IBM Essentials for IBM Cognos BI (V10.2)

Course details

Accelerated offering provides broad understanding of a Biz Intelligence platform implementation. Perform hands-on demos & workshops cover 4 essential topic areas: Modeling, Report Authoring, Workspace Advanced, & Administration of a BI platform.

Course Outline

1 - Overview of IBM Cognos BI

• Discuss IBM Cognos BI and Performance Management
• Describe IBM Cognos BI components
• Describe IBM Cognos BI architecture at a high level
• Define IBM Cognos BI groups and roles
• Explain how to extend IBM Cognos BI

2 - Identify Common Data Structures

• Define the metadata modeling role in IBM Cognos BI
• Examine the characteristics of operational databases and databases designed for reporting
• Examine dimensional data sources (OLAP, ROLAP, DMR)

3 - Gather Requirements

• Examine key modeling recommendations
• Define reporting requirements
• Explore data sources t identify data access strategies

4 - Create a Baseline Project

• Examine the IBM Cognos BI workflow processes
• Define a project and its structure
• Describe the Framework Manager environment
• Create a baseline project
• Enhance the model with additional metadata

5 - Prepare Reusable Metadata

• Identify facts and dimensions
• Examine relationships, and data traps
• Verify relationships and query item properties
• Ensure efficient filters by configuring prompt properties

6 - Model for Predictable Results: Identify Reporting Issues

• Describe multi-fact queries and when full outer joins are appropriate
• Describe how IBM Cognos BI uses cardinality
• Identify reporting traps
• use tools to analyze the model

7 - Model for Predictable Results: Virtual Star Schemas

• Identify the advantages of modeling metadata as a star schema
• Model in layers
• Create aliases to avoid ambiguous joins
• Merge query subjects to create as view behavior

8 - Model for Predictable Results: Consolidate Metadata

• Create virtual facts to simplify writing queries
• Create virtual dimensions to resolve fact-to-fact joins
• Create a consolidated modeling layer for presentation purposes
• Consolidate snowflake dimensions with model query subjects
• Simplify facts by hiding unn

9 - Calculations and Filters

• Use calculations to create commonly-needed query items for authors
• Use static filters to reduce the data returned
• Use macros and parameters in calculations and filters to dynamically control the data returned

10 - Implement a Time Dimension

• Make time-based queries simple to author by implementing a time dimension
• Resolve confusion caused by multiple relationships between a time dimension and another table

11 - Specify Determinants

• Use determinants to specify multiple levels of granularity and prevent double-counting

12 - Create the Presentation View

• Identify the dimensions associated with a fact table
• Identify conformed vs. non-conformed dimensions
• Create star schema groupings to provide authors with logical groupings of query subjects
• Rapidly create a model using the Model Design Accelerator

13 - Create Analysis Objects

• Define dimensionally modeled relational (DMR) metadata
• Apply dimensional information to relational metadata to enable OLAP-style queries
• Define members and member unique names

14 - Introduction to the Reporting Application

• Examine Report Studio and its interface
• Explore different report types
• Create a simple, sorted, and formatted report
• Explore how data items are added to queries

15 - Create List Reports

• Format, group, and sort list reports
• Describe options for aggregating data
• Create a multi-fact query
• Create a report with repeated data

16 - Focus Reports Using Filters

• Create filters t narrow the focus of reports
• Examine detail and summary filters
• Determine when t apply filters on aggregate data

17 - Create Crosstab Reports

• Format and sort crosstab reports
• Convert a list to a crosstab
• Create crosstabs using unrelated data items
• Create complex crosstabs using drag and drop functionality

18 - Present Data Graphically

• Create charts containing peer and nested items
• Present data using different chart type options
• Add context to charts
• Create and reuse custom chart palettes
• Present key data in a single dashboard report

19 - Focus Reports Using Prompts

• Identify various prompt types
• Use parameters and prompts to focus data
• Search for prompt items
• Navigate between pages

20 - Extend Reports Using Calculations

• Create calculations based on data in the data source
• Add run-time information to the reports
• Create expressions using functions
• Highlight exceptional data
• Show and hide data
• Conditionally render objects in reports
• Conditionally format one crosstab measure

21 - Customize Reports with Conditional Formatting

• Create multi-lingual reports
• Highlight Exceptional Data
• Create a Conditionally Rendered Column
• Conditionally Format One Crosstab Measure Based on Another

22 - Drill-Through From One Report t Another

• Let users navigate from a specific report t a target report
• Pass parameter values t filter the data in drill-through targets
• Navigate through multiple reports

23 - Create Reports using Relational Data

• Define Relational Data
• Define report layouts
• Build a report
• Explain how to add data query items
• Use calculations

24 - Introduction t IBM Cognos BI Administration

• Describe the role of the Administrator in relation to the IBM Cognos BI administration workflow process.
• Describe the role of IBM Cognos Administration and IBM Cognos Configuration.

25 - Identify IBM Cognos BI Architecture

• Identify and explain:
• The features of the IBM Cognos BI architecture
• The three architectural tiers
• IBM Cognos BI servlets and services
• The default servlet container and alternatives t its use
• An example of IBM Cognos BI request processing
• Installation opt

26 - Identify and explain:

• Identify the IBM Cognos BI security model
• Define authentication and authorization in IBM Cognos BI.
• Identify security policies
• Secure the IBM Cognos BI environment

27 - Secure the IBM Cognos BI Environment

• Manage current, upcoming and past activities
• Manage schedules

28 - Manage Run Activities

• View Data Sources Associated with a Package and Add a Data Source
• Add Multiple Connections for a Single Data Source
• Create a Distribution List
• Create an Export and Import Archive
• Save Content t the File System

Target Audience: Core project team members wishing to acquire a broad understanding of a Business Intelligence platform implementation