ans: BUSINESSOBJECTS INFOVIEW is a business intelligence portal (BIP) that collects and consolidates a company's BI information and presents it in a secure, focused, and personalized view to users inside and outside an organization.

INFOVIEW lets users personalize how they view, manage, and distribute BI content. It is both a standalone business intelligence portal (BIP), as well as a BI-content provider for enterprise information portals (EIPs).

39) Explain the Business Objects Deployment Architecture ?Ans: The BUSINESSOBJECTS architecture has two components which are fundamental to the product concept.The Universe or Semantic layer enables end users to query corporate data using everyday business terminology and without the need to understand the underlying data structures. BUSINESSOBJECTS then translates the objects chosen by the user into SQL using the definitions and restrictions built into the universe definition by the universe designer. The Repository provides a central database of information required to run an enterprise deployment of BUSINESSOBJECTS. This includes security, universe definition and corporate reports. Business Objects tools can access information from anywhere within your organization.

38) What is @Select Function ?Ans: The @Select function is a pointer to the Select box properties of another object.

It is used by placing the @Select in the Select field of the Edit Properties box of an object, using the following syntax: @Select(path of existing object)

You specify the path in the form Class_Name\Object_Name. Its purpose is to allow you to re-use existing code. The advantage of using this function is that it allows you to specify SQL code only once.

This has two key advantages: It means that you have to maintain only one instance of the SQL code. It ensures consistency of the code.________________________________________________________________________

39) What are the differences of Web Intelligence with Business Objects ?Ans: WEBINTELLIGENCE only requires a Web Browser to be installed on the client. All intelligence is on the server, therefore, software need only be installed on the server making support and administration more centralized. WEBINTELLIGENCE documents are always converted to HTML before being sent to the client.

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BUSINESSOBJECTS documents are always converted to HTML, PDF or metafile before being sent to the client. These formats will result in much smaller documents being sent across the network than Full Client .rep documents. The exact format sent to the client is determined by user settings for their WEBINTELLIGENCE session. If PDF or Metafile format is selected a Java Applet (ActiveX control or Java Plug-in) will be required to display the document. Web Browsers support the use of such applets to extend the capabilities of the basic browser.

1. What is a universe?

A. Universe is a semantic layer, which maps to data in the database . Collection of classes and objectsB. universe is the symantic layer that isolates the end use from the complex structure of database

2. Analysis in business objects? A. Slice and Dice and Drill Analysis is available in BO

B. There are two types of analysis . i. slice and dice ii. Drill

3. Who launches the supervisor product in BO for the first time?

A. General Supervisor launches supervisor product

4. How can you check the universe? A. Using check Integrity, u can check the universe. Go to Designer, Tools -> check Integrity

5. What are universe parameters? A. You define universe parameters from the Universe Parameters dialog box (File-> Parameters) when you create a universe. The database connection is the only parameter that you must manually select or create when you create a new universe.B. name of universe,description and rdbms connection

6. Types of universes in business objects? A. Simple universe and complex universe

7. What is security domain in BO?A. security domain is bomain.key that allocates each user with a name and password.

8. Where will you find the address of repository in BO?

A. BoMain.key File that contains the address of the repository’s security domain.

9. What is broad cast agent?

A. brodcasting agent are used to refresh or publish the document at a regular interval of time broadly speaking BCA is used to schedule the document.

B. Broad Cast agent agent manages scheduling the documents.

10. In BO 4.1 version what is the alternative name for broadcast agent?

11. What services the broadcast agent offers on the server side?

A. It can also help reduce traffic on the network by running reports at off–peak times which, of course, benefits everyone.

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12. How can you access your repository with different user profiles?

A. Distribute the Key file according to the option you chose in the Repository Access

13. How many built-in objects are created in BO repository?

14. What are alerters in BO?A. Alerters are used to draw attention to a block of data either by highlighting or displaying some message near to the cells

15. What are different types of saving options in web intelligence?

A. Save as a personal document save this document to InfoView for your personal use Save to my computer Save this document to your computer as: Microsoft Excel format (.xls), PDF Format, BO report(.rep)

16. What is batch processing in BO?

A. It is scheduled process in Broadcasting Agent. Ex: you can refresh a document at a specified date/time. This can be either a one–off process or a process to be repeated at the same time every day, week, month etc.

17. How can you first report in BO by using broadcast agent?• While the document is open, select the Send To>Broadcast Agent command from the File menu, or click the Send to Broadcast Agent button on the Document Exchange toolbar. This pops up the Send Document To Broadcast Agent Server dialogue box. There are several tabs on the Broadcast Agent dialogue box. Start with the General tab. On the General tab:- Select the BCagent server in the Server list box. Leave the Priority as Normal. Type in an (optional) identifying title for the document to be used by Broadcast Agent. On the Actions tab:- Select the appropriate action(s), i.e. Refresh Document Click the Add button On the Scheduling tab, click the Change button in order to enter the frequency and the start date/time for the processing. On the Distribution tab, click the Distribute via the Repository option: If you want to send a document to other users, click the To button in the Send To box — the Select Users dialogue box pops up. In the Select Users dialogue box, hold down the Ctrl key and click the users you want, then click the OK button. You return to the Broadcast Agent window. If you click the Add my Name to the List option, your user icon appears in the Send to box.B. Finally, click the OK button. The document is submitted to Broadcast Agent for scheduled processing.

18. Can we take report on Excel in BO?

A. After creating the report with extension .rep, File – Menu – Save as Excel option can be given.yes, we can take the report in exel sheet i have linked 2 data provider..and generate the report ..in that report how can i find the which data is comming from which data provider…?n Report, go to structure mode you can see all the data with its corresponding data provider name as ….Empname (Dataprovidername1) sal(dataprovidername2)

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Q. How do you link different data providers in a single report? Q. What is info bust in BO, What is the main purpose of this?What is meant by report tracing in BO?When... Q. Explain about data profiling & data synchronization with real-time usage. Q. How to configure B.C.A in B.O? Q. How to configure LDAP protocol? Q. Explain about scorecards & dash boards in Business Objects Q. How do you migrate ZABO reports from one server to another? Q. what is zabo and where it is usedQ. what is canned universe and canned reports in bo?Q. how many types of errors we can face while creating a universe and generating a report Q. what is bust in BO?

Business Objects Basic questions Q. How to debug the universe in designer module Q. While resolving loops, how to decide whether alias or context to be used? Q. What’s new in BusinessObjects XI Release 2 compared to BusinessObjects XI Release 1? Q. What is the connection string in Business Objects? Q. How do you get list of all reports used by Business Objects users? Q. What are the Testing responsibilities in BO? Q. what is difference between crystal report and desktop intelligence Q. What are the problems faced in report generation & universes? Q. what are the precautionary measures you will take in the project?

Data warehousing questions:

1) What is source qualifier?2) Difference between DSS & OLTP?3) Explain grouped cross tab?4) Hierarchy of DWH?5) How many repositories can we create in Informatica?6) What is surrogate key?7) What is difference between Mapplet and reusable transformation?8) What is aggregate awareness?9) Explain reference cursor?10) What are parallel querys and query hints?11) DWH architecture?12) What are cursors?13) Advantages of de normalized data?14) What is operational data source (ODS)?15) What is meta data and system catalog?16) What is factless fact schema?17) What is confirmed dimension?18) What is the capacity of power cube?19) Difference between PowerPlay transformer and power play reports?20) What is IQD file?22) What is difference macros and prompts?23) What is power play plug in?24) Which kind of index is preferred in DWH?25) What is hash partition?26) What is DTM session?27) How can you define a transformation? What are different types of transformations in Informatica?28) What is mapplet?29) What is query panel?30) What is a look up function? What is default transformation for the look up function?31) What is difference between a connected look up and unconnected look up?

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32) What is staging area?33) What is data merging, data cleansing and sampling?34) What is up date strategy and what are th options for update strategy?35) OLAP architecture?36) What is subject area?37) Why do we use DSS database for OLAP tools?Business Objects Popular Q&A:38) What is a universe? 39) Analysis in business objects?40) Who launches the supervisor product in BO for first time?41) How can you check the universe? 42) What are universe parameters?43) Types of universes in business objects?44) What is security domain in BO?45) Where will you find the address of repository in BO?46) What is broad cast agent?47) In BO 4.1 version what is the alternative name for broadcast agent?48) What services the broadcast agent offers on the server side?49) How can you access your repository with different user profiles?50) How many built-in objects are created in BO repository?51) What are alertors in BO?52) What are different types of saving options in web intelligence?53) What is batch processing in BO?54) How can you first report in BO by using broadcast agent?55) Can we take report on Excel in BO?What is the difference between sub-query & co-related sub query?answer ASAP....... What is a Set?How to create Generic TIME CLASS, which includes Objects Year,Month and Qtr?What are different types of saving options in web intelligence?How do you restrict access to rows of a database?WHAT ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE WHILE DESIGNING UNIVERSES?HOw do u migrate from old version to the new version?How can we improve performance?What is a category?WHAT KIND OF TOOL BO IS?What is the drill up , drill down, drill by , drill trough ?What is broad cast agent?GENARALLY HOW MANY UNIVERSES ARE CREATE FOR EACH PROJECTS?What are Alerter, Filters, Breaks and Conditions?What is pragma?TILL WHAT LEVEL OF SECURITY BO SUPPORTS?What is a join? Explain different types of joins?what is the source for metrics?how to test reports in businessobjects?What is the local filter and global filter in bo's?

How do u migrate from old version to the new version? Business Objects recommends you to go through Four key phases to migrate an existing deployment to higher one. The phases are:-1. Assessment & Planning. The assessment phase consists of auditing a particular deployment to determine the tools involved and project phases.

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2. Installation of destination environment. During this phase, a working instance of higher version will be installed to provide access to the migration capabilities and allow staff to become familiar with its operation.3. Importing contact to the destination system. This phase corresponds to the actual migration implementation using the appropriate tools to move content from the legacy system to the higher version.4. Testing and validation. This phase involves any checking and post implementation tuning required in order for the customer to put the BI system into Production.

Difficulty Objects Created in Universe:

Age calculation in DB2:YEAR(COALESCE(PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.DT_OF_DEATH,CURRENT_DATE)+1 DAYS)-YEAR(PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.BIRTHDATE)-CASE WHEN DATE('2000-'||SUBSTR(CHAR(COALESCE(PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.DT_OF_DEATH,CURRENT_DATE)+1 DAYS),6,5))<DATE('2000-'||SUBSTR(CHAR(PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.BIRTHDATE),6,5)) THEN 1 ELSE 0 END

Age calculation in Oracle:CASE WHEN PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.DT_OF_DEATH IS NULL THEN FLOOR (MONTHS_BETWEEN (SYSDATE, PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.BIRTHDATE)/12) ELSE FLOOR (MONTHS_BETWEEN (PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.DT_OF_DEATH, PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.BIRTHDATE)/12) END

Seniority in DB2:CASE WHEN PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.TERMINATION_DT IS NULL THEN (year (current date - PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT) * 12.00 + month (current date -P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT))/12.00 ELSE (year (PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.TERMINATION_DT - PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT) * 12.00 + month (PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.TERMINATION_DT - PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT))/12.00 END

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Seniority in Oracle:CASE WHEN PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.TERMINATION_DT IS NULL THEN MONTHS_BETWEEN (SYSDATE, PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT)/12 ELSE MONTHS_BETWEEN (PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.TERMINATION_DT , PS_P1_BO_EMPLOYEES.SERVICE_DT) /12 END

DB2: Oracle

Coalesce NVL

Year to_number(to_char)YEAR(tbl.field) TO_NUMBER(TO_CHAR(tbl.field,'YYYY'))

Month to_number(to_char)month(tbl.field) TO_NUMBER(TO_CHAR(tbl.field,'MM'))

Day to_number(to_char)day(tbl.field) TO_NUMBER(TO_CHAR(tbl.field,'DD'))Set Operations EXCEPT MINUS

Workaround for Exact year cal Months_Between

Fn trim rtrim

CURRENT_DATE SYSDATE

CURRENT_DATE – 1 Days (Yesterday) SYSDATE – 1

DATE (Convert to date) TO_DATE

.lov: C:\Program Files\Business Objects\BusinessObjects6.5\UserDocs\key\Universe\Universe name

.udo C:\Program Files\Business Objects\BusinessObjects 6.5\Universe

Supervisor File:

The "import/export users" function only imports and exports the login, password..etc of the users but does not import and export all the restrictions applied to the users or to the groups.  Current properties are programmed with the import:

Group, UserName, UserPassword, Profile[GS,S,SD,D,U,V],DisableLogin[Y,N], EnableOfflineLogin[Y,N], EnablePasswordModification[Y,N], EnableRealTimeUserRightsUpdate[Y,N], EnableDeleteDocument[Y,N], ObjectSecurityLevel[PC,CD,R,Cl,PE], IdentificationStrategy[F,N], ChangePasswordAtFirstLogin[Y,N], PasswordValidityDays[N,1-365], PeriodicAction[Y,N]

In BO XI R2: It is not holding any repository but a small database consisting 7 tables that holds user IDs and some privilege info. The rest is stored under the File System which needs to be shared among all the servers.

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To get a full list of Universes with relevant info for migration activities:

SELECT SI_NAME, SI_SHORTNAME, SI_DESCRIPTION, SI_ID, SI_PARENT_FOLDER, SI_OWNER, SI_CREATION_TIME FROM CI_APPOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND=’Universe’

To get a list of Universes that matches a pattern:

SELECT SI_CUID, SI_ID, SI_NAME, SI_DESCRIPTION FROM CI_APPOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND='Universe' AND SI_NAME LIKE 'DX_N%'

To get detailed info on a particular Universe, Note the SI_ID and use this

SELECT * FROM CI_APPOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND='Universe' AND SI_ID=1030

To get a list of all Application Objects and what kind they are:

SELECT SI_CUID, SI_ID, SI_NAME, SI_DESCRIPTION, SI_KIND FROM CI_APPOBJECTS

To get a list of Full Client reports, run this SQL:

SELECT SI_ID, SI_NAME, SI_KIND FROM CI_INFOOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND='Full Client'

* Leave the Where clause off to see all

To get a list of reports in a particular folder, 1st you need the parent folder ID, then use it to list reports

To find the parent ID, that is the folder ID, run this query and look for your report names

SELECT SI_NAME, SI_KIND, SI_DESCRIPTION, SI_PARENTID FROM CI_INFOOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND IN ('FullClient', 'Webi')

For me, the PARENT_ID I was interested in was 383. Now run this query to get a list of Full Client and WebI reports from that folder.

SELECT SI_NAME, SI_KIND, SI_DESCRIPTION FROM CI_INFOOBJECTS WHERE SI_KIND IN ('FullClient', 'Webi') AND SI_PARENTID=383

# Additive: Additive facts are facts that can be summed up through all of the dimensions in the fact table. 

# Semi-Additive: Semi-additive facts are facts that can be summed up for some of the dimensions in the fact table, but not the others. 

# Non-Additive: Non-additive facts are facts that cannot be summed up for any of the dimensions present in the fact table.

Universe Objects:

Advantages:Build once - use many timesUse full range of database functionsEnsure consistency from report to reportUpdates automatically propagateDisadvantages:Limited to information from one universe

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Maintenance required by universe designer

User Defined Objects:

Advantages:Build once - use many timesUse database functionsEnsure consistency from report to report

Disadvantages:Limited to information from one universeOnly a subset of database functionsNot easily sharedNot distributed with published documents

Report Level Variables:

Advantages:Independent of SQL restrictionsCalculate using multiple data providers

Disadvantages:Stored in a single documentRequire some level of technical expertise

6.5 REPOSITORY QUERIES ORACLE

1. Query to fetch users and their groups:--------------------------------------SELECT OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_C_NAME actor_name,

APA.M_ACTOR_C_NAME parentid,OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ID m_actl_n_id

FROMOBJ_M_ACTOR OBJ_M_ACTOR, OBJ_M_ACTOR APA, OBJ_M_ACTORLINK

ActorLink_Parent, OBJ_M_ACTORLINK OBJ_M_ACTORLINKWHERE (OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_LAT not in (1,8))AND (OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_ID=OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_LAT<>1)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_FATLINKID=ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ID)AND (ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID=APA.M_ACTOR_N_ID)

Query to fetch BO International Users:--------------------------------------

SELECT OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_C_NAME actor_name, APA.M_ACTOR_C_NAME parentid, OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ID m_actl_n_id

FROMOBJ_M_ACTOR OBJ_M_ACTOR, OBJ_M_ACTOR APA, OBJ_M_ACTORLINK

ActorLink_Parent, OBJ_M_ACTORLINK OBJ_M_ACTORLINKWHERE (OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_LAT not in (1,8))AND (OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_ID =OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_LAT <>1)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_FATLINKID =ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ID)AND (ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID =APA.M_ACTOR_N_ID)AND APA.M_ACTOR_C_NAME IN('INTL HR','INTL HR CONTROLLED','PRODSUPPORT BOTEAM','MIGRATION BOTEAM','INFODELIVERY BOTEAM')

Query to fetch BO Domestic Users:--------------------------------------

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SELECTOBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_C_NAME actor_name,APA.M_ACTOR_C_NAME parentid,OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ID m_actl_n_id

FROMOBJ_M_ACTOR OBJ_M_ACTOR,OBJ_M_ACTOR APA,OBJ_M_ACTORLINK ActorLink_Parent,OBJ_M_ACTORLINK OBJ_M_ACTORLINK

WHERE(OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_LAT not in (1,8))

AND (OBJ_M_ACTOR.M_ACTOR_N_ID =OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_LAT <>1)AND (OBJ_M_ACTORLINK.M_ACTL_N_FATLINKID =ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ID)AND (ActorLink_Parent.M_ACTL_N_ACTORID =APA.M_ACTOR_N_ID)AND APA.M_ACTOR_C_NAME IN('PEOPLESOFT SETUP','PRUDENTIAL','HO BENEFITS WEBI','HO WEBI','HO FMLA WEBI','HO IDMU WEBI','HO PAYMASTER WEBI','HO PAYROLL WEBI','SECURITY','SPPM WEBI','PRODSUPPORT BOTEAM','MIGRATION BOTEAM','INFODELIVERY BOTEAM') order by 2

------------------------------------------Query to fetch Universe for Production - Replatforming-----------------------select

'20060627' as Query_Date,UNI_FILENAME ,UNI_LONGNAME, UNI_FIRSTAUTHOR,UNI_LASTAUTHOR, UNI_MODIFYDATE

from unv_universe

whereUniverse_ID in (11,110,124,126,158)

Query to fetch Universe for DB2 Dev - Replatforming-----------------------------------------

select '20060627' as Query_Date,UNI_FILENAME ,UNI_LONGNAME, UNI_FIRSTAUTHOR,UNI_LASTAUTHOR, UNI_MODIFYDATE

from unv_universe where Universe_ID in (11,110,124,126,158)

Query to fetch Corporate Reports with Publisher Name and Category - Production------------------------------------------------------------SELECT

DOC.M_DOC_C_NAME "Document Name", CASE DOC.M_DOC_N_TYPE

WHEN 1 THEN 'FULL CLIENT'WHEN 128 THEN 'WEBI'

END CASE , CAT.M_CATEG_C_NAME "Category Name", ACT.M_ACTOR_C_NAME "Publisher ID", date(days('1970-12-15')+(DOC.M_DOC_N_DATE/86400)) "Last Publ Date"

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FROM OBJ_M_DOCUMENTS DOC LEFT OUTER JOIN OBJ_M_DOCCATEG DCT

ON DOC.M_DOC_N_ID = DCT.M_DOC_N_ID LEFT OUTER JOIN OBJ_M_CATEG CAT

ON DCT.M_CATEG_N_ID = CAT.M_CATEG_N_ID,OBJ_M_ACTOR ACTWHERE DOC.M_DOC_N_USERID = ACT.M_ACTOR_N_ID

AND DOC.M_DOC_N_TYPE IN (1,128,1024) AND DOC.M_DOC_N_REPOID IN (11) AND DOC.M_DOC_N_PERSISTENT = 1 Query to fetch Corporate Reports with Publisher Name and Category - DB2 Development-----------------------------------------------------------------SELECT

DOC.M_DOC_C_NAME "Document Name", CASE DOC.M_DOC_N_TYPE

WHEN 1 THEN 'FULL CLIENT'WHEN 128 THEN 'WEBI'

END CASE , CAT.M_CATEG_C_NAME "Category Name", ACT.M_ACTOR_C_NAME "Publisher ID", date(days('1970-12-15')+(DOC.M_DOC_N_DATE/86400)) "Last Publ Date"

FROM OBJ_M_DOCUMENTS DOC LEFT OUTER JOIN OBJ_M_DOCCATEG DCT

ON DOC.M_DOC_N_ID = DCT.M_DOC_N_ID LEFT OUTER JOIN OBJ_M_CATEG CAT

ON DCT.M_CATEG_N_ID = CAT.M_CATEG_N_ID,OBJ_M_ACTOR ACT

WHERE DOC.M_DOC_N_USERID = ACT.M_ACTOR_N_ID

AND DOC.M_DOC_N_TYPE IN (1,128,1024) AND DOC.M_DOC_N_REPOID IN (11) AND DOC.M_DOC_N_PERSISTENT = 1

To get the Universe name for the reports----------------------------------------

Select A.M_DOC_N_ID AS DOCUMENT,A.M_DOC_C_NAME AS NAME, B.M_DOCATV_C_DPNAME AS QUERY,B.M_SRC_C_NAME AS UNIVERSE

from TARGET.OBJ_M_DOCUMENTS A, TARGET.OBJ_M_DOCATVAR B

WHERE A.M_DOC_N_ID = B.M_DOC_N_ID

In a snow flake schema, if a time dimension is normalized to 3 tables namely year, quarter and month which will have a one to many to one to many relationship. Is this a fan trap? Yes or no and Why? Question about calculation contexts Some questions about data modeling ( how do you handle a situation if there is many to many join between a fact and a dimension table).Q) buy a car is  context & rent a car is alias becoz buy a car is a fact & rent a car is a look up, alias is created on look up tables

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