OBIEE Answers Reference Guide

5/19/2018 OBIEE Answers Reference Guide

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UK SBS Training Services Team

Oracle 12 Finance Training

Report Wri ting using OBIEE

AnswersReference Guide


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Report Writing using OBIEE Answers

OBIEE Answers

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Version Control

Version Created Author Reviewer Signed Off

2.0 Dec-2013 M. Houghton T. Webber 16/01/2014

2.1 Apr-2014 M. Houghton D. Rees 07/04/2014


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Contents

1 Course Objectives & Agenda ........................................................................................... 1

2 Introduction to OBIEE ...................................................................................................... 1

3

OBIEE Home Page .......................................................................................................... 3

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3

3.2 OBIEE Global Header ............................................................................................. 4

4 Creating a Folder ............................................................................................................. 5

4.1

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 5

4.2 Exercise 1 Create a Folder .................................................................................. 5

5

Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis .............................................................................................. 7

5.1

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7

5.2 Exercise 2 Create an Ad-Hoc Analys is .............................................................. 7

6 Formatting Column Properties ....................................................................................... 11

6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 11

6.2 Exercise 2 Formatt ing Column Propert ies ...................................................... 11

7

Conditional Formatting ................................................................................................... 16

7.1

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 16

7.2 Exercise 3 Condi tional Formatting .................................................................. 16

8

Applying Filters .............................................................................................................. 21

8.1

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 21

8.2 Exercise 4 Applying Fil ters ............................................................................... 21

9 Applying Bins ................................................................................................................. 26

9.1

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 26

9.2 Exercise 5 Bins .................................................................................................. 26

10

Formula Editing .......................................................................................................... 30

10.1

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 30

10.2 Exercise 6 Formula Edit ing .............................................................................. 30

11

Table Properties ......................................................................................................... 34

11.1

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 34

11.2 Exercise 7 Table Properties .............................................................................. 34


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12 Creating a Chart View ................................................................................................ 38

12.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 38

12.2 Exercise 8 Creating a Chart View ..................................................................... 38

13

Creating Pivot Tables ................................................................................................. 41

13.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 41

13.2

Exercise 9 Creating Pivot Tables ..................................................................... 41

14 Editing the Compound Layout .................................................................................... 44

14.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 44

14.2

Exercise 10 Editing the Compound Layout..................................................... 44

15 Creating My Dashboard ............................................................................................. 47

15.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 47

15.2 Dashboard Prompts ............................................................................................. 48

15.2.1 Creating Dashboard Prompts .......................................................................... 48

15.2.2

Exercise 11 Step 1 - Setting Dashboard Prompt Column Filters.................. 49

15.2.3 Exercise 12 Step 2 - Creating a Dashboard Prompt .................................... 55

15.3

Creating My Dashboard ....................................................................................... 60

15.3.1

Introduction ...................................................................................................... 60

15.3.2

Exercise 13 Creating My Dashboard ............................................................ 60

16

Appendix A Icon Definitions .................................................................................... 66

16.1

Catalog .................................................................................................................. 66

16.2 Folders Region ..................................................................................................... 66

16.3 Save As .................................................................................................................. 66

16.4 Criteria Tab ............................................................................................................ 67

16.4.1

Subject Areas Pane ......................................................................................... 67

16.4.2

Criteria Icons ................................................................................................... 67

16.4.3

Selected Columns Pane .................................................................................. 67

16.4.4

Filters Pane ..................................................................................................... 68

16.5

Results Tab ........................................................................................................... 68

16.5.1 Subject Areas Pane ......................................................................................... 68

16.5.2

Catalog Pane ................................................................................................... 68

16.5.3

Views Pane ..................................................................................................... 68

16.6 Table ...................................................................................................................... 69


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16.7

Compound Layout Title ....................................................................................... 69


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Legend

These recognised abbreviations tell you what action to take in the practical exercises. They

will not appear as options on your Oracle 12 system, but are our instructions to you:

(N) Navigate

(T) Tab

(ST) Sub Tab

Responsibility BIS OBIEE Analysis GL

Action Note:

This is to draw your attention to an action you MUSTtake in order to effectively

use the system.

Learning Note:

This is to draw your attention to useful additional information that you may find

interesting.

Caution Note:

This is to give you forewarning about an action that is NOTadvisable or may

have consequences that could impact on your effective use of the system.


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1 Course Objectives & Agenda

By the end of this course delegates will have an understanding of:

Creating and saving an ad-hoc report

Formatting Reports

Report Filters

Creating Bins (Summarising data)

Creating Different Report Views

The Dashboards

2 Introduction to OBIEE

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) (sometimes simply referred to as

Oracle Business Intelligence) provides a full range of business intelligence capabilities that

allow you to:

Collect up-to-date data from your organization

Present the data in easy-to-understand formats (such as tables and graphs)

Deliver data in a timely fashion to the employees in your organization

The data, accessed by OBIEE, is held in a Data Warehouse which is updated every night bythe Extract Transform Load (ETL) processes.


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In Oracle BI Enterprise Edition, you can work with:

Analyses (This area of Oracle BI EE is also known as Answers).

Analyses are queries against your organization's data that provide answers to

business questions.

Analyses allow you to explore and interact with information by visually presenting

data in easy-to-understand formats (such as tables and graphs).

You can save, organize, and share the results of analyses.

Dashboards (This area of Oracle BI EE is also known as Interactive Dashboards.)

Dashboards provide personalised views of corporate and external information.

A dashboard consists of one or more pages that contain content, such as analyses,

links to websites, Oracle BI Publisher reports, and so on.

Dashboards allow you to provide end users with access to analytics information.


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3 OBIEE Home Page

3.1 Introduction

The Home page provides the starting point for performing tasks in Oracle BI EE. The Home

page is divided into sections that allow you to quickly begin a specific task, locate an object,

or access technical documentation. It also includes sections (for example, Recent and

Favorites) that allow you to quickly access objects that you have recently viewed, created, or

updated, and objects that are accessed the most often by the users assigned to the groups

to which you belong.


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3.2 OBIEE Global Header

The global header provides quick access to commonly used functions and is always

available from the screen.

The global header includes the following functions:

Function Purpose

Enables you to search the catalog

Displays the Catalog page in search mode, where you can search for objectsin the catalog

Displays the following options:

Help Contents Displays a cascading menu that provides optionsthat link to the tables of contents for Oracle BI EE, BI Publisher, andMarketing.

Documentation Displays the documentation library for Oracle BIEE.

About Oracle BI EE Displays a dialog identifying the Oracle BI EEversion and copyright information.

Signs you out of Oracle BI EE

Displays the Home page

Displays the Catalog page, where you can locate objects in the catalog andperform tasks specific to those objects

Displays your favorite objects and any categories that you created to organizeyour favorite objects

Contains links to all dashboards that are stored within the Dashboards sub-folder of the user's folder or any shared folder. Note that dashboards notsaved to the Dashboards sub-folders are not displayed from the global headerDashboards list)

Displays a list of the objects that you can create. To create an object, select itfrom the list. The appropriate dialog or editor is displayed for you to create the

objectDisplays the following options:

Open Displays the Open dialog where you can select the objectwith which you want to work.

Recent objects Displays a list of the objects that you haverecently viewed, created, or updated. You can use this list to select anobject with which you want to work.

Most Popular objects Displays a list of the objects that areaccessed the most often by the users that are assigned to the groupsto which you belong. You can use this list to select an object withwhich you want to work


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4 Creating a Folder

4.1 Introduction

A folder in OBIEE is analogous to a directory in Windows where folders are the containers

and the objects are the files held in the folders. An OBIEE folder represents a group of

related objects. OBIEE end users store and select from one or more folders to get

information from the database.

Folders can be created before objects are created or at the time an object is to be saved.

Learning Note:

Term Definition

Object OBIEE generic term for analysis, reports, charts and dashboards

4.2 Exercise 1 Create a Folder

1. (N)- BIS OBIEE Analysis GL

2. Select the function

3. Select the link from the Global Header

4. Expand


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Learning Note:

My Folders

All of your folders will be displayed. These will be personal to your login and therefore

not visible to other users.

Folders can be add or deleted as required.

5. Expand the New drop-down list and select the icon

6. Enter the following data items:

Field Value

Name Your NameTraining

7. Select the button. Your new folder will now be displayed within the parent folder


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5 Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis

5.1 Introduction

Analysis and tables are created from Subject Areasheld in the data warehouse.

A subject area contains folders, measure columns, attribute columns, hierarchical columns,and hierarchy levels that represent information about the areas of an organization's business

or about groups of users with an organization. Subject areas usually have names that

correspond to the types of information that they contain, such as Financials GL Balance

Sheet.

When you create an analysis, you first select the subject area with which you want to work.

This is known as the primary subject area and is displayed in the Subject Areas pane. If, as

you work, you find that you need more data, you can add additional subject areas that are

related to the primary subject area that you have chosen.

Learning Note:

You can add related subject areas only if they are available for the primary

subject area and only if you have permission to access them.

5.2 Exercise 2 Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis

In this exercise you will create a basic General Ledger Trial Balance Reportas a simple

introduction to OBIEE Analysis, sometimes referred to as Answers.

The report will be saved in the new folder created in exercise 1.

1. Responsibility - BIS OBIEE Analysis GL

2. Select the function

3. Expand the drop-down list from the Global Header

4. Select from the displayed list:


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5. Select the required subject area

Learning Note:

My Folders

Analysis are created and maintained from the Criteriatab

6. To add a report column to a report, expand the relevant folder and either double clicka data element or drag it to the Selected Columnsarea of the screen.


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7. Select the following columns for the General Ledger Trial Balance Report

Subject Area Folder Data Element

GL Segment1 (Entity) Segment Code

GL Segment2 (Business Unit) Segment Code

GL Segment3 (Cost Centre) Segment Code

Facts - GL Balance Opening Amount

Facts - GL Balance Debit Amount

Facts - GL Balance Credit Amount

Facts - GL Balance Closing Amount

8. The following should be displayed in the Selected Areasarea of the screen

9. To view the content of the report select the tab (note that it may take a

few moments to retrieve the report data).

10.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page.


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11.Click in and then select the folder the report is to be saved in

12.Name this report as Ex 1and click the button to save the report

13.Select to return to the Home Page


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6 Formatting Column Properties

6.1 Introduction

After you create and run an analysis, default formatting rules are applied to the analysis'

results. Default formatting rules are based on cascading style sheets and XML message

files. You can create additional formatting to apply to specific results. Additional formats help

you to highlight blocks of related information and call attention to specific data elements. You

can also use additional formatting to customise the general appearance of analyses and

dashboards.

When you build an analysis, you can edit properties for columns to control their appearance

and layout. You can also specify formatting to apply only if the contents of the column meet

certain conditions. By default, the specifications for a column apply only to the current

analysis.

6.2 Exercise 2 Formatting Column Propert iesIn this exercise we will look at the various formatting options available to customise the

report we created in Exercise 1. As well as formatting style options, you can also change

the format of the data itself.

1. First we need to open our previous report; from the Catalog. Select the tab

from the Global Header.

2. Select the folder you created earlier and click on the link for the report created in

Exercise 1


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3. The report is automatically displayed in the tab

4. To edit the report, select the tab

5. To begin formatting the column , select the options icon to the

right of the column name

6. Select from the displayed list of options


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7. The Column Propertieswindow is displayed

Learning Note: My Folders

The column properties are initially set to the system default values.


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8. This window has 5 tabs as follows:

o Style- This tab mainly deals with column formatting such as colour, font, cell

alignment, etc.

o Column Format- This tab allows you to edit the column headings and the

suppression rule.

o Data Format -This tab allows you to amend data format properties like the

number format, how negative values are displayed and the number of

decimal places.

o Conditional Format - Conditional formatting allows you create rule

specific formatting options. This is very useful for directing attention to data

when certain criteria are met. We will cover this in more detail in a later

exercise.

o InteractionUse this box to specify what happens when you click either the

column heading or a value in the column or hierarchy level. The values that

are available depend on the type of column and on column heading versus

value.

9. Select the tab

10.Tick the box to override the system default values and

amend the Data Formatting for the Opening Amountcolumn as shown below:


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11.Select the tab and change the Style formatting for the same column as shown

below:

12.Click the button

13.Now, feel free to use the style and column formatting options to personalise your

report.

14.Click the tab

15.Your report should now be displayed similar to the below depending on your

formatting options:

16.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page

17.Save the report as Ex2in your folder


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7 Conditional Formatting

7.1 Introduction

Use this tab of the Column Properties to add a condition to a column. You specify a

condition to affect the formatting of values based on certain criteria. The formatting that

you specify for a column on this tab is visible in any view that can display data and its

formatting, with the exception of graphs, funnel graphs, and gauges.

7.2 Exercise 3 Condit ional Formatting

Conditional Formatting allows you to direct attention to a specific piece of data when certain

criteria are met. In this example we will add Conditional Formatting to the report created in

Exercise 2.

1. First we need to open our previous report. Select the tab from the tGlobal

Header.

2. Select the folder you created earlier and click on the link for the report created in

Exercise 2


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3. The report will open in the tab

4. To edit the report, select the tab

5. Now we will add some conditional formatting to the column; click the

Column Properties icon and navigate to the tab

6. Select the button to create the first condition


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7. Select Closing Amount and enter the following details:

Field Value

Operator Is less than or equal to

Value 0

8. Click the button. You will now have the option to edit the Style for your

condition.

9. Set the Fontcolour as red and the style as Bold.

10.Add an image for your condition:

11.To select an image, click in


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12.Select the image icon followed by an image radio button

13.Select the button



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15.Add 2 more conditions to the Closing Amountcolumn as shown below:

Condition Operator Value 1 Value 2 Font Colour Image

2 Is between 0 10000 Bold Yellow

3 Is greater than or equal to 10000 Bold Green

16.To view the results of the report, click on the button then the tab

17.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page andsave as Ex3


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8 Applying Filters

8.1 Introduction

You use filters to limit the results that are displayed when an analysis is run, so that the

results answer a particular question.

Together with the columns that you select for an analysis, filters determine what the results

contain. Based on the filters and selection steps, only those results that match the criteria

are shown.

8.2 Exercise4 Applying FiltersFilters can be applied to a report to limit results to match a certain criteria, combining filters

will further constrain your report results.

In this exercise a filter will be applied to GL Segment 3 (Cost Centre).

1. Open the report saved as Ex 3and click link, followed by the tab

2. First we need to apply a filter against the GL Segment Code 3 (Cost Centre)

column; click the properties icon and then select from the drop-down

list

3. Enter the following filter details:

Field Value

Operator Is equal to / is in

Value 102048


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4. Click the button

5. The filter is now showing in the Filterssection of the Criteriapage:

6. Display the results by selecting the tab to confirm that filter has been

applied correctly

7. Next we will add another filter, but this time filter against data that is not displayed in

the report

8. In this example we will filter to show only the results from a specific time period

9. Return to the tab


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10. In the Filterssection of the screen, click on the New Filter icon:

11.Select the More Columnsoption:

12.Expand the folder

13.Select the Fiscal Quarteroption, then click the button


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14.The New Fil terscreen is displayed:

15.Add a new filter so that only results for the fourth quarter of 2013 are shown by

clicking on the Search icon

16.The Select Valuesscreen is displayed, enter 2013in the search field and click the

button

17.Select 2013 Q 4and move it to the Selectedarea of the screen using the arrow key

then click on the button


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18.The proposed filter is displayed

19.Click the button

20.The filter is now showing in the Filterssection of the Criteriapage:

21.Click on the tab to view the details of the report

22.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page and save

as Ex4


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9 Applying Bins

9.1 Introduction

Bins enable you to combine values for the column into sets (summaries). For example,

summarize the column values for selected Cost Centres.

9.2 Exercise 5 Bins

Bins are useful for grouping together relative sets of data. In this example we will take a

report from an earlier exercise and group the Cost Centre (GL Segment 3) values.

1. Select the tab from the Global Header

2. Select the option for the report saved in Exercise 3and click on the

tab

3. The option to create Binsare held in the Edit Formulawindow accessed from thecolumn properties icon

4. Click the button for the Segment Code 3column:

5. In the Edit Column Formulawindow, click the tab.


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6. Click theAdd Bin button in the bottom left hand corner

7. Click the Value search icon

8. Complete the Bin by adding both 102048and 104061Cost Centresas shown below:

9. Click the button


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10.Click the button

11.Name the Bin HE & GO Science

12.Click the button

13.The Bin details are displayed

14.Click the button


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15.Display the report details by selecting the tab

16.Note that the Cost Centre column now has active drilldown (hyperlinked), click on HE

& GO Science

17.The report will drill down to show each Cost Centre contained in the Bin

18.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and

save as Ex5


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10 Formula Editing

10.1 Introduction

You can edit the formulas for columns when you specify the criteria for an analysis. This

editing affects the column only in the context of the analysis and does not modify the formula

of the original column in the subject area.

A column formula specifies what the column values represent. You can edit the formula to

add functions, conditional expressions, and so on. This editing enables you to present

analysis results in a variety of ways.

The Edit Formula option also allows the column heading to be renamed.

10.2 Exercise 6 Formula Editing

The Edit Formula button allows you to manually write a formula for a given column, such as

ranking or percentiles. In this example we will add a new column to the report and modify

the formula to create a percentage column using the Edit Formula tool.


2. Select the option for the report saved in Exercise 1and click on the

tab

3. Expand the folder in the Subject Areasregion of the screen

4. Add the Closing Entered Amountfact to the report


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5. The option to modify a columns formula is in the Edit Formula window accessed

from the column properties icon

6. Select

Learning Note:

The edit formula tool can be used to manually write formula statements.

OBIEE also provides a series of pre-defined commands that can be used to

make report writing easier. For more advanced help on writing report

formulae, click the link in the top right corner of the edit formula window.

7. First rename the Column Header to Percentage Difference by ticking the CustomHeadingsbox and overtyping the text.


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8. Then delete the existing Column Formula "Facts - GL Balance"."Closing Entered

Amount"

Action Note:

When creating a new formula ALWAYS place the cursor at the end of the

formula before selecting the next component.

Failure to do so will result in the formula being deleted and replaced by the next

selected formula element.

9. Enter the following new formula in the Column Formularegion of the screen:

(Debit Amount/Closing Amount)x100

a. Select the open bracket button

b. Place the cursor after the (

c. Click the button and select the column - "Debit Amount"

d. Place the cursor at the end of the formula

e. Select the divide button

f. Place the cursor at the end of the formula

g. Click the button and select the column - "Closing AmountEntered"

h. Place the cursor at the end of the formula

i. Select the close bracket button

j. Place the cursor at the end of the formula

k. Select the multiply button

l. Place the cursor at the end of the formula

m. Enter 100


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10.Click the button

11.Select the tab to display the report

12.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page and save

as Ex6


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11 Table Properties

11.1 Introduction

Table Properties allow you to add column totals, change the number of lines displayed per

page, alternate the background colours of the report lines and hide duplicate cell values.

11.2 Exercise 7 Table Properties

When editing the Table view, you can amend properties such as sorting defaults, column

totals, page display options and table formatting controls. In this example we will take the

report created in Exercise 2and edit some of the more useful Table properties.


2. Open report Ex 2and click the link

3. The Resultsscreen is displayed:

4. To edit the table properties, ensure table is selected in the Viewsregion of thescreen

5. Select the edit icon


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6. The table Layoutproperties screen is displayed below the report

7. First we will create a total row for each Business Unit in the second column. Click theicon for the second Segment Code column and selectAf terfrom the drop-down

list

8. A total row is displayed after each Business Unit Value in the results table:


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9. To add a Grand Total select the icon for and selectAf terfrom the drop-down list

10. Now we will edit the table properties; click the Table View Propert ies icon


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11. Using the Table Properties window, set the following:

i. Data Viewing - Content paging to position the report scrolling icons and thenumber of lines per page

ii. Paging Controls - Top to position the report page scrolling icons at the top ofthe report

iii. Rows per page 5to display five lines per report page

iv. Row Styling Select the tick box to display the report lines in alternatingcolours. The default is green but this can be changed by selecting the Enable

alternate styling icon

12. Your report should be displayed as follows

13. Edit any further table format properties as you wish and then the report as Ex 7


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12 Creating a Chart View

12.1 Introduction

Using the Charts View you can display your reports as various chart and graph types, and

then customise elements such as the title, legend, axis properties, data labels, and many

others.

Charts are created in a different Views(Graph, Pivot Table etc.).

12.2 Exercise 8 Creating a Chart View

In this exercise the report created in Exercise 1will be converted to a horizontal bar chart.

The bar chart will then be rotated into a vertical position

1. From the tab at the Global Header

2. Open the and select the link for report Ex1

3. Click the New Viewdrop-down list, and select Graph > Bar > Horizontal


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4. The chart will be displayed below the report

5. Click on the Edit icon in the Graphview


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6. You can Edit the displayed properties of the graph using the toolbar:

7. In our chart we have decided we would like to see the columns in a vertical format

8. Click on the drop-down list from the tool bar and select from

the displayed choices

9. Click the button

10.The chart view has now been changed as below

11.Once finished save the chart view as Ex8


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13 Creating Pivot Tables

13.1 Introduction

The pivot table is an interactive view that allows you to rotate and re-position your rows and

columns to obtain different perspectives of your data.

13.2 Exercise 9 Creating Pivot Tables

In this example we will create a pivot table that displays the results of the cost centres, not

as rows but as columns.

Row and Column totals will also be added.



3. Click the drop-down listand selectPivot Table


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4. Two views will be displayed Table and Pivot Table

5. By default the results will be displayed as a basic table, by dragging the column

headings to different positions in the pivot table you can tailor the report view

6. Select the edit icon in the Pivot Tableview

7. With the mouse, drag the GL Segment 3 (Cost Centre)row into the Columns area

of the screen


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8. The Pivot Table will be displayed

9. Add totals for all Rows and Columns by selecting the related icons

10.The Pivot Table will be redisplayed


12.Save the Pivot Table view as Ex9


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14 Edit ing the Compound Layout

14.1 Introduction

The compound view is how the report will look when viewed as part of a dashboard or

directly from answers.

Each individual view within the Compound Layout can be edited to change:

1. The Title of the Compound Layout

2. The Table Properties (See section 11)

3. The Chart Properties (See section 12)

14.2 Exercise 10 Editing the Compound Layout

In this example we will modify the Compound Layout from Exercise 8 and add titles to the

Compound Layout.



3. The Compound Layout will be automatically displayed in the tab

4. You can edit and format each view in the compound layout


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5. To add titles to the Compound Layout select the icon in the Title section of the

Layout

6. The following screen is displayed

7. Enter the following data. As each field is populated the information is displayed in the

lower half of the screen

Field Contents

Title Basic Balance Sheet

Display Saved

Name

By default the name the compound layout was saved as will be displayed.

To hide the name deselect the check box

Subtitle Report and corresponding Chart

Started Time Display date and time


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8. Select the button

9. Save the report as Ex10


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15 Creating My Dashboard

15.1 Introduction

Dashboards provide personalized views of financial and external information. A dashboard

consists of one or more pages containing columns and sections.

Pages can display anything that you can access or open with a web browser, including the

following:

1. The results of analysis

a. The result of an analysis is the output returned from the Oracle BI Server that

matches the analysis criteria. It can be shown in various views, such as a

i. Table

ii. Graph

b. Users can examine and analyze results, print as PDF or HTML, save as PDF,

or export them to a spreadsheet.

2. Images

3. Text

4. Views of folders in the Oracle BI Presentation Catalog

5. Links to web sites

6. Links to documents

7. Embedded content (such as web pages or documents)

8. Oracle BI Publisher reports


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15.2 Dashboard Prompts

A prompt that is created at the dashboard level is called a dashboard prompt because the

prompt is created outside of a specific dashboard and is stored in the catalog as an object,

which can then be added to any dashboard or dashboard page that contains the columns

that are specified in the prompt.

Dashboard prompts allow the end user to specify the data values (parameters) that

determine the content of all of the analyses and scorecard objects contained on the

dashboard.

Dashboard prompts are reusable, because you can create one prompt and use it many

times. When the prompt object is updated and saved, those updates are immediately

displayed in all dashboards where the prompt is used. A dashboard prompt is a specific kind

of filter that, when created, saved, and applied to a dashboard or dashboard pages, can filter

all or some of the analyses and scorecard objects that are embedded in a dashboard or

analyses and scorecard objects that are embedded on the same dashboard page.

A dashboard prompt is interactive and is always displayed on the dashboard page so that

the user can prompt for different values without having to re-run the dashboard. Users can

create and save dashboard prompts to either a private folder or to a shared folder.

15.2.1 Creating Dashboard Prompts

Creating Dashboard Prompts is a two step process:

Step 1 - Set the option for the columns that are to act as Prompt

paramaters in the Dashboard page to is prompted

Step 2 - Create and save a Dashboard Prompt file


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15.2.2 Exercise 11 Step 1 - Setting Dashboard Prompt Column Filters

In this example we will modify the Compound Layout from Exercise 10changing the column

headings and set the filters for Segments 1, 2 and 3 to is prompted.

1. From the tab at the top of the screen select the link for report Ex10

2. The Compound Layout will be automatically displayed in the tab

3. To change the column headings for Segments 1, 2 and 3 select the tab


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4. To change the names of column headings for Segments 1, 2 and 3 repeat the

following steps:

5. Select the options icon to the right of the column name

6. Select from the displayed list of options

7. Select the tab

8. To change the column heading select the check box


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9. In the Column Headingfield enter Entity


11.To set the column filter to is prompted select the options icon to the right of the

column name and select the option


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12.From the drop-down list select is

prompted


14.Repeat the above process for Segments 2 and 3

Segment Column Heading Filter Setting

2 Business Unit is prompted

3 Cost Centre is prompted


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15.Select the tab

16.To remove the prompts from the graph view select the edit icon in the Graph

view


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17. In the Graphs Promptsregion drag both Segment Code fields to the Excluderegion

of the screen


19.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and

save as Ex11


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15.2.3 Exercise 12 Step 2 - Creating a Dashboard Prompt

In this example we will create a Dashboard Prompt to apply to reports created from the

Financials GL Balance SheetSubject Area to be placed on a dashboard.

1. Select the from the Global Header

2. Select from the displayed drop-down list. A list of the Subject

Areas will be displayed


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3. Select the Subject Area the Dashboard Prompt is to be created from. In this example

select the subject area. The Dashboard Prompt screen

will be displayed

4. To add a Prompt select the icon drop-down list

5. Select Column Promptfrom the displayed list

6. Expand the GL Segment 1folder


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7. Select followed by the button to display the New Prompt detail

screen

8. Overwrite the contents of the Label field with Entity. This will be the name displayed

for the prompt.

Field Description

Label The name displayed against the prompt

Description Description of the prompt

Operator What data is returned on the report is based on the operator valueselected

User Input

Choice List default displays a list of the possible data items for the

prompt from a drop-down list. Allows the selection of multiple prompt

values

Check Boxes automatically displays the complete list of possible

data items for the prompt with together with check boxes for

selection (No drop-down list). Allows the selection of multiple prompt

values

Radio Buttons- automatically displays the complete list of possible

data items for the prompt with together with radio buttons for

selection (No drop-down list). Allows the selection of multiple prompt

values

List Box - automatically displays the complete list of possible data

items for the prompt. (No drop-down list). Single prompt selection

only


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9. Select the button. The new Prompt will be displayed in the top half of the

screen. The lower half of the screen displays how the Prompt will be displayed in the

Dashboard

10.Add two additional prompts for GL Segments 2 and 3 by repeating steps 4 through 9

11.By default the prompts will be displayed in a column format in the lower half of the

screen. To change the grouping of how the prompts will be displayed select the

check box(es) in the New Column if the prompts are to be displayed in different

columns


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12.Save the Dashboard Prompt, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and

save as Ex11 Dashboard Prompt

Learning Note:

Dashboard prompts can be used on multiple reports that have been created form

the same Subject area(s).

It is suggested that a new folder is created to hold all your Dashboard Prompt

files


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15.3 Creating My Dashboard

15.3.1 Introduction

My Dashboard is a personal space within OBIEE where you can place objects such as

reports, URLs, text, images and prompts. The dashboard can be arranged across multiple

sections, columns or even pages depending on how much content you want and how youwant it to be arranged.

15.3.2 Exercise 13 Creating My Dashboard

In this exercise we will cover the basics of arranging a dashboard page.

1. From the tab on the Global Header select My Dashboard

2. Your personal Dashboard will be displayed which should be blank as the Dashboardhas not been created.

3. Select to create your dashboard:


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4. In the Catalogsection of the screen expand to locate the Reports,Tables and Charts to be populated on the dashboard

5. Locate the Ex3report you saved in your own folderand drag it into the blank regionon your dashboard page

Learning Note:

OBIEE has automatically created Page 1 of the dashboard, Column 1 and

Section 1, containing the report.


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13.To create another column select from the Dashboard Objectsregion of

the screen and drag it to the desired location. For example to the right of column 1

Learning Note:

Where the new column will be located is determined by the position of a bluelocation line that is displayed while the new column is being dragged.

14.Select Ex11 Dashboard Promptand drag it into column 2

15.To create another section select from the Dashboard Objectsregion of

the screen and drag it to the desired location. For example below section 1 in column

1


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16.Select and drag Ex6into the second section in Column 1 below Ex3

17.Select and drag Ex11into Cloumn 2 and drop it below Ex11 Dashboard Prompt

Learning Note:

The properties of the columns, sections or items on the dashboard can be

modified by selecting the icon in the relevant region that the cursor has been

placed.

An active Column, Section or Item is highlighted by a yellow boarder.

18.As a demonstration the first Section in Column 1 will be given a name.

19.Ensure the first section is highlighted and from the icon select Rename


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20.Enter Basic GL Balance Sheetas the section name and select the button

6. Select the to review the contents of the Dashboard

7. Close the Preview screen

8. Select the icon to save My Dashboard

Learning Note:

Select the icon to save the Dashboard under a different name.

9. Select the icon to refresh and display the Dashboard data


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Action Note:

The Dashboard MUST be saved before selecting the icon. If not the

details of the Dashboard will be lost.


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16 Appendix A Icon Defini tions

16.1 Catalog

Icon Name Function

New Create a new analysis, filter, dashboard prompt

Refresh Refresh the contents of the catalog

Up Move up to the next level in the folder hierarchy

Show / Hide folders

pane

Search Search for a file(s) in the catalog

Change List View Type Change the format of how the folder contents are

displayed

Create a new folderOnly active at the My Folders level via the icon

16.2 Folders Region

Icon Name Function

Show Folder Tree Display all folders in hierarchical directories

Show Quick Access

Folders

Use this button to list, excluding their hierarchy, the

following folders:

1. My Folders

2. Shared folders

3. My (object) folder

16.3 Save As

Icon Name Function

Up Move up to the next level in the folder hierarchy

Create a new folder

Change List View Type Delete the Title section from the Layout


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16.4 Criteria Tab

16.4.1 Subject Areas Pane

Icon Name

Add/Remove Subject Areas

Refresh display

Remove View from Compound Layout

16.4.2 Criteria Icons

Icon Name

Show/Hide Filters pane

Show/Hide Selection Steps pane

Edit Analysis Properties

Save

Save As

Help

16.4.3 Selected Columns Pane

Icon Name

Remove all columns

Apply the following to the selected column

Sort

Edit Column Formula

Column Properties

Add a Filter to the column

Delete the column


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16.4.4 Filters Pane

Icon Name

Create a filter

Remove all filters

16.5 Results Tab

16.5.1 Subject Areas Pane

Icon Name

Add/Remove Subject Areas

Refresh display

Remove View from Compound Layout

16.5.2 Catalog Pane

Icon Name

Refresh display

16.5.3 Views Pane

Icon Name

Create a new view

Edit the view

Duplicate the view

Delete the view

Rename the view


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16.6 Table

Icon Name Function

Format Container Modify cell alignment, background colour and

borders

Edit View Format the Table Column properties

Remove View from Compound

Layout

Delete the Table from the Compound Layout

16.7 Compound Layout Title

Icon Name Function

Format Container Modify cell alignment, background colour and

borders

Edit View Modify the name of the Title

Remove View from Compound

Layout

Delete the Title section from the Compound

Layout

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