cognos govt. & he users group operational reporting using cognos and oracle’s logical database...
TRANSCRIPT
COGNOS GOVT. & HE USERS GROUP
Operational reporting using Cognos and Oracle’s Logical database
technologies
Presenter: Angela Hooper, Colorado Community College
September, 18th, 2009
Description
This session addresses the gap in real-time operational reporting in Banner.
CCCS has leveraged Cognos, Oracle's Logical Standby database, ODS views and custom pl/sql procedures to provide an efficient and secure operational reporting environment.
Discussion to include technical set up information, and ways that schools without high end report writing tools can use the core of this solution.
Session Rules of Etiquette
Please turn off your cell phone/beeper If you must leave the session early, please
do so as discretely as possible Please avoid side conversation during the
presentation
Thank you for your cooperation!
Introduction
Angela Hooper – Manager of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing
Colorado Community College System (CCCS), Denver 13 colleges, 107,000 annual enrollment 1 centralized banner 7.4 installation VPD
Topics of Discussion
CCCS Business need Business solution Technical answer to CCCS’ need
Oracle LSB-DB Ref-Cursors in PL/SQL Cognos FWM setup
Take home architecture points
CCCS Business Need
Current reporting set up Home grown student data mart on 9hr refresh Custom job subs – strain on PROD Cognos front end Future ODS client (Dec 2008)
Tasks Reduce reporting off of PROD Maintain real time data (HR and FIN) Control and audit security Don’t buy anything new
Business Solution – “Good” Practices
Don’t report off of Production if you can help it
Do a requirements document for ALL report requests. (example)
Separate business logic from report writing tool
Don’t self promote code
Technical Solution for CCCS
Logical stand by reporting database New LSB schema for views and procs Cognos framework model – one query
subject per report or view
DataGuard
PROD PROD_LSB
Operational Reporting Database
PKG_HR
REPORTS Schema owned package for HR related reports and functions
ODSMGR.VIEWS
ODSMGR schema objects from PROD
`
COGNOS
PKG_STU
REPORTS Schema owned package for Student related reports and functions
PKG_FIN
REPORTS Schema owned package for Finance related reports and functions
USER
FWM
Re
port
Req
uest
s
Technical Solution for Technical Solution for CCCSCCCS
Oracle LSB-DB
Stand by database 10gR2 Uses Oracle Data Guard with SQL Apply The main advantage of logical database
is that the data structure of the replicated may be different than the master database.
April Simms SUU – Seta Dallas 2007
Ref-Cursor – What is it?
The ref cursor is a "pointer" data type Allow you to quickly reference any cursor
result (usually an internal PL/SQL table array)
Data values are kept in RAM Can be used multiple time in one Proc
http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_pl_sql_ref_cursor_benefits.htm
Ref-Cursor – How it helps?
Returns a large dataset – for reporting Return Specific SQL to users Control joins in DB not report writer PIN procedures with ref cursor output in
memory
Ref-Cursor – Example?
procedure PROC_SALARY_VERIFICATION (p_cursor out cursorType, p_vpdi in varchar2, p_effect_date in date) isBEGIN
open p_cursor for
select spriden_id … from spriden, nbrjobs,where spriden_pidm = nbrjobs_pidm and spriden_change_ind is null… and pebempl_empl_status <> 'T' and nbrjobs_status <> 'T' and nbrjobs_effective_date = trunc(p_effect_date) and (pebempl_vpdi_code = p_vpdi or pebempl_vpdi_code like p_vpdi);
END PROC_SALARY_VERIFICATION;
Ref-Cursor – More Info
Devshed: http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Oracle/Working-with-REF-CURSOR-in-PL-SQL/
Burelson: http://www.fast-track.cc/t_easyoracle_pl_sql_ref_cursors.htm
Returning ref-cursors to report writer tool Stored procedure output - just like a
table Access Example
Pass thru query (ODBC) Crystal Example
Enable data connection to packages or procs Cognos Example
FWM example
Cognos FWM 1 of 4
Steps for set up1. Compile proc in database 2. Create directory connection object to
LSB in cognos connection3. Create new FWM model with LSB 4. Set up name spaces for data and
business areas
Cognos FWM 4 of 4
7. Create package. Include only business layer query subjects
8. Publish package9. Grant security10. Build report front end
DataGuard
PROD PROD_LSB
Operational Reporting Database
PKG_HR
REPORTS Schema owned package for HR related reports and functions
ODSMGR.VIEWS
ODSMGR schema objects from PROD
`
COGNOS
PKG_STU
REPORTS Schema owned package for Student related reports and functions
PKG_FIN
REPORTS Schema owned package for Finance related reports and functions
USER
FWM
Re
port
Req
uest
s
Technical Solution for Technical Solution for CCCSCCCS
Added Value
– Portability, & disaster recovery for reporting
– Quicker drop down parameters in Cognos
– Security modifications allowed Mgr to promote developer code
– PL/SQL skills spread out. Cognos skills kept light.
Take Home Architecture
– Try setting up LSB– Create “Views” with Ref cursors to
protect Ad-hoc users– Create Procs with Ref Cursors for
frequently requested SQL – doubles as code repository
– Invest on learning the tables and data, NOT on a report writer tool expert.
Presenter Information
Angela H.Hooper Colorado Community College SystemManager of Business Intelligence and Data
Warehousing
1059 Alton Way Denver, CO 80230
(720) [email protected]://angela.h00per.com/setadallas2008