business objects express

8/3/2019 Business Objects Express

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Express OLAP Access Pack Users Guide

BusinessObjects Enterprise 6

Windows


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2 Express OLAP Access Pack Users Guide

Copyright No part of the computer software or this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form

or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any

information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Business

Objects S.A.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice. If you find any problems

with this documentation, please report them to Business Objects S.A. in writing at

[email protected].

Business Objects S.A. does not warrant that this document is error free.

Copyright Business Objects S.A. 2003. All rights reserved.

Printed in France.

Trademarks The Business Objects logo, WebIntelligence, BusinessQuery, the Business Objects tagline,

BusinessObjects, BusinessObjects Broadcast Agent, Rapid Mart, Set Analyzer, Personal

Trainer, and Rapid Deployment Template are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business

Objects S.A. in the United States and/or other countries.

Contains IBM Runtime Environment for AIX(R), Java(TM) 2 Technology Edition Runtime

Modules (c) Copyright IBM Corporation 1999, 2000. All Rights Reserved.This product includes code licensed from RSA Security, Inc. Some portions licensed from IBM

are available at http://oss.software.ibm.com/icu4j.

All other company, product, or brand names mentioned herein, may be the trademarks of their

respective owners.

Use restrictions This software and documentation is commercial computer software under Federal Acquisition

regulations, and is provided only under the Restricted Rights of the Federal Acquisition

Regulations applicable to commercial computer software provided at private expense. The use,

duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions set forth insubdivision (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at 252.227-

7013.

Patents U.S. Patent Numbers 5,555,403, 6,247,008, and 6,578,027.

Part Number 347-10-610-01


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Express OLAP Access Pack Users Guide 3

Contents

Contents

Preface Maximizing Your Information Resources 5

Information resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Useful addresses at a glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

About this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Chapter 1 Introducing the Express OLAP Access Pack 13

What is the Express OLAP Access Pack? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Connecting to Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

The OLAP Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Chapter 2 Using the OLAP Panel 29

Working with the Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Working with Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Changing Dimension Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Using the Add/Remove Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Drilling in the OLAP Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Setting General and Fonts Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Express and BusinessObjects Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Index 51


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Contents


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preface

Maximizing Your InformationResources


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Maximizing Your Information Resources

Overview

Information, services, and solutions

The Business Objects business intelligence solution is supported by thousands

of pages of documentation, available from the products, on the Internet, on CD,

and by extensive online help systems and multimedia.

Packed with in-depth technical information, business examples, and advice on

troubleshooting and best practices, this comprehensive documentation set

provides concrete solutions to your business problems.

Business Objects also offers a complete range of support and services to help

maximize the return on your business intelligence investment. See in the

following sections how Business Objects can help you plan for and successfully

meet your specific technical support, education, and consulting requirements.


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Information resources

Information resources

Whatever your Business Objects profile, we can help you quickly access the

documentation and other information you need.

Where do I start?

Below are a few suggested starting points; there is a summary of useful webaddresses on page 10.

Documentation RoadmapThe Documentation Roadmap references all Business Objects guides and

multimedia, and lets you see at a glance what information is available, from

where, and in what format.

View or download the Business Objects Documentation Roadmap at

www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htm

Documentation from the productsYou can access electronic documentation at any time from the product you are

using. Online help, multimedia, and guides in Adobe PDF format are available

from the product Help menus.

Documentation on the webThe full electronic documentation set is available to customers with a validmaintenance agreement on the Online Customer Support (OCS) website at

www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htm

Buy printed documentationYou can order printed documentation through your local sales office, or from the

online Business Objects Documentation Supply Store at


Search the Documentation CDSearch across the entire documentation set on the Business Objects

Documentation CD shipped with our products. This CD brings together the full set

of documentation, plus tips, tricks, multimedia tutorials, and demo materials.

Order the Documentation CD online, from the Business Objects Documentation

Supply Store, or from your local sales office.
http://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htm


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MultimediaAre you new to Business Objects? Are you upgrading from a previous release or

expanding, for example, from our desktop to our web solution? Try one of our

multimedia quick tours or Getting Started tutorials. All are available via the Online

Customer Support (OCS) website or on the Documentation CD.

How can I get the most recent documentation?

You can get our most up-to-date documentation via the web. Regularly check the

sites listed below for the latest documentation, samples, and tips.

Tips & TricksOpen to everyone, this is a regularly updated source of creative solutions to any

number of business questions. You can even contribute by sending us your own

tips.

www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.asp

Product documentationWe regularly update and expand our documentation and multimedia offerings.

With a valid maintenance agreement, you can get the latest documentation in

seven languages on the Online Customer Support (OCS) website.

Developer Suite OnlineDeveloper Suite Online provides documentation, samples, and tips to those

customers with a valid maintenance agreement and a DEVELOPER SUITE license

via the Online Customer Support (OCS) website.

Send us your feedback

Do you have a suggestion on how we can improve our documentation? Is there

something you particularly like or have found useful? Drop us a line, and we will

do our best to ensure that your suggestion is included in the next release of our

documentation: [email protected]

NOTE

If your issue concerns a Business Objects product and not the documentation,

please contact our Customer Support experts. For information about Customer

Support visit: www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htm
http://www.businessobjects.com/http://www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.aspmailto:[email protected]://businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://businessobjects.com/services/support.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.asphttp://www.businessobjects.com/


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Services

Services

A global network of Business Objects technology experts provides customer

support, education, and consulting to ensure maximum business intelligence

benefit to your business.

How we can support you?

Business Objects offers customer support plans to best suit the size and

requirements of your deployment. We operate three global customer support

centers:

Americas: San Jose, California and Atlanta, Georgia

Europe: Maidenhead, United Kingdom

Asia: Tokyo, Japan and Sydney, Australia

Online Customer SupportOur Customer Support website is open to all direct customers with a current

maintenance agreement, and provides the most up-to-date Business Objects

product and technical information. You can log, update, and track cases from this

site using the Business Objects Knowledge Base.

Having an issue with the product?

Have you exhausted the troubleshooting resources at your disposal and still not

found a solution to a specific issue?For support in deploying Business Objects products, contact Worldwide

Customer Support at: www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htm

Looking for the best deployment solution for your company?

Business Objects consultants can accompany you from the initial analysis stage

to the delivery of your deployment project. Expertise is available in relational and

multidimensional databases, in connectivities, database design tools,

customized embedding technology, and more.

For more information, contact your local sales office, or contact us at:

www.businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htm

Looking for training options?

From traditional classroom learning to targeted e-learning seminars, we can offer

a training package to suit your learning needs and preferred learning style. Find

more information on the Business Objects Education website:

www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htm
http://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htm


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Useful addresses at a glance

Address Content

Business Objects Documentation


Overview of Business Objects documentation. Links

to Online Customer Support, Documentation Supply

Store, Documentation Roadmap, Tips & Tricks,Documentation mailbox.

Business Objects Documentation

mailbox

[email protected]

Feedback or questions about documentation.

Product documentation

www.businessobjects.com/services/

support.htm

The latest Business Objects product

documentation, to download or view online.

Business Objects product information

www.businessobjects.com

Information about the full range of Business

Objects products.

Developer Suite Online

www.techsupport.businessobjects.com

Available to customers with a valid maintenanceagreement and a Developer Suite license via the

Online Customer Support (OCS) website. Provides

all the documentation, latest samples, kits and tips.

Knowledge Base (KB)


Technical articles, documents, case resolutions.

Also, use the Knowledge Exchange to learn what

challenges other users both customers and

employees face and what strategies they find to

address complex issues. From the KnowledgeBase, click the Knowledge Exchange link.

Tips & Tricks

www.businessobjects.com/forms/

tipsandtricks_login.asp

Practical business-focused examples.
http://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/http://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/http://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/http://www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.asphttp://www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.asphttp://www.businessobjects.com/forms/tipsandtricks_login.asphttp://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/http://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/http://www.businessobjects.com/http://www.businessobjects.com/services/support.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.businessobjects.com/services/documentation.htm


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Useful addresses at a glance

Online Customer Support


www.businessobjects.com/services

Starting point for answering questions, resolving

issues.

Information about registering with Worldwide

Customer Support.

Business Objects Education Services


education.htm

The range of Business Objects training options and

modules.

Business Objects Consulting Services


consulting.htm

Information on how Business Objects can helpmaximize your business intelligence investment.

Address Content
http://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/http://www.businessobjects.com/services/http://www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htmhttp://businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htmhttp://businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htmhttp://businessobjects.com/services/consulting.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/education.htmhttp://www.businessobjects.com/services/http://www.techsupport.businessobjects.com/


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About this guide

This guide describes the Express OLAP Access Pack, a data provider that lets

BUSINESSOBJECTS users access Express multidimensional servers.

Audience

This guide is intended for the person who uses the Express OLAP Access Pack

with BUSINESSOBJECTS to access data from Express multidimensional servers.

Conventions used in this guide

The conventions used in this guide are described in the table below.

Convention Indicates

This font Code, SQL syntax, computer programs. For example:

@Select(Country\Country Id)

Some code

more code

Placed at the end of a line of code, the symbol ()

indicates that the next line should be entered

continuously with no carriage return.


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Introducing the Express OLAP Access Pack

Overview

This chapter:

describes the BusinessObjects Express OLAP Access Pack and the OLAP

Panel

provides the instructions for installing the BusinessObjects Express OLAPAccess Pack at your site


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What is the Express OLAP Access Pack?

What is the Express OLAP Access Pack?

Online analytical processing (OLAP) describes a software technology extracts

and presents multidimensional data from different points of view.

The Express OLAP Access Pack is a data provider that lets BusinessObjects

users access Oracle Express multidimensional servers. An Express OLAP

server is a data manipulation engine that supports and operates onmultidimensional data structures. These data structures are represented by

objects that you manipulate with the Express OLAP Access Pack.

The data structures represent how you think about your business. Your products,

the territories in which they are sold, the time in which sales occur or costs

accrue, and how you measure your business activity (units sold, net profit, etc.)

are represented as dimensions. How you measure your business activity is

represented as a special type of dimension, an account, which BusinessObjects

represents as a measure.You create a focus on a part of your business by selecting dimensions and

measures to analyze. From these dimensions and measures, you create a data

provider from which you generate a BusinessObjects report. You use the

BusinessObjects report for query and analysis with the multidimensional data

structures in the Express OLAP server.

The Express OLAP Access Pack complements BusinessObjects access to

Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS).


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Connecting to Express

You can connect to an Express server to create a new BusinessObjects report

using the New Report wizard, or from a BusinessObjects report to edit or refresh

the data provider.

Connecting to an Express server for a new report

You can connect to an Express Server via the BusinessObjects New Report

Wizard.

To do this:

1. Launch BusinessObjects.

2. Start the New Report wizard by selecting the New command from the File

menu, or by clicking New Report Wizard on the Standard toolbar.

The welcome screen of the wizard appears.

New Report

Wizard


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3. Select Generate a standard reportoption button. Click Begin.

The Specify Data Access panel appears.

4. Select the Others option button, then OLAP Express from the drop-down list

box. Click Next.

The Select a Connection panel appears.

5. If this is your first time connecting to an Oracle Express server, type a

connection name, then click Edit. Make the appropriate selections in the Edit

Connection to Oracle Express Server dialog box, then click OK. The optionsfor the Edit Connection to Oracle Express Server dialog box are described on

page 19.

6. Select a connection, then enter your user name and password. Click Next.

7. Select a database and, if necessary, enter your password. Click Finish.

The OLAP panel appears.


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NOTE

Your ability to establish a connection to an Express server depends on your

access rights to the server and on the server security. For more information on

setting up a connection to an OLAP server, contact your IS manager.


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Edit Connection to Oracle Express Server Options

NOTE

If you select Express Server 5: Enter the UUID and host name, available from

your IS manager.

If you select Express Server 6: For a Windows NT server: Select the transport

ncacn_ip_tcp and enter the host name.

For a UNIX server: select the transport ora_ro_tcp, then enter the host name andthe endpoint.

Group box Option Description

Connection Name The name of the connection you

want to use or save

Express Server Type

Note: This option is

available only if you

select Express Server 5

Server

Daemon

Select to access a server

Select to access a daemon

Express Server Binding Server

version

Select Express Server 5 or Express

Server 6 (see Note on below).

Object UUID This option has to be specified only

if you select Express Server 5, then

select Daemon.

Transport Select the transport appropriate to

your LAN configuration.

Host The host name

Endpoint If you need to use this option, speak

with your Information System (IS)

manager.

Domain The domain name of your server


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Connecting to an Express server from an existing report

To edit or refresh the data provider from an open BusinessObjects report, you

must be connected to an Express server. If you are not connected to the server,

follow the steps below.

1. From the open BusinessObjects report, click the appropriate toolbar button to

edit or refresh the data provider.

2. In the OLAP User Identification dialog box that appears, type your user name

and password, then click OK.

If you are connecting to an Express server, you must type a password to

connect to the server, then type another password to connect to the database

you want.


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The OLAP Panel

The OLAP Panel

The OLAP Panel is the graphical interface that lets you create reports from the

data in an Express server. An Express server is a multidimensional database for

storing data with an unlimited number of dimensions, such as time, accounts,

region, or product. It manages data models, data storage, calculations, and data

security.

a. The OLAP toolbar

b. The Database Objects box

c. The Filters box

d. The Gride. Displays a dialog box from which you can set the font used for text and

numbers in the Grid or filters, and set options for managing the volume of data

to be retrieved.

e

g h i j

a

b

c

d

f


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f. The status bar indicates the results of an action.

f. Clears the panel of all dimensions, dimension values, measures, filters, and

data values.

g. Generates a BusinessObjects report.

h. Closes the OLAP Panel and returns to the New Report wizard from which you

can select another Express application or database.

i. Displays OLAP Panel online help.


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The OLAP Panel

The Database Objects box

The Database Objects box displays the measures available in the attached

Express database. Once you have dropped a measure in the OLAP Panel Grid,

the measure's associated dimensions are also listed in the Database Objects

box.

In the OLAP Panel, the Database Objects box uses a tree structure to show the

dimensions, values, and measures in the database, and to represent their

relationships. These elements of a database are discussed below.

The Database Objects box in View by dimension value mode, showing dimensions and

measures. The box shows the name of the Express database and server name, in the

above example xademo and Chester respectively.

dimension

measure

view by dimension levelview by

dimension value


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DimensionsA dimension is one of the organizational elements of a database. A dimension

lists components that you group according to the requirements of your business.

For example, YEAR, QUARTER, MONTH, and DAY can comprise a time

dimension.

In Express, a dimension can have one or more hierarchies, which identify the

values that contribute to subtotals and totals in the data. For example, DAY can

appear in different TIME hierarchies: YEAR, QUARTER, MONTH, DAY andYEAR, WEEK, DAY.

BusinessObjects dimensions support default or standard hierarchies.

In the Database Objects box of the OLAP Panel, a dimension is represented by

the symbol.

Dimension valueDimension values, also referred to as values, identify data needed for specificpurposes. For example, BOSTON, MIAMI, and NEW YORK can be dimension

values for a CITY dimension.

In the Database Objects box of the OLAP Panel, a dimension value is

represented by the cube symbol.

LevelA level corresponds to a set of dimension values in a hierarchy. For example, the

CITY level corresponds to the dimension values BOSTON, MIAMI, and NEWYORK in the DISTRICT hierarchy.

In the Database Objects box, a level is represented by the double cube

symbol.

MeasuresA BusinessObjects measure is an Express variable or formula associated with

specific dimensions. For example, a SALES measure may be associated with

MONTH, PRODUCT, and DISTRICT.

In the Database Objects box, measures are represented by the pink ball

symbol and contained in a folder named Measures, which is represented by the

pink ball folder symbol.


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The filters box

Filters restrict the data values returned from the database and allow you to view

data by slices. The Filters box allows you to place one or more dimensions,

values, or levels that act as filters on the Grid. The Grid applies filters to

measures based on the selected values of the dimension.

To show or hide the Filters box, click Show/Hide Filters.

You can position the filters vertically within the Filters box if there are at least twofilters in the Filters box. To do so, click Wrap Filters.

A filter based on the Market dimension

The grid

The Grid is an area of the OLAP panel that you populate with dimensions and

measures from the Database Objects box.

The Grid can display many dimensions, values, and measures at any one time.

It is made up of three areas:

Area 1, the body, is typically the drop point for measures. Area 2, the down edge, is a drop point for dimensions.

Area 3, the across edge, is a drop point for dimensions.

Show/Hide

Wrap Filters


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The OLAP Panel

The toolbar

The buttons on the toolbar allow you to modify the OLAP Panel display, reverse

actions, hide or display areas of the OLAP Panel, and add or remove values. The

toolbar buttons are described below.

The OLAP Panel toolbar

Toolbar Button Description

Displays or hides the Database Objects box in the OLAP

Panel.

Displays or hides the Filters box in the OLAP Panel.

Displays or hides the Status Bar in the OLAP Panel.

Aligns filters horizontally within the Filters box. Any filters

that cannot be viewed on one line in the Filters box are

displayed on a second, third, or further line.

Allows you to reverse actions you performed. When you

click the button for the first time, you reverse the most recent

action; the second time you click the button, you reverse theaction preceding the most recent one. In this way, you can

reverse up to five consecutive actions.

Displays the Add/Remove Panel, which allows you to add

values to, or remove values from, a dimension as

necessary. The panel is useful for obtaining more refined

data values.

Allows you to exchange the dimensions and measures in thedown edge with those in the across edge. Swap Edges does

not alter the values of dimensions in any way.

Opens the Dimensions Properties dialog box, which allows

you to modify the properties of the selected dimension.


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ch

apte

r

Using the OLAP Panel


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Overview

Working with the OLAP Panel includes:

swapping or moving dimensions in the Grid

applying filters and drilling on them

adding or removing values from dimensions drilling up or down

setting information retrieval and appearance options

creating BusinessObjects reports


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Working with the Grid

Working with the Grid

The Grid contains the dimensions and measures necessary for reporting and

analysis. The data values are the intersections of these dimensions and

measures.

To begin populating the Grid drag a measure from the Database Objects box and

drop it in the Grid. When you drop a measure into the Grid, its associated

dimensions become visible in the Database Objects box and in the Grid. You canremove all values from the Grid at any time by clicking Clear.

Swapping dimensions

1. Click a dimension that you want to swap and hold down the mouse button.

2. Hold down the Shift key and drag the dimension until it is on top of the

dimension you want to swap.

3. Release the mouse button.

TIP

To swap the contents of the Down Edge with the contents of the Across Edge, Swap

Edges.

You can swap dimensions between the Filters box and the Grid, and within either of

these two boxes.

Moving a dimension or a measure1. Click the dimension or measure you want to move and hold down the mouse

button.

2. Drag the dimension or measure to the desired location, then release the

mouse button.

TIP

You can move dimensions not only inside the Grid and Filters box, but also between

these boxes.


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Removing a measure

You can remove a measure from the Grid in either of the following ways:

Right-click the measure's name, then select Remove Measure on the popup

menu that appears.

or

Drag the measure from the Grid and drop it in the Database Objects box.

Resizing the columns of the grid1. Position the pointer over the right border of a column.

2. Use the left mouse button to drag the border to the left or right.

3. Release the mouse button when the column is the appropriate size.

NOTE

You cannot resize individual columns.

Resizing the rows of the grid

1. Position the pointer over the bottom border of a row.

2. Use the left mouse button to drag the border up or down.

3. Release the mouse button when the row is the appropriate size.


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Working with Filters

Working with Filters

Filters, which restrict the data returned from the database, appear in the Filters

box of the OLAP Panel.

When you begin populating the Grid by adding a measure, the measure's

dimensions appear in either the Filters box or the Grid. You can move dimensions

between the Filters box and the Grid to obtain the results you want.

NOTE

When you perform actions in the Grid, the status bar indicates the results of the

action.

Applying a filter

Drag the dimension from the Grid and drop it in the Filters box.

Removing a filter value

1. Right-click on the filter.

2. In the popup menu that appears, select Remove Current Value.

Adding or removing dimension values

1. Right-click on the filter.

2. In the popup menu that appears, select Add/Remove Values.The Add/Remove Panel appears.

3. In the Filters tab, select and move the values you want:

Drilling on a filter

1. With the right mouse button, click the filter you want.

2. In the popup menu that appears, select Drill Down orDrill Up.

To... Select...

add values, values in the Available Dimension Values list box. Either

click the arrows pointing to the Selected Dimension Values

list box, or drag the selection and drop it in the list box.

remove

values,

values in the Selected Dimension Values list box. Either

click the arrows pointing to the Available Dimension Values

list box, or drag the selection and drop it in the list box.


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Changing Dimension Properties

The Dimension Properties dialog box allows you to change the properties of a

selected dimension and the appearance of the BusinessObjects report.

To open the Dimension Properties dialog box, do one of the following:

Click Dimension Properties.

In the Database Objects box, right-click a dimension or measure, and in the

popup menu that appears, select Dimension Properties.

The Express Dimension Properties panel appears.

DimensionProperties


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Changing Dimension Properties

Express Dimension Properties

Option selection Description

Apply sort defined on

server

In the BusinessObjects report, displays values in

the same order as in the Express database.

Turn hierarchy into a single

Report Dimension

Displays all the hierarchy levels as one dimension

in the BusinessObjects report.

Display totals after

subitems

Display totals after the subitems in the

BusinessObjects report.

To activate this option, you must checkApply sort

defined on serverand Turn hierarchy into a single

Report Dimension.

Indentation Controls the appearance of the BusinessObjects

report. To activate this option, you must check the

Turn hierarchy into a single Report Dimension.

Subitems: Applies a left indent to the subitems in

the report.

Totals: Applies a left indent to the totals in the

report.


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Using the Add/Remove Panel

The Add/Remove panel lets you manage data retrieved from the Oracle Express

database by adding values to, or removing values from, the dimensions in the

OLAP Panel, one value at a time. You cannot apply one value at a time when you

work directly in the OLAP Panel.

The Add/Remove panel contains tabs representing the areas of the OLAP Panel

in which you can place dimensions. Each tab appears only when thecorresponding area contains at least one dimension.

The Filters tab allows you to select the values of the dimensions used as filters

in the Grid.

The Down Edge tab allows you to select the values of the dimensions in the

Down Edge of the Grid.

The Across Edge tab allows you to select the values of the dimensions in the

Across Edge of the Grid.


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Using the Add/Remove Panel

Adding values to a dimension

1. Click Add/Remove Panel to display the Add/Remove panel.

The panel shows all the dimensions currently populating the Grid and the

Filters box. Dimensions are located in any one of the three tabs: Filters, Down

Edge, or Across Edge.

2. Click the tab in which the dimension is located.

3. In the Available Dimension Values list box, select the dimension containing

the value you want to add.4. Click the + beside the dimension to view all its values.

5. Select the value(s) you want to add.

- To select consecutive values, hold down the Shift key, then click the first and

last values you want to add.

- To select nonconsecutive values, hold down the Ctrl key, then click each

value you want.

6. To add the selected value(s), do one of the following:- To add the selection to the target dimension only, click the specific

dimension in the Selected Dimension Values list box, drag the selection, and

drop it in the box.

- To add the selection to all possible target dimensions, click the right arrow.

TIP

You can gain access to the Add/Remove panel from the Grid:

Right-click a dimension or dimension value. From the popup menu, clickAdd/Remove Values.

Add/Remove

Panel

38 E OLAP A P k U G id


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Removing values from a dimension

1. Click Add/Remove Panel to display the Add/Remove panel.

The panel shows all the dimensions currently populating the Grid and the

Filers box. Dimensions are located in any one of the three tabs: Filters, Down

Edge, or Across Edge.

2. Click the tab in which the dimension is located.

3. In the Available Dimension Values list box, click the + beside the dimension

or measure to view all its values.4. Select the values you want to remove from the dimension.

- To select several consecutive values, hold down the Shift key, then click the

first and last values you want to add.

- To select nonconsecutive values, hold down the Ctrl key, then click each

value you want.

5. To add the selected value(s), do one of the following:

- To add the selection to the target dimension only, drag and drop theselection in the Selected Dimension Values list box.

- To add the selection to all possible target dimensions, click the left arrow

button.

TIP

You can gain access to the Add/Remove panel from the Grid:

Right-click a dimension or dimension value. From the popup menu, clickAdd/

Remove Values.

Add/Remove

Panel



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Drilling in the OLAP Panel

Drilling in the OLAP Panel

Drilling is a means of analyzing data by examining it from different viewpoints and

levels of detail.

The Grid allows you to drill through the levels of the hierarchy. You can drill up or

down on one or all selected values in a dimension. You can drill on a dimension

in the Grid or in the Filters box.

Drilling down

Drill down is an operation that expands the levels of a dimension. When you drill

down one level, you expand the dimension values to include those at the lower

level. The values at this lower level are known as the children of the higher level

value, called the parent.

You can drill down until you have reached the bottom of the hierarchy; at that

point, the Drill Down command is dimmed on the popup menu.

To drill down on a dimension:

1. Right-click the dimension or one of its values.

A popup menu appears.

2. From the popup menu, select a drill down command.

TIP

To drill down on all occurrences, double-click a dimension.

To drill down on a selected occurrence, press Ctrl and double-click a dimension.

Command Action

Drill Down on Selected

Occurrence

expands the dimension by only one level

below the selected dimension or value.

Drill Down on all

Occurrences

expands the dimension by one level below all

the selected dimensions or values.



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40 Express OLAP Access Pack User s Guide


Drilling up

Drill up is an operation that collapses the levels of a dimension. As a result, the

values in the levels below the current value are no longer visible.

You can drill up until you have reached the top of the hierarchy; at that point, the

Drill Up command is dimmed on the popup menu.

To drill up from a dimension:

1. Right-click the dimension or one of its values.

A popup menu appears.

2. From the popup menu, select a drill up command.

TIP

To drill up on all occurrences, press Shift and double-click a dimension.

To drill up on a selected occurrence, press Ctrl + Shift, then double-click a dimension.

Command Action

Drill Up on Selected

Occurrence

collapses the dimension by only one level

below the selected dimension or value.

Drill Up on all Occurrences collapses the dimension by one level below all

the selected dimensions or values.



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Express OLAP Access Pack User s Guide 41

Setting General and Fonts Options


To set or change options relating to the control of data volume and the font used

in the Grid:

1. In the OLAP Panel, click Options.

2. In the General tab:

- specify the dimension/measure value labels

- type a label for undefined values

- set a limit for the number of dimension values

- specify a data retrieval option

- select a filter option

Refer to the section titled General Tab Options below.

3. In the Fonts tab:

- select the element of the OLAP Panel to which you want to apply formatting

- select the font, size, style, and color

Refer to the section titled Fonts Tab Options below.

4. When you have completed your selections in both tabs, click OK.



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p


General tab options

The General tab allows you to manage the volume of data retrieved by

specifying:

dimension/measure value labels

undefined data labels

the number of dimension values

a limit for the number of rows and columns of retrieved data

You can choose to receive a warning if the data from the server exceeds a

specified number of rows or cells.

filter fetch and display parameters

By default, the data retrieved from the server is filtered by the dimension

values displayed in the Filters box. However, you can choose to retrieve all

the values of a dimension but display only the filtered values in the report. You

can also retrieve and display all values.



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General tab

option

Option

selection

Description

Dimension

Value Labels

Lets you manage the length of the values

displayed in the Grid.

Short labels Displays the values' short labels.

Long labels Displays the values' long labels.

Value Displays the values as they are defined in the

database.

Undefined

Data Labels

Lets you manage the way undefined values

appear in the Grid.

NA Spell Displays the text that appears in the Grid when

undefined values occur. To change the current

text, highlight the text then type the new text.

Dimensions

without

hierarchy

Limit number of

dimension

values

Lets you set a limit for the number of

dimension values to retrieve in the Grid or filter

when a dimension without hierarchies is

inserted in the Grid.

Data

Retrieval

Lets you limit the quantity of data retrieved

from the server.

Warn if number

of rows

exceeds

Displays a warning message when you

attempt to retrieve more than the specified

number of rows of data. Enter the desired

number in the text box.

Warn if number

of cells

exceeds

Displays a warning message when you

attempt to retrieve more than the specified

number of cells. Enter the desired number in

the text box.

Array fetch size Lets you specify the size of the packets of rows

to retrieve.



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Filters Lets you customize the filters you applied in

the OLAP Panel.

Fetch only

current filter

values

Filters the data on the dimension value(s)

currently displayed in the Filters box of the

OLAP Panel. This is the default option.

Fetch all filter

values but

display only

current values

Retrieves all the values in the filters but the

report shows only the values currently

displayed in the OLAP Panel Filters box.

Though you cannot see some of the values in

the report, you can still use them in the report.

Fetch and

display all filter

values

Retrieves and displays all the values of the

filtered dimensions. Thus, you deactivate the

filter but can reactivate it later by editing thedata provider.

General tab

option

Option

selection

Description



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Font tab options

The options in the Fonts tab let you format the text and numbers appearing in the

OLAP Panel. By default, text and numbers are formatted as Arial, Regular, size

10.

Fonts tab

option

Option

selection

Description

Apply to Select the section of the OLAP Panel to which you

want to apply the font: Filters, Down Edge, Across

Edge, or Grid.

Font Changes the font of the text and numbers in the

selected section of the panel. Select the font you

want, or type the name of the font in the box above

the list.

Style Changes the style of the text and numbers in theselected section of the panel. Select the style, or

type the name of the style in the box above the list.

Size Changes the font size of the text and numbers in

the selected section of the panel. Select a font

size, or type the size you want in the box above

the list.



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Colors Changes the color of the text and numbers in the

selected section of the panel. Double-click the box

to display the color palette. Select one of the

standard colors displayed, or create your own

custom color by clicking Define Custom Colors.

Effects Underline Adds a line under the text and numbers in theselected section of the panel.

Strike Adds a line through the characters in the selected

section of the panel.

Preview Shows a sample of text formatted with the settings

you have selected.

Apply Applies the settings you have chosen to the text

and numbers in the selected section of the panel.

The OLAP Panel Options dialog box remains

open.

Default Font

button

Lets you restore the default font settings of the

selected section of the panel.

Fonts tab

option

Option

selection

Description



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Express and BusinessObjects Reports


Once you have populated an OLAP Panel grid with the necessary dimensions,

measures, and filters, you can create a BusinessObjects report. Then you can

view and work in the report in BusinessObjects, and return to the Express OLAP

Panel to edit or refresh the data provider.

To create a BusinessObjects report:

In the OLAP Panel, click Continue.

Structure mapping from BusinessObjects to Express

When you create a report from the OLAP Panel, BusinessObjects converts

Oracle Express components to BusinessObjects components. The structure

mapping is explained below.

Oracle Express dimensionsExpress dimensions and BusinessObjects dimensions are not identical.Each Oracle Express dimension is converted into one BusinessObjects hierarchy

of dimensions.

Oracle Express measuresOracle Express measures are identical to BusinessObjects measures. Express

measures tagged as Date or Text are converted into BusinessObjects

dimensions.

Oracle Express filtersBusinessObjects uses the filters to create a master/detail report. For every value

in a filter, BusinessObjects creates in the report a section that contains a master

and a detail.

The value of a filter is the master and the data values associated with the filter

become the detail.



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The illustration above shows a populated Express grid and the BusinessObjects

master/detail report generated from it.

OLAP Panel

Business Objects Report



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Viewing the report

Once you have created a report from the OLAP Panel, you can use any of the

features of BusinessObjects to view or format the contents of your report.

Viewing the structureThe Express server performs aggregations and calculations based on the

Database Outline, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the values in the report.

The BusinessObjects calculation engine does not automatically perform the

calculations.

You can use BusinessObjects Data Manager to view all the values retrieved from

the Express server.

The values identified with #OlapAll are the aggregate values the Express server

returns for a dimension.

Server valuesThe report displays all the data values associated with the dimensions,measures, and filters you selected in the OLAP Panel. By default, these values

include the aggregate values or server values returned by the Express server

calculation engine.

Server values are calculated in the Express server because BusinessObjects is

unaware of the consolidation, relationships, and formulas defined in the

Database Objects.

You can make your own calculations in the report. To do so, you must specify the

values you want by modifying the formula in a cell:

Server values are defined with the formula:

=(ServerValue), for example =Sum(ServerValue())

Local values are defined with the formula:

=(), for example =Sum()



50/52


Example of server values and local values in a reportIn the report below, two sets of totals are shown: local values and server values.

The upper totals are local values. These aggregates are the sum of the profits by

quarter for western cities displayed in the report.

The lower totals are server values. These aggregates are the sum of the profits

by quarter for the cities in all the regions, not just the western cities.

local values

server values



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Index

Index

AAdd/Remove panel

adding values 37purpose 36

removing values 38

BBusiness Objects

consulting services 9, 11

documentation 8

Documentation Supply Store 7

support services 9

training services 9, 11

Cconnecting to Express server

for a new report 16

from existing report 20

consultants

Business Objects 9creating reports 47

customer support 9

Ddata retrieval option 43

Database Objects box

purpose 23

viewing modes 25

demo

materials 7

Developer Suite 8, 10

dimension value label option 43

dimension value, defined 24

dimensions

adding values 37

changing properties 34defined 24

in BusinessObjects reports 47

moving 31

removing values 38

swapping 31

documentation

CD 7

feedback on 8

on the web 7printed, ordering 7

roadmap 7

search 7

Documentation Supply Store 7

drilling in the OLAP Panel 39

Eeducation see training

Express serverconnecting to 16

defined 21

Ffeedback

on documentation 8

filters

adding dimension values 33applying 33

drilling on 33

in BusinessObjects reports 47

options 44

purpose 26, 33

removing a value 33

removing dimension values 33

font settings 45

http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-


52/52

Index

GGrid

defined 26, 31

drilling down 39

drilling up 40

drop points 26

illustrated 26

moving dimensions 31

moving measures 31

populating 31

purpose 26

removing measures 32

resizing columns 32

resizing rows 32

swapping dimensions 31

working with 31

KKnowledge Base 10

Llevel, defined 24

Mmeasures

defined 24in BusinessObjects reports 47

moving 31

removing 32

multimedia

quick tours 8

OOLAP Panel

defined 21

drilling 39

toolbar 27

Online Customer Support 9

optionsdata retrieval 43

dimension value labels 43

filters 44

fonts 45

general 42

undefined value labels 43

Rreportscreating 47

structure mapping 47

viewing the structure 49

Ssearch

documentation 7

server values 49support

customer 9

TTips & Tricks 8

toolbar buttons, described 27

training

on Business Objects products 9

Uundefined value label option 43

Vvalues. server 49

Wweb

customer support 9

getting documentation via 7

useful addresses 10
http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-http://-/?-

business objects express

Documents