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Prognoz Platform 8 Description

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Table of Contents

About the Platform .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Information Delivery, Analysis and Collaboration ................................................................................................... 4

Dashboards .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Reports ................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Analytical Queries (OLAP) .................................................................................................................................... 9

Time Series Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 11

Modeling and Forecasting ................................................................................................................................. 13

Development Tools and Integration Components ................................................................................................ 16

Data Warehouse Designer ................................................................................................................................. 16

Master Data Management ................................................................................................................................ 20

Extract, Transform, Load ................................................................................................................................... 21

Application Development Kit ............................................................................................................................. 23

Interactive Visualization Components ............................................................................................................... 25

Integration Components ................................................................................................................................... 26

BI Infrastructure, Administration and Metadata Management ............................................................................ 29

Security Management and Administration ....................................................................................................... 29

Metadata Management .................................................................................................................................... 30

BI Server and Web Services ............................................................................................................................... 33

Cloud .................................................................................................................................................................. 34

Data Sources Support ............................................................................................................................................ 36

Applications ........................................................................................................................................................... 38

Desktop Applications ("Thick" Client) ................................................................................................................ 38

Web Application ("Thin" Client) ........................................................................................................................ 38

Mobile Applications ........................................................................................................................................... 38

Microsoft Office Applications ............................................................................................................................ 38

Interoperability of Platform Components ............................................................................................................. 40

Platform General Features .................................................................................................................................... 45

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Multilingual Support .......................................................................................................................................... 45

Replication and Data Exchange ......................................................................................................................... 45

Improved Performance and Fail-Safety ............................................................................................................. 45

Scalability ........................................................................................................................................................... 45

Data Sources Indexing ....................................................................................................................................... 47

System Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 48

Database Server ................................................................................................................................................. 48

Web Server ........................................................................................................................................................ 49

BI Server ............................................................................................................................................................. 50

Client Station ..................................................................................................................................................... 52

Contacts ................................................................................................................................................................. 55

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About the Platform

Prognoz Platform 8 is the BI platform for creating and developing desktop, web and mobile applications

combining modern technologies of data storage, visualizations, OLAP, forming reports, modeling and forecasting

of business processes.

Enlarged structure of Prognoz Platform 8:

Please also refer to the following sections:

Data Sources Support

Applications

Interoperability of Platform Components

Platform Technical Features

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Information Delivery, Analysis and Collaboration

Dashboards

The Dashboards tool is used to create analytical documents as a combination of interactive interrelated

dashboards. Panels display data from different data sources by way of business graphics, images and controls.

By means of the tool dashboards containing visualizers can be designed. Visualizers. Visualizers are set up to

arbitrary data sources supported by Prognoz Platform 8. The user can independently select any data source,

which can exist in the current repository or an external file, such as an XLS document. Sources from the

repository and external sources are used equally in one dashboard. Different data sources can be linked by

means of parameters mechanism. It allows to rebuild the dashboard dynamically, depending on parameter

values set by the user.

All visualizers added to the dashboard are interactive and allow to interact with source data. For example,

working with metrics in table, working with territories on a map, working with series on a chart. Visualizers

support different animations and flexible settings of appearance That allows to create visually attractive

dashboards. A flexible mechanism of setting links between dimensions of different visualizers is supported. It

allows to synchronize visualizers by events of changing data selection. The content of visualizers is managed by

means of controls.

Dashboards allow to use objects created in other tools, for example, Reports, Analytical Queries (OLAP), Time

Series Analysis, Scorecards. Objects created in other tools can be linked with each other and other dashboard

objects by means of parameters.

The Dashboards tool is easy to use and has an intuitive interface. On working with the module the WYSIWYG

approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing operations on the final result.

Prognoz Platform 8 contains mobile version of the Dashboards tool developed for iOS operating system. The

dashboard developed in the desktop or the Web application of the platform, can be published to the server. The

dashboard and the data for its displaying are loaded to the mobile application from the server. Dashboard can

also be saved to a file in the format of mobile application without publication to the server. Such reports can be

opened, for example, from the mail application on a mobile device. It allows to work with a dashboard on the

mobile application in offline mode. The mobile version supports the following: viewing of dashboards,

recalculation based on the selected parameters, editing dashboard appearance. The application is developed

for iOS, that is why all gesture controls are available: touching, swiping and so on.

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Dashboard example:

Basic functionality of the tool

Flexible features of creating dashboards.

Creating of interactive representations.

Creating of custom visualizers and other custom components via the plugin connected to

dashboard.

Support for the use of developed tools of business graphics.

Extended features of export and print. Export to the following formats is available: *.xlsx, *.xls,

*.pdf, *.rtf, *.html, *.mht, *. emf, *.pptx. Internal export formats: *.ppreport and *.ppmobile.

Export to other formats can be implemented on the application level.

Inserting of images, text, HTML markup, controls.

Setting up of blocks interaction to make changes in one block influence data displayed in

another block.

Support of real-time communication for several users. The following features are available:

Inviting other users to collaboration (there can be a few of them).

Sending an email with a hyperlink to the specified users.

Working together over report designing.

Communicating via built-in chat.

Inserting reports created in other tools, for example, Reports, Analytical Queries (OLAP),

Time Series Analysis, Scorecards.

Flexible features of dimension setup:

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Using of dimension combining mechanism to decrease source dimensionality. Such

dimension can be displayed as a series tree or as a standard dimension view.

Using of particular levels of hierarchy as separate dimensions and placing them both by

rows and columns.

Set connections between dashboards.

Unified customization of components.

Working with the tool via mobile devices and web interface.

Publication of dashboards or separate components to WebSphere and SharePoint portals. In

social networks: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, LiveJournal.

Using of data: conditional formatting, displaying of growth indicators, editing, sorting and

filtering, including the same operations based on formula, and so on.

Opening the Time Series Analysis and Modeling and Forecasting tools for performing advanced

analysis of selected data.

Using automatic arrangement of dashboard blocks.

Data drill down. It is also available to drill down data up to relational level for standard cubes

with aggregation by facts or based on a particular query.

Reports

The Reports is used to create, view and print regular reports with an arbitrary structure of displaying data. Fine

tuning of the report appearance is available. On working the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see

the influence of performing operations on the final result.

Regular report consists of spreadsheets and text sheets. Data located on spreadsheets can be received from

different sources, calculated by formulas of entered manually. Data is visualized by means of tables, charts,

maps, images and other objects. Text file allows to create an analytical note - a document created dynamically

with use of calculated expressions based on data from table sheets.

Prognoz Platform 8 contains mobile version] of the Reports tool developed for iOS operating system. A report

developed in the desktop application can be published to the server. The report and the data for its displaying

are loaded to the mobile application from the server. The report can also be saved to a file in the format of

mobile application without publication to the server. Such reports can be opened, for example, from the mail

application on a mobile device. It allows to work with a report on the mobile application in offline mode. The

application is developed for iOS, that is why all gesture controls are available: touching, swiping and so on.

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Example of regular report:

Example of analytical note:

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Flexible features of creating and displaying multipage parameterized reports of arbitrary

structure, printable and of publication quality (pixel-perfect reports).

Creating of interactive reports with support of hyperlinks, built-in controls. Hyperlinks allow to

navigate through parts of a report, for example, pages, tables, charts and maps. Handling of

standard and custom actions for activating hyperlinks is available.

Displaying information both in spreadsheets and documents/analytical notes. Combining tables,

text, business graphics. Advanced features of data formatting in the spreadsheet, including the

use of user-defined formatting styles.

Support of relational (flat tables) and multidimensional (cross tables) data representations.

Performing of data mining using data mining methods: searching for key factors, revealing

exceptions, filling gaps in data and regression (decision trees, logistic regression, and neural

networks), forecasting (exponential smoothing, extrapolation, and Grey forecast), clustering (K-

mode method, Kohonen self-organizing maps), association analysis.

Opening the Time Series Analysis and Modeling and Forecasting tools to perform advanced

analysis of selected data.

Extended features of export and print of reports. Available export formats: *.xls, *.xlsx, *.mht,

*.pdf, *.rtf, *.html, *.ods, *.emf, *.pptx. Internal export formats: *.ppreport, *.ppmobile.

Publication of regular reports to portals: WebSphere, SharePoint; to social networks: Twitter,

LinkedIn, Facebook, LiveJournal.

Integration with Microsoft Office.

Using metadata of Prognoz Platform 8. For example, viewing data sources, creating formulas

and so on.

Working in two modes: design (creating of report) and performance (viewing report). It provides

minimization of resources usage, increasing the time of reports execution.

Building in formulas and calculating analytical factors.

Editing data and saving edited values back to the data source.

Caching of report data.

Using of particular levels of hierarchy as separate dimensions and placing them both by rows

and columns.

Using of data: conditional formatting, displaying of growth indicators, editing, sorting and

filtering, including the same operations based on formula, and so on.

Support for the use of developed tools of business graphics: charts, maps, bubble charts. Using

additional visualizers: Flash, speedometers, images, 3D scenes, and so on. Features of

visualizers:

Automatic synchronization of data presented in different formats.

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Use business graphics to display data in graphs and charts. It is available to use all basic

types of graphs and charts, including economic charts and fully functional export of

charts to Microsoft Excel.

Change chart type: linear chart, bar chart, area chart, pie chart, radar chart, scatter

chart, mixed chart and so on; change the method of formatting by means of chart styles.

Form organizational and structural charts.

Represent data on the digital maps.

Perform 3D visualization to display data in 3D, allowing to simultaneously visualize and

analyze up to 4 source data indicators as well as to cluster and segment source data.

Parametric data representation.

Performing of drill down and drill up:

Moving from one view to any other. For example, table-to-graph conversion.

Decryption of table digit and conversion to detailed graph.

Conversion from multi-dimensional to relational data.

Decryption of data and formula sources and so on.

Analytical Queries (OLAP)

The Analytical Queries (OLAP) is used to create non-regular requests to data and performing express analysis,

using business graphics and applying different analytic functions.

The tool allows to quickly create reports allowing to analyze arbitrary slices of data in different forms: table,

chart, map, bubble chart, tree map or bubble tree. It is available to create arbitrary samples based on different

sources such as cubes, modeling variables, time series databases and their combinations. It is available to create

samples based on several data sources. The user can select and use for analysis any data source which can

already be located in a repository or load it from the external file (for example, from xls).

The mechanism of parameters is supported that allows to rebuild report dynamically, depending on parameter

values set by the user. The flexible mechanism of creating formulas by means of expression editor is available.

On working with the tool the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing

operations on the final result.

Prognoz Platform 8 contains mobile version of the Analytical Queries (OLAP) tool developed for iOS platform.

An express report developed in the desktop or the Web application, can be published to the server. The report

and the data for its displaying are loaded to the mobile application from the server. The express report can also

be saved to file in the format of mobile application without publication to the server. Such reports can be

opened, for example, from the mail application on a mobile device. It allows to work with a report on the mobile

device in offline mode. The mobile version provides the wide range of functions for working with the report and

data analysis: dimensions arrangement configuration, appearance settings, data visualization in tables, on

charts, on maps, support of microlines, sorting, filtering, calculating totals, mathematical and statistical

functions. The application is developed for iOS, that is why all gesture controls are available: touching, swiping

and so on.

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Example of express report:


Advanced features (including analytical features):

Calculation by means of expression editor and an advanced set of functions and methods.

Calculating and viewing aggregates and other calculated factors in the online mode.

Simultaneous data analysis from multiple sources: cubes, time series databases, modeling

variables. Locating data from different sources in one table.

Performing of data mining.

Opening the Time Series Analysis and Modeling and Forecasting tools for performing advanced

analysis of selected data. This provides building of complex calculation chains, using of scenario

forecasting, optimization and solving of criterion problems.

Analysis of data by trends, search of data gaps, outliers and anomalies.

Data drill down (drill-down/drill-up) by dimensions directly from visualizers. It is available to drill

down data up to relational level for standard cubes with aggregation by facts or based on

particular queries.

Filtering and sorting of data, including data filtering and sorting by condition.

Highlighting values by condition.

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Data validation.

Data search.

View customization:

Simple and flexible settings of OLAP report.

Advanced tools of business graphics.

Setting up dictionaries hierarchy: editing, using of alternative hierarchies and so on.

Using dimension combining to decrease source dimensionality. Such dimension can be displayed

as a series tree or as a standard dimension view.

Using of particular levels of hierarchy as separate dimensions and placing them both by rows

and columns.

Group data in reports by hierarchical headings/side headings as well as by automatic division of

pivot table into separate ones by elements of the grouping attribute.

Rotating, zoom and table scrolling.

Working with the report, saving and exporting results:

Caching and effective in-memory data handling.

Editing and saving data back to the source. Including, editing and saving data in relational and

OLAP sources based on Microsoft Analysis Services.

Generate printing forms automatically.

Saving generated express report as application system object or locally to the HDD for the

following usage without connecting to the database (offline analysis).

Extended features of export and print of express reports. Available external export formats:

*.xls, *.html, *.pdf, *.rtf, *.mht, *.emf, *.pptx. Export to internal formats: *.ppexpress,

*.ppcube, *.ppmobile.

Integration features:

Working with the tool via mobile devices and web interface.

Integration with Microsoft Office, allowing to perform OLAP analysis directly in Excel by

connecting to the repository of Prognoz Platform 8.

Publication of express reports to portals: WebSphere, SharePoint; to social networks: Twitter,


Time Series Analysis

The tool is used for: time series analysis.

This tool allows to connect any sources from a repository, to transform multidimensional data simultaneously

from different sources to time series. It provides simple search and series filtering. Required series from different

sources can be placed to the workbook by dragging and dropping mechanism. Selected series can be

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transformed in the retrospective period by various methods: arithmetic methods, aggregation, smoothing

methods, time and static transformations, accumulation methods, missing data treatment, R methods and

custom methods.

It is available to apply conditional formatting, to display data on the chart and a map, as the bubble chart, bubble

tree or tree map. Further it is possible to determine forecasting period and to forecast series by the following

methods: linear and non-linear regression, ARIMA, different types of trends (autotrend, linear, geometrical,

inverse, parabolic, exponential, and so on), exponential smoothing, and also R methods and arbitrary custom

methods.

The tool also has opportunities of data validation by rules specified by the user. The tool also supports data

version control (storing history of time series), selecting units, printing, data import and data export to various

formats.

The Time Series Analysis tool can be opened from other tools (Dashboards, Analytical Queries (OLAP), Reports)

for data analysis in the time series mode.

On working with the tool the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing


Example of time series analysis workbook:


Data validation is checking of time series data for correspondence with specified conditions and

constraints.

Data version control is saving of history of time series changes.

Data transformation and forecasting by means of various mathematical methods, modeling

methods, user methods and R methods.

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Analysis of frequency of different factors change in time, statistical processing and data

transformation by means of the following groups of functions: arithmetic, mathematical

transformations, aggregation, smoothing, forecasting, regression.

Creating and editing of workbooks, in which all operations over time series are saved.

Selecting of measurement units, in which time series data is displayed.

Opening the Modeling and Forecasting tool for performing of advanced analysis of selected

data.

Import and export of data.

Ability to work with the tool via the web interface.

Integration with Microsoft Office. It allows to perform time series analysis in Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint.

Publication of workbooks to portals: WebSphere, SharePoint; to social networks: Twitter,


Modeling and Forecasting

The Modeling and Forecasting tool is used to analyze data, create models of business processes and execute

analytical calculations on their basis.

The tool allows to build complex hierarchical multistep models for scenario multivariant calculations. To design

a model, a multitude of simple blocks (variables, equations) is created, then their relations are specified and

parameters of each block are defined. Multi-level, forecasting, optimization tasks calculation and tasks of target

management are available.

Possibility of integration with the R statistical package is implemented.

The modeling and forecasting tool is intended for the analyst. The user does not need special technical skills,

including scripting. All results can be saved for further use.

There is a graphic interface for describing tasks and performing calculations. The tool interface is implemented

as a workspace which contains model elements and their connections are set up. On working with this tool the

WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing operations on the final result.

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Example of the model in the Modeling and Forecasting tool:


Visual design of multidimensional models and algorithms of arbitrary complexity based on the

object-oriented approach.

Solving of problems of forecasting, optimization and targeted control.

Applying scenario modeling (multivariant calculations). Each data set can have several scenarios,

allowing the user to forecast different data variants. For example, to calculate optimistic and

pessimistic variants.

Forecasting and management is performing econometric, optimization, forecasting multi-variant

scenario calculations.

Automatic access to modeling problem calculation results in the standard tree of data sources.

Applying more than 300 methods of mathematical and statistical data analysis.

Integration with R package. Support of writing a custom code in the R language.

Deep verification of models.

Testing, debugging and monitoring of model calculation. The following tools are used for this

purpose:

Visual tools of model debugging. These tools allow to interactively work with the model

and see the result of its calculation.

Tools for logging calculation. Record all data changes during calculation.

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Visual tool for applications debugging. It is used for calculating custom functions which

contain all necessary features for debugging: step by step calculation, breakpoints

(including conditional), viewing variables values, and so on.

Data analysis by means of data mining methods: clustering algorithms, neural network models

and so on.

Working with tool via web interface.

Source data binding to the sampling of information from the database. It is available to save

calculation results to database.

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Development Tools and Integration Components

Data Warehouse Designer

Prognoz Platform 8 contains integrated tools used to structure data warehouse in terms of data domain as the

hierarchical list of factors, related dictionaries and data sources. These tools provide an approach that allows to

design data warehouse objects without involving technical experts. Business users form indexes and data

warehouses and Prognoz Platform 8 automatically creates all necessary structures for data storing, interfaces

for their filling and a set of services providing data consistency. Such services include a multipurpose mechanism

for generating analytical queries to several multidimensional indicators simultaneously, including indicators with

different dimensions.

Prognoz Platform 8 provides various flexible mechanisms for working with data. It is available to combine several

data sources by common dimensions, create calculated dimension elements and metrics, work with hierarchies

including alternative hierarchies, custom element groups, parameterized dimensions. Both relational, and

multidimensional data sources are supported. The use of Prognoz Platform 8 is optimized to work with large

data source dimensions.

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to perform analytical calculations of any complexity on-the-fly and on schedule.

Analytical calculations can be performed by means of calculated cubes or applications developed in the

environment of Prognoz Platform 8 and allowing to implement complex calculation algorithms.

Prognoz Platform 8 does not impose any significant restriction as to the number of data tables and data fields.

All the restrictions are imposed by the utilized DBMS. Reaction time of Prognoz Platform 8 to the query depends

on two factors: DBMS server response time and complexity of visualized information structure.

Prognoz Platform 8 supports Hadoop technology and allows to use HiveQL query language, On the basis of

queries users can create multidimensional objects and work with them in all tools of Prognoz Platform 8. There

is also a support of access to data in Big Data Appliances: Oracle Exadata, EMC Greenplum, IBM Netezza,

Teradata Data Warehouse Appliance.

On working with the Warehouse Designer the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of

performing operations on the final result.

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Example of OLAP cube in Prognoz Platform 8:

Basic functionality of the data warehouse designer

Design and create relational objects Provides managing relational objects of the analytical database

and ensure information interaction between the tools of Prognoz Platform 8 with relational objects.

The following types of relational objects are supported:

Tables, table relations, integrity constraints, indices, triggers.

Views (view).

Relational SQL queries.

Stored procedures.

Build multidimensional objects. Provides managing multidimensional data structures in applications

and informational interaction of Prognoz Platform 8 tools with multidimensional structures. Main

types of multidimensional objects:

Dictionaries (linear and hierarchical).

Cubes (standard, cube view, calculated, automatic).

Virtual cubes (allow to form a single multidimensional structure of several source cubes

of different structure and with different sets of indicators).

MDX query-based cubes (created by means of the Fore or Fore.NET internal language).

Data modeling methods of Prognoz Platform 8

Bottom-up modeling using the ROLAP approach. This method assumes that the user creates and sets

up dictionaries based on physical relational tables. Then cubes are created based on dimensions and

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facts tables. Later such ROLAP cube may be cached to form queries to it by means of the in-memory

internal mechanism.

Top-down modeling. Assumes creation of logical multidimensional model with the following automatic

generation of physical objects of data storage.

Data modeling "from scratch". Assumes that the user forms complex multidimensional structures

based on multiple existing cubes, constructed by different methods and on different data sources.

Bottom-up or Top-down modeling is used if it is required to configure a new data warehouse without

considering specifications and constraints of systems, being used in the company. The modeling "from

scratch" is used if there are working information systems and by means of implementing data warehouse it

is planned to obtain new functional features without violation of working capacity of existing applications.

Data warehouse principles

Both relational and multi-dimensional data is used in the data warehouse. It allows to place any

subject area data of any detail or aggregation levels in the data warehouse.

Using a uniform metadata model in the warehouse. It allows to achieve consistency in the descriptions

of subject area data, business rules and the system’s logic, including the distributed mode.

Using of a uniform administration model, access differentiation and logging for all system objects. This

results in a unified, consistent and well-controlled data warehouse.

Approaches to creating a data warehouse

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to create data warehouses of any complexity and architecture. The full-featured,

integrated and complete toolkit allows to create a data warehouse and/or to customize settings in case a data

warehouse already exists.

Approaches for creating data storage when using inherited databases:

The existing relational DBMS is a data warehouse. In this case by means of Prognoz Platform 8 in

metadata of Prognoz Platform 8 all necessary relational objects are registered (tables, views and

so on). Then by means of Prognoz Platform 8 tools the multidimensional layer (dictionaries,

cubes and so on) is built.

The data warehouse has its own metadata repository describing the subject area on the physical

(tables, views, and so on) and logical (dictionaries, metric systems, and so on) layers. In this case

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to set to metadata for seamless integration with the data warehouse.

The BI system is to be built on a solution with a database of fixed structure. Prognoz Platform 8

provides tools to configure to such data warehouses and build BI solutions on the basis thereof.

Scorecard Designer

The Scorecards tool is used to create scorecards that allow to visually trace achievement of targets, important

for the organization together with corresponding key factors.

Scorecard is used to divide strategy of developing some area into special targets (tasks), managing achievements

and targets. The scorecard is used to record targets, determine relations between them, set target values and

factors based on which the calculation of targets achievement degree is performed.

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On working with the tool the WYSIWYG approach is used which allows to see the influence of performing


Example of a scorecard:


Visual building of scorecards, determining of perspectives of scorecard (finances, market,

industry, investments and so on), setting up objectives, binding of objectives to perspectives.

Determining of objectives bindings, KPI and setting up rules to calculate objective achievement

degree.

Setting up a list of key factors, determining criterion factor values, setting up rules of calculation

of current factor values, including those from data sources.

Setting up bounds and factors of target and target values of factors achievement degree

estimation.

Detailing and information analysis on factors: moving the selected targets to the detailed

representation of factors as the table with displaying of attributes of factors, filtering factors in

table representation on different attributes.

Loading indicator values from external files or data sources in repository.

Presenting results of map calculation in various forms: graphic objects with links between its

components, tables and graphics for values of objectives and indicators.

Placing required key indicators of an objective on the scorecard.

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The ability to work through the web interface.

Master Data Management

Prognoz Platform 8 contains built-in tools for master data management (MDM).

MDM allows to construct and maintain the structure of dictionaries and qualifiers required for implementation

of any application-oriented task, and support of hierarchical, changing in time, the versional and parametrized

dictionaries.

On working with the MDM the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing


Example of working with MDM dictionary:

Basic functionality of MDM

Centralized and distributed architecture support for master data management.

Centralized description of the master data structure (master version) and replication of the

description.

Central consolidation of master data, with a mechanism to resolve collisions.

Maintenance of measures and units dictionaries (with the data being used in all tools of

Prognoz Platform 8).

Import and export of MDM including support of coordination mechanisms (transcoding and so

on).

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Integration into a multidimensional data model.

Master data management allows to use:

Random structure dictionaries, including linear, hierarchical and composite ones.

Unlimited number of attributes.

MDM elements parametrization.

Version MDM elements.

Slowly changing dimensions.

Alternative hierarchies.

Links between dictionaries.

Territory dictionaries.

Calendar dictionaries.

Extract, Transform, Load

Resolving integration and data capture problems in Prognoz Platform 8 is performed by means of an integrated

tool used to extract, transform and load data (ETL). This tool allows to perform such operations as: filtering,

combining, grouping, data sorting, data selecting by condition.

Prognoz Platform 8 ETL tools:

Visual wizards for import and export. These wizards are used for simple operations of

uploading and downloading data.

ETL task. This task is used to transform or verify data on its loading to the data warehouse. ETL

task is used in the form of a separate workspace.

General data import wizard. This wizard is used to load data from different sources to objects of

Prognoz Platform 8 with possibility of automatic creation of data consumers (cubes, dictionaries

and other objects).

On working with the ETL tool the WYSIWYG approach is used, which allows to see the influence of performing


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Example of an ETL task:

Basic functionality of ETL tool

Connecting of user to:

Industrial DBMS: Oracle, MS SQL Server, IBM DB2, Teradata, PostgreSQL, and so on.

Files of different formats: XML, EDIFACT, DBF, TXT, electronic tables of Microsoft Excel,

and so on.

Multidimensional data warehouses of other vendors (by means of the supported OLE

DB for OLAP specification).

Repository objects of Prognoz Platform 8: tables, MDM dictionaries, standard cubes and

other objects.

Complex data control execution in semi-automatic or automatic mode according to the large

amount of data.

Data loading from a large number of different external sources, including data transformation

(splitting, joining, grouping, filtering, deleting duplicates and others) without programming.

Results of data processing can be analyzed in the tools of Prognoz Platform 8.

Data import from the files with composite structure and crosstabs.

Determining types of source fields by the N-first records, manual setting of formats.

Creating of report of loading, specifying loaded and not loaded records when performing the

ETL task.

Implementation of complex data handling scenarios both with programming in Fore language

and without it.

Creating and editing the model of data transformation process by the visualization of the

process as the graph on the workspace. To position objects on the graph the drag-and-drop

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mechanism is used. The user can exclude separate blocks from the calculation chain and link

application event handlers to the chain.

Support of user objects as data sources, consumers and transformers . The Fore or Fore.NET

internal language is used to create user objects.

Starting simple blocks with Fore/Fore.NET procedures and DBMS commands.

Use of common import object and export object for all versions of Microsoft Excel (*.xls, *.xlsx).

The use of a common mechanism of selection of consumer/converter fields for different objects of ETL

task.

Application Development Kit

Prognoz Platform 8 offers its own development environment. This tool allow to develop applications of any level

of complexity and functionality, including use of the functional capabilities of the Microsoft.NET platform. The

development environment allows to create custom BI applications enlarging Prognoz Platform 8.

Developers can use API to create any types of Prognoz Platform 8objects, such as reports, dashboards. High-

level components of Prognoz Platform 8 can be used to design custom interface for creating and viewing these

reports. Also low-level components such as controls are available. Components of Prognoz Platform 8 can be

used in external development environments such as Microsoft Visual Studio. It means that Prognoz Platform 8

can be used to create full-function and flexible BI application.

Development tools included in Prognoz Platform 8 enable developers to create various analytical models,

calculation methods. In further they can be used in analytical application based on Prognoz Platform 8, and in

any other applications including application automating different business processes. It allows to implement

different scenarios of operational analytics thereby. Prognoz Platform 8 includes rich library of methods of

forecasting analytics: mathematical methods, statistics, hypotheses estimation, econometric estimation,

regression, forecasting, solving of optimization tasks.

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Example of software development environment:

Basic functionality of application development kit

Writing custom algorithms using Fore/Fore.NET. Internal language features:

Modularity support.

Connecting of external libraries via mechanisms of the web services, by DLL, COM or

.NET.

Support for debugging.

Saving custom algorithms as modules for further use.

Contains integrated development environment of applications that supports all modern

features: IntelliSense, search, project browser, class browser, code inspector.

Creating of screen forms: creating screen forms for user interfaces and interaction of different

units of application system. A large set of components is available to implement any screen

forms.

Support of development using Java, JavaScript and HTML 5.

Components for development of mobile applications and web applications add-in:

Set of components for iOS-based (Apple) mobile devices.

Set of DHTML components, including basic and high-level.

3D maps based on WebGL library.

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Interactive Visualization Components

Interactive Visualization Components of Prognoz Platform 8 provide users with opportunities of visualizing

various data with the following methods:

Interactive graphs and charts. They are available in the desktop application, web application,

mobile application. Various types of graphs and charts with flexible setup features are

supported. Supported chart types: graph, histogram, with areas, mixed, pie, scatter, radar, box,

stock exchange, stepped, bubble, doughnut (in all tools except for the mobile application),

parallel coordinates line (only in the web application). 3D versions of charts are also supported.

These charts are displayed by means of cross-platform high-performance technology OpenGL.

Interactive maps internal high-performance object-oriented programming language. Available:

3D mode display, territory coloring according to factor value, displaying of markers, microlines,

arrows between territories, contours used to simultaneously display factors of different territory

levels. Maps available in the desktop application, web application, mobile application.

Integration in the web application with map services Google Maps, OpenStreetMaps, Yandex,

Bing, ArcGis.

Animated update of visualizers.

Additional visualizers: speedometers, bubble charts, tree maps, bubble trees, rating charts,

surfaces, spherical topobases, 3D scenes, Flash objects and so on.

Map and bubble tree visualizers are cross-platform and are available in Windows OS, iOS and Linux.

Data visualization on Google Maps:

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Basic functionality of visualization components

Data editing with following saving to the database. Prognoz Platform 8 provides the following

options for editing data:

In table form, by means of editing values in table cells.

In graphic form, by means of drawing directly on the chart.

Plotting of mixed charts with combining different types of charts: linear, bar and area charts.

Flexible setup of cell properties including value format, font, fill, alignment, borders and so on.

Flexible setup of chart properties, including:

Any chart captions similarly to table settings.

Captions at any angle.

A number of vertical axes in a chart, and so on.

Use of unique component of: 3D scene for 3D visualization of data, including dynamic rotation

of a scene, zoom-in and zoom-out of a scene part and viewing at any angle.

Connecting external libraries for data representation.

Implementing additional types of charts at the application level.

Integration Components

Prognoz Platform 8 supports special mechanisms for interacting and embedding in the following portals:

IBM WebSphere.

Sharepoint. The portal contains embedded support of discussing all objects of the system.

All user tools of the Platform support integration with social networks and allow making link to developed

document and holding joint discussion in the network. The following social networks are supported:

Facebook.

Twitter.

LiveJournal.

LinkedIn.

Google+.

Microsoft Office Integration Tools

Prognoz Platform 8 contains settings for integration with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft

PowerPoint.

Example of work with time series analysis using Prognoz Platform 8 in Microsoft Excel:

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Features of MS Excel add-in:

Viewing and designing express reports of Prognoz Platform 8. Additional methods of

visualization are supported: bubble chart, tree map, bubble tree.

Creating and viewing time series analysis workbooks.

Recalculating the report by changing its parameters.

Exporting formats and formulas.

Data viewing as a crosstable.

Exporting lines as Microsoft Excel charts, which can be additionally set.

Cells blocking.

Saving changed data to the data source.

Features of MS Word add-in:

Viewing and editing reports of "analytical note" type. In the reports of this type the text is

combined with dynamic queries to dimensions of data sources. Additional methods of

vizualization are supported: bubble chart, heatmap/treemap, bubble tree.

Viewing time series analysis workbooks.

Recalculating the report by means of changing its parameters.

Features of Microsoft PowerPoint:

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Viewing and designing Prognoz Platform 8. They allow to use Prognoz Platform 8 whole reports

and separate components, add controls, create calculated expressions. Additional modes of

visualization are supported: bubble chart, tree map, bubble tree.

Viewing time series analysis workbooks.

Recalculating the report by means of changing its parameters.

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BI Infrastructure, Administration and Metadata

Management

Security Management and Administration

Prognoz Platform 8 contains built-in information security administrator that allows to centrally control access to

data and metadata and system tools. Configured access permissions are automatically considered by all tools of

Prognoz Platform 8.

Prognoz Platform 8 allows flexible administration and managing access to all types of repository objects,

including access to user metadata. Results of all operations execution are automatically recorded in access

protocol. The access protocol is displayed in the visual interface, to search and filter information in by any fields.

Access to the access protocol is regulated by access permissions of the user. The access protocol can be saved

to the file in the CSV format.

Prognoz Platform 8 system administration does not require technical skills.

Example of settings in information security manager:

Main functionality of access management and administration

Managing access on the object level and on the level of separate records.

Flexible mechanisms of user authentication and authorization including domain, password, role

authentication, built-in authorization (authorization by means of Prognoz Platform 8).

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Discretionary, mandatory access control models and the method of access differentiation by

levels.

Viewing access protocol in the interface, searching and filtering protocol records, export of

protocol in the CSV format.

Support of allocated information security administrator and so on.

Operations registered by Prognoz Platform 8

Operations which result is registered in the log of Prognoz Platform 8:

Login and logout.

Object creation.

Object deletion.

Metadata reading.

Metadata recording.

Data reading.

Data recording and so on.

The fields of the access protocol are as follows:

The target object of an operation.

The operation type (metadata reading, metadata recording, data reading, data recording, and so

on).

The operation date and time.

The occ attempt to perform a forbidden operation.

A user performing an operation.

The workstation, which an operation was performed at, and so on.

Metadata Management

Prognoz Platform 8 has the open model of metadata allowing external systems and applications to gain access

to objects of Prognoz Platform 8 with regard to access permissions. The uniform repository of metadata stores

metadata of Prognoz Platform 8: settings for data sources, dimensions, cubes, reports, dashboards, forecasting

models and others. This setup increases the flexibility of Prognoz Platform 8, and provides what some have

characterized as acceptable levels of performance and manageability when combined with optimized DBMS

features.

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to create and describe metadata of custom objects. All objects and their metadata

can be: created, copied, deleted, logged, transferred between different repositories and so on. It is available to

set up access permissions to objects and their metadata.

It is available to create shortcuts in one repository to objects of other repository. Later, all operations with these

objects are performed from the first repository. Prognoz Platform 8 provides possibility of organization of

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metadata and data exchange between distributed systems. Available: creating exchange packet, installing

exchange packet, resolving conflicts and so on.

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to change metadata elements values by means of the visual interface. In this case

input of incorrect values in elements of metadata is controlled at the level of the visual wizards and program

interfaces. The visual interface has no opportunity to enter an element which does not correspond to the

description of metadata (selection is made from the list of values). In the program interface in case of specifying

incorrect value there is an exception case.

Example of viewing metadata in the object navigator:

Basic functionality of metadata management

The ability to work with over 40 main types of objects including such groups as:

Data sources.

Relational objects and multidimensional objects (including time series).

Reports.

Modeling objects.

ETL task.

Applied metadata (for example, documents) and so on.

Support for metadata in all objects are supported. Each object of the system has common and

object-specific metadata. For example, the input series has the following special metadata:

description of additional dimensions (for example territories); custom attributes of dimension;

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information where and from which data sources this series or its part was loaded; information

about reasons of data changes.

Capabilities of metadata elements in Prognoz Platform 8:

The element may have an empty value or multiple values.

The element may change over time (including support of slow changing dimensions).

Metadata elements may have a hierarchy.

Metadata elements may have delimited access rights, and other features.

Managing relations between object and system metadata. It provides:

Tools to describe relations between two or more objects via their metadata.

Ability to view the existing dependencies between any objects via their metadata

(dependences are maintained by the system automatically), including navigation

through metadata according to such attributes as Included In and Consists Of.

The ability to describe different types of relations between object metadata, including

such types as One to One, One to Many, and Many to Many.

Creating links by means of the visual interface as wizards which allow to work with them

without special skills.

Automatic propagation of data changes from parent to child objects.

Automatic propagation of metadata changes from child to parent objects.

BI search support. BI search allows to find required data for the further analysis. Prognoz

Platform 8 search method allows to search data sources by their content based on full-text

index built for repository objects. If the data source is found, it can be opened in any reporting

tool (for example, Dashboards or Analytical Queries (OLAP), thus it is opened with default

settings which can be changed and the report of a required view can be created (considering

access permissions). Search results may contain both structured and unstructured objects.

BI search advantages:

Taking into account word forms and synonyms.

Flexible relevance control.

Creating keywords to increase search relevance.

Multilanguage indexing or search.

Faceted search.

Highlighting search results.

Filtering and sorting search results.

Using scheduled tasks container to start indexing by schedule or on the certain event.

Partial refreshing of index.

Automated filling the file with synonyms without flexions.

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Tracking the data chain from sources to reports through the Consists Of function. It allows to

build and show a tree of used objects. For example, for the report it displays a tree of used

cubes, dimensions, tables, connections to sources).

Analyzing the influencing of changes of the data source by means of the Included In function. It allows

to build and show the tree of objects which use the required data source. For example, for the data

table dimensions, cubes and reports built on the basis of data from this table are displayed.

BI Server and Web Services Prognoz Platform 8 includes the BI Server component, that is, program tools used to implement interaction

between web clients of Prognoz Platform 8, as well as third-party applications in service-oriented architecture

(SOA). The BI server provides access to the functionality of Prognoz Platform 8 based on web services

technology.

BI server supports scalability by using a large cluster of application servers. Load-balancing is performed by

means of Nginx or Microsoft Forefront TMG. To increase performance, BI server executes data and metadata

caching (dimensions, OLAP slices, tables, and so on) on special nodes of cache servers (based on Redis and

Memcached). To provide fail safety, BI server saves the statuses of open objects to special nodes of status

servers (also based on Redis and Memcached). Mechanisms of loading balancing and support of fail safety are

implemented on the server side and do not require the modification of the client application.

BI server and web services provide opportunities for working:

In Hyper-V, VMware, VirtualBox and virtual environments.

With metadata.

With security system and administration. Creating, deleting, granting permissions to users and

user groups, managing security policies.

With dashboards.

With regular reports.

With express reports (OLAP).

With time series.

With modeling and forecasting.

With scorecards.

With data warehouse objects.

With master data.

With ETL processes.

With interactive visualization processes.

With tools for loading data from different sources.

With external web applications enabling the user to embed reports supporting all interactive

features: sorting, filtering, detailing, formatting, and so on.

With SQL and MDX queries.

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With cubes allowing to load data into cubes from different sources (XLS, CSV, MDB and so on),

edit separate cube cells and other.

The user can set up performance monitoring of the BI server, gather performance statistics of separate web

services, and check performance, memory usage and time of queries handling. It gathers statistics on queries

execution and statistics on queries execution errors with saving last erratic query of each type for following

analysis. All restarts of BI server as a result of the failure are recorded in log files. Analysis of gathered statistics

allows to configure BI server and web services more effectively.

Web services support WSDL descriptions and can be used in any visual development environment supporting

WSDL, such as Microsoft Visual Studio. Also Prognoz Platform 8 supports the capability to provide third-party

applications with its web services.

Task Scheduler

BI server provides task scheduler services used to execute user tasks in a separate resource pool with the further

notification about execution results.

All tasks of the application system may be combined in a batch and processed as a whole, for example, according

to the schedule. Prognoz has developed special visual wizards for such operations; they are user-friendly and do

not require specific technical skills.

The task scheduler allows to:

Execute resource-intensive tasks in a dedicated resource pool for the purpose of lowering

requirements to other components of the platform. Later the results can be published or sent

by email, FTP or file server. The following tasks can be executed:

Use ETL for data import/export.

Calculate cubes.

Generate reports.

Calculate models.

Use other algorithms.

Execute regular tasks based on the determined schedule and a list of executed actions (works).

Execute tasks by condition, on occurring of system, custom event or event from auditing log.

To write complex batch operations the implementation of high-performance object-oriented programming

language Fore/Fore.NET, included in Prognoz Platform 8.

Cloud

Prognoz Platform 8 can be deployed in private, public or hybrid cloud. Virtualization is available on different

levels: only on the application and BI server level, on the repository level and on the data sources level.

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Irrespective of the fact whether the analysis is performed by the desktop application or in the cloud the user can

combine cloud sources with data stored on the organization resources in the uniform analytical view.

The user can access data on the organization resources or DBMS cloud services from the cloud without additional

synchronization. Any ODBC/OLEDB compatible DBMS can be used as the source.

The user can connect to the cloud repository of Prognoz Platform 8 by means of the desktop application. In this

case direct access to data will be performed in the cloud by means of the HTTP driver. This driver can work either

with cloud sources or with other DBMS deployed in the customer's organization. One more driver's feature is

the capability of extracting data from the source without installing client end of the DBMS: it is necessary to

install HTTP driver to the organization server.

The user can access to cloud infrastructure by means of the remote desktop, desktop virtualization or equal

technology. In this case working with the cloud repository will be performed by means of desktop application.

To optimize work with cloud data sources data caching is used. Cache can be updated either on demand or on

schedule by the task manager.

Remote monitoring, configuration and scaling of Prognoz Platform 8 in the cloud is performed by means of cloud

infrastructure provider, such as Amazon, Azure, and so on.

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Data Sources Support

Prognoz Platform 8 provides access to a wide class of data sources using ODBC, OLEDB, OLEDB for OLAP. It

allows to create solutions for different analytical problems.

Data sources may be grouped the following way:

Multidimensional data sources:

Microsoft Analysis Services.

SAP NetWeaver BW.

OLE DB for OLAP compatible multidimensional sources.

Industrial relational DBMS:

Microsoft SQL Server.

Oracle.

IBM DB2.

Teradata.

PostgreSQL.

SQLite.

ODBC or OLE DB-compatible DBMS, such as Sybase IQ and so on.

If the DBMS supports capability of building clusters and fails-over (for example, SQL Server Failover

Cluster, Oracle RAC), this functionality is used transparently and it does not require shutting down,

rebooting or restarting the application.

A particular type of access to DBMS is available, that is, a HTTP driver that does not require installing

client end of the DBMS for the Prognoz Platform 8.

Hardware and software systems:

Oracle Exadata.

EMC Greenplum.

IBM Netezza.

Teradata Data Warehouse Appliance.

Local data sources and desktop DBMS:

XML (with ability to set an xPath query for a data sample).

DBF (dBase).

CSV.

TXT.

VPF.

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Microsoft Excel files.

Microsoft Access.

Paradox and so on.

Prognoz Platform 8 supports platform integration with platform for Apache Hadoop distributed data storing and

handling. Integration is performed via support of Apache Hive data source being the infrastructure for creating

data warehouses. Hive works on the base of Hadoop, being the ODBC interface and allows to access Hadoop

data and analyze them by means of SQL-like HiveQL query language.

By means of setting up Prognoz Platform 8 the following functions are available:

Download RSS feed data.

Realize specific data adapters.

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Applications

Desktop Applications ("Thick" Client)

The desktop application allows:

Working with all objects of Prognoz Platform 8.

Run Fore-based applications.

Run Fore-based modules from external applications.

Web Application ("Thin" Client)

The web application Prognoz Platform 8 allows to:

Design and view:

Dashboards.

Express reports.

Workbooks for time series analysis.

Models.

View:

Regular reports.

Scorecards.

Use report preview in the object navigator.

Mobile Applications

Prognoz Platform 8 includes mobile application for iOS operating system, that allows to work with the following

objects:

Express reports.

Regular reports.

Dashboards.

Microsoft Office Applications

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to work with the Platform directly in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft

PowerPoint applications. Working with the following objects is supported:

Multidimensional cubes.

Time series.

Express reports.

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Regular reports.

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Interoperability of Platform Components

Common engine for data queries

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 use a uniform kernel engine for designing and running data queries.

Prognoz Platform 8 supports data extraction from relational database management systems using SQL, MDX-

based extracting data from multidimensional database management systems, and in-memory data processing

that use the platform native engine. Data extraction from database management systems using SQL is based on

the separate retrieval of dimensions and data from databases. It allows to create an SQL query without using

links between the tables and speeds up data extraction.

MDX-based data extraction from multidimensional database management systems uses standard MDX

functions. In its turn, the result of running MDX queries can be cached both on the dictionary level and on the

data level.

In-memory data processing is based on loading data sets into Random Access Memory (RAM). Further this data

is addressed via an internal mechanism (without using SQL or MDX) optimized for extra fast query performance

against the data. The in-memory mechanism can be enabled for any multidimensional data source registered in

the repository of Prognoz Platform 8.

Common formatting engine

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 use the same engine for formatting and result-rendering in all tools in the thick

client and in thin client configurations; in the thin client it runs on the BI server. This mechanism allows to create

reports with a uniform formatting using various tools (for example, in Analytical

Queries (OLAP), Reports, Dashboards), in different clients (desktop and web application), when exporting results

to various formats (for example, PDF, XLS, RTF and so on).

Objects distribution

Prognoz Platform 8 uses a single engine for distributing objects (queries, reports, and others) through multiple

channels (e-mail, FTP, portal, or mobile application).

The problem management mechanism is used for this purpose. Any desired operations may be defined within

the mechanism: loading data via ETL, calculating aggregates and calculated factors, caching cubes, computing

modeling and forecasting tasks, calculating reports and exporting them to external formats, publishing reports

to mobile devices, and performing other tasks, including executing custom modules. The tasks can be run

according to a schedule, they can be called from other modules, or called via Web Services.

The user can also export the report to an external format, send an email message with the report file as an

attachment, or place the report to a certain directory (which allows to access this report from wireless devices,

if necessary), or publish the file to a portal or FTP server.

Common repository

Prognoz Platform 8 uses uniform repository of metadata. Several users can simultaneously work in the

repository. A single user can also simultaneously work in several repositories.

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All the objects can be accessed in a consistent way. After an object is created it appears as a repository item and

can be further used to take part in any operation available for the object in a standard dialog boxes of

Prognoz Platform 8. Metadata on all the created objects and the relationships between these objects, is stored

in this repository.

In the repository all objects are equal, irrespective of data source used (relational, multi-dimensional or file).

The common repository allows to perform the following operations:

Creating, copying, and deleting objects.

Granting rights to objects.

Logging performed operations.

Transferring objects between different repositories.

Creating references from one repository to the objects of another one and working with these

objects from first repository.

Reusing all main objects: connections, tables, dimensions, cubes, reports and so on. For

example, dimensions, created by the user can be used by other users for creating new cubes.

Describing metadata of user objects, that is enlarging standard object model of the platform

repository depending on project needs.

Access control, managing users and user groups and access permissions

Prognoz Platform 8 uses a uniform program kernel including a uniform settings mechanism and monitoring of

access for all objects, created in a uniform metadata repository is used. All tools of the platform are based on

using this kernel and because of this all platform tools use the same security, metadata, administration.

Prognoz Platform 8 uses a single mechanism to manage users, user groups and access permissions. Management

is performed via common security management and administration tool. Prognoz Platform 8 allows to create

custom users and groups, or it can use existing users or groups integrating with LDAP directories, including Active

Directory.

The capabilities of Prognoz Platform 8 to manage users and groups of users, access permissions:

Differentiation of access to all platform objects. The platform recognizes common operations for

all object types and specialized operations for specific object types.

Logging access for all types of objects and object operations. Flexible settings of tracked objects

and operations.

Access differentiation on the level of metadata objects and on the more detailed level. For

example, differentiating access to specific elements of dictionary or to specific cells of cube.

Limiting the time a user can be logged on for certain week days, permitting a user to log on only using

a specific workstation (based on workstation name, ip-address or mac-address), configuring password

complexity (password length, required sets of characters, prohibition to use some words).

Using of common database with delimitation of access permissions or usage of dedicated DB for

each client in cloud BI applications, based on Web services.

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Common development tools

Prognoz Platform 8 can be used as a unified development and authoring environment for:

Creating custom data warehouse.

Extraction, converting and loading data.

Creating cubes.

Creating reports, dashboards, factors.

Performing express analyses, time series analysis.

Creating models.

For programmers platform offers a application development kit that enables them to access all platform

components, which may include low-level components (such as controls) and high-level components (such as

the components for working with OLAP reports), and build a fully-functional, customized BI application on top

of Prognoz Platform 8.

Tools integration

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 are strongly integrated via the common repository of metadata and the Platform

program kernel. The created content can be used in various tools. For example, an OLAP report can be used in

a dashboard and further configured in a mobile application. All data sources are unified and can be accessed in

various Prognoz Platform 8 tools.

Common user interface

Prognoz Platform 8 uses uniform library of components, therefore all tools in the platform share the same look

and feel. All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 use WYSIWYG approach. It allows to see the influence of performing


All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 allow quick access to commands via the tool ribbon. Commands are organized in

logical groups, which are collected together under tabs. All tools use unified commands to manipulate objects.

BI applications based on Prognoz Platform 8 may have special unified interface which may vary from solution to

solution.

Access clients

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 are available via the desktop, web and mobile applications.

The web application is aimed at supporting of modern web standards, interacting with the platform via web

service and it is a Rich Web Application. In order to create rich and dynamic user interface the web application

uses up-to-date technologies: HTML5, CSS3, COMET, ECMAScript5, WebGL, DHTML, JavaScript and SVG. The

following technologies of Web-application development are supported: ASP.NET and Java.

The latest versions of modern browsers can be used to work with the web application:

Mozilla Firefox.

Google Chrome.

Opera.

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Apple Safari for Mac OS X.

Microsoft Internet Explorer (9 or later).

Microsoft Edge.

Mobile application is available for iPad 1 or later. The following tools of Prognoz Platform 8 are supported:

Dashboards, Analytical Queries (OLAP), and Reports.

Common report export formats

Prognoz Platform 8 uses common libraries of exporting into external formats for all tools. The following export

formats are available from the user interface: XLS, XLSX, PPTX, RTF, PDF, HTML, MHT, and EMF.

Export to other formats can be implemented on the application level by means of development tools

of Prognoz Platform 8.

Common security mechanism

Prognoz Platform 8 uses a common mechanism to manage and configure access permissions to all objects

created in the repository.

For each object it is possible to assign for users and user groups permissions to read, edit (including permissions

changes) and delete. By default, the permissions are inherited from parent object It is possible to redefine

permissions for children with the permissions inherited from the current object, and to view effective user

permissions for the current object. Object access control is checked by the platform core when the object is

accessed from any of the tools. For each object it is possible to enable auditing of specific operations or all

operations with the object.

Single server installation

All components of Prognoz Platform 8 can be installed within a single server install: BI server and Web server,

Web services, Web application and desktop application.

Common administration

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 work with a common set of metadata (object descriptions), stored in the

repository. All the objects are managed (renamed, moved, assigned permissions, and so on) via a common

interface within the administration and information security tool.

Scaling tools

As the scaling tool Prognoz Platform 8 uses caching of dimensions, cubes and time series DB, clustering by means

of setting up several application servers to the cluster using load balancer. There is no integrated workload

balancing, high availability to the platform, but integration with external solutions is available by customization.

Capabilities of visual interaction with components

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to visually interact with components, for example:

Tables. Available operations: data drill down and drill up, sorting, filtering, ranking, data

displaying in percents, displaying growth indicators, applying conditional formatting,

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hiding/showing columns and rows, entering and editing data with following saving to the

source.

Charts. Available operations: changing chart type, data drill down and drill up, scaling, selecting

series and points, viewing points values, showing/hiding series by clicking legend elements, data

normalization, editing data on the chart with saving to the source.

Maps. Available operations: viewing displayed values, data drill down and drill up with jumping

to the appropriate map, scaling, showing/hiding map elements using legend, showing maps in

the 3D mode, rotating 3D map.

For charts, maps, bubble charts, tree maps and bubble trees it is available to build an animated time line that

allows to show dynamics of observation objects by specified metrics for a certain period of time.

Platform components also support handling of different events: click on legend element, click on chart series,

click on map territories. By handling the events at the application level it is possible to implement advanced

options for interactive filtering and passing parameters between visualizations.

Search method

In Prognoz Platform 8 the mechanism of BI search is implemented by means of the Apache Solr search engine

and supports token usage, stemming, lemmatization, speech tagging, decomposition on creating indices and

handling search queries.

The search engine of Prognoz Platform 8 is available via the REST and SOAP Web services of Prognoz Platform 8

and can be connected to other search engines via implementing the appropriate adapter.

Uniform tool for creating calculated expressions in all tools

All tools of Prognoz Platform 8 use universal expression editor to form calculated expressions (formulas,

conditions). The editor supports:

Intellisence autocompletion technology.

Checking of expression correctness.

MDX expressions.

Apart from system functions and methods it is available to call R methods and custom Fore methods.

Prognoz Platform

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Platform General Features

Multilingual Support

Prognoz Platform 8 supports various interface languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian,

Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Arabic, and Azerbaijanian.

Unicode is supported for data provision.

Replication and Data Exchange

Repository objects and their metadata can be copied and transferred between different repositories.

Any object of the repository can be copied and added to the repository as a copy. The copy becomes an

independent repository object available for editing and usage.

On working with application systems using Prognoz Platform 8 to separate development processes as a rule

several repositories are created - for development, for testing, for direct use. Settings and content of repository

objects during development process can be changed. To synchronize objects, data and access permissions

between repositories and for synchronizing version of application systems between developers and users

Prognoz Platform 8 uses update mechanism for repository objects that allows to transfer required information

between repositories (objects, object access permissions, data).

Improved Performance and Fail-Safety

Prognoz Platform 8 allows to use advantages of SMP machines and can use all available processor cores. User

queries are performed by multiple flows within application server. Flows are automatically distributed to

available processor cores by the operation system. In such a way balancing of computation load.

Fail-safety of Prognoz Platform 8 is reached by locating system on multiple servers with common access point

using workload balancer. In case of failure of one server in the system, the user's query is passed to another

server for handling. Data on users work sessions are stored on dedicated nods - status servers. For status servers

the backup and the replication can be performed.

Scalability

Prognoz Platform 8 is a scalable platform because the performance of Prognoz Platform 8 increases as system

resources increase.

To increase performance Prognoz Platform 8 two approaches are available:

Vertical scaling. Performance is increased by adding resources (processor, memory, disk space)

within one BI server.

Horizontal scaling. Performance is increased by adding another BI server or a web server to the

system. Horizontal scaling is typical for distributed systems where systems are connected via the

network or are combined into a cluster. Horizontal scaling allows to build cloud BI applications.

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The scalable architecture of Prognoz Platform 8 based on web services allows to use the product for building

cloud BI applications. Clients may use common DB with the platform's access permissions of Prognoz Platform 8,

or a dedicated datbase for each client:

Load balancing is performed by means of Nginx or Microsoft Forefront TMG. To provide fail safety the BI server

saves statuses of open objects to special nodes of status servers (based on Redis and Memcached).

Features of system building include the following:

The number of BI servers must exceed the number of web servers.

Each BI server may have status server deployed.

Scaling of database server is available, that is using cluster DBMS.

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Data Sources Indexing

In Prognoz Platform 8 indexing metadata and the index storage structure are universal. Therefore any data

source, such as a cube, can be indexed regardless of its structure. If arbitrary text must be indexed, it must be

loaded and handled in the Fore language.

Search index can be updated both in the batch mode and in real time.

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System Requirements

To work with a mobile application, the software of Prognoz Platform 8 with the following features is required:

A database server with one of the supported DBMS installed.

A client workstations with Prognoz Platform 8desktop application installed.

To work with the Web application, a system must be formed using the software of Prognoz Platform 8 with the

following features is required:

A database server with one of the supported DBMS installed.

A BI server on which "BI Server" Web service is installed.

A Web server on which the server part of the Web application is installed.

Client stations with access to the network in which the web server is located.

NOTE. BI server and Web server can be located on one physical server.

See below the list of requirements that should be followed to ensure the correct installation and proper

functioning of Prognoz Platform 8.

Database Server

Hardware Requirements

Server choice greatly depends on the specific DBMS, the assumed number of users working simultaneously,

project specifics, and the results of application project load-testing.

Based on the results of typical project load-testing, we have created the recommended server configurations.

The characteristics listed below are enough to provide stable work for a typical project. The servers used in load-

testing had Windows Server 2012 Standard and Oracle g11 DBMS.

Equipment

Number of connected users 250

Processor Intel(R) Xeon® CPU E5-2690 0 @ 2.90 GHz (4 core)

Platform 32-bit or 64-bit.

RAM memory 10 Gb or more

HDD The size is determined by the volume of the database

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Software Requirements

Software

DBMS

Back end of the DBMS:

Oracle 9.2, 10.x and 11.x. Limited support of Oracle 12.x.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008, 2012 and 2014.

Teradata 13\13.10\14\14.10.

PostgreSQL 9.1\9.2\9.3.

SQLite 3.X.

Operating

system

To determine configurations of operating systems and processors (RISC

systems) for a server, please refer to the DBMS documentation.

Web Server

The following are recommendations for the hardware and the software of the Web server, which should be

satisfied for the correct working of the Prognoz Platform 8Web application.


The Web server selection greatly depends on the assumed number of simultaneously working users, project

specifics and the results of application project load-testing. Based on results of typical project load-testing, we

have created recommended Web server configurations. The characteristics listed below are enough to provide

stable work for a typical project. The server used in load testing had Windows 2012 Server Standard. Maximum

memory consumption depends on each individual application. It is related to application specifics and may vary.

Equipment



Platform 32-bit or 64-bit


HDD 300 MB of free space or more*

* - Hard drive free space is given including the space needed to unpack temporary files. By default, temporary files are unpacked to the

disk to which the operating system is installed. The directory to unpack temporary files can be selected in the TMP variable of the variable

environments.

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Software

Additional

software

Depending on the Web application development technology:

ASP.NET:

Internet Information Services 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5.

Apache 2.2, 2.4.

Java (supporting Servlet 2.5 or later):

Apache Tomcat 7 or later

Jetty version 7 or later.

BI Server

The following are recommendations for the hardware and the software of the BI server, which should be

satisfied for the correct working of the Prognoz Platform 8.


BI server selection greatly depends on assumed number of simultaneously working users, project features and

results of application project load-testing. BI server and security server configurations were formed based on

the results of standard project load testing. The characteristics listed below are enough to provide stable work

for a typical project. The server used in load testing had Windows 2012 Server Standard. Maximum memory

consumption depends on each individual application. It is related to application specifics and may vary.

Equipment



Platform 64-bit


HDD Free space 2 GB* and more

Video adapter Video adapters supporting hardware-software

architecture CUDA if it is supposed to be used.

* - Hard drive free space is given including the space needed to unpack temporary files. By default, temporary files are unpacked to the

disk to which the operating system is installed. The directory to unpack temporary files can be selected in the TMP variable of the variable

environments.

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Software

DBMS Client end of the operated DBMS.

Operating

system

64-bit Windows OS are supported:

Microsoft Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.

Microsoft Windows Server 2012;

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2.

Enterprise Edition OS option is recommended.

64-bit Linux OS are supported:

Debian.

Ubuntu.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Astra Linux.

Detailed description of supported Linux OS versions see the Supported

Versions of Linux OS section.

Additional

software

Depending on the Web application development technology:

ASP.NET:

Internet Information Services 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5.

Apache 2.2, 2.4.

Java (supporting Servlet 2.5 specification or later):

Apache Tomcat 7 or later.

Jetty version 7 or later.

Software for the

Tree Map,

Bubble Tree,

Bubble Chart

and Map

visualizers

Graphics Libraries:

For Windows OS. DirectX 10 or later (included in Windows

Vista OS and later).

For Linux OS. Mesa 3D (installation is required if hardware

does not support OpenGL).

Software for

CUDA use

CUDA Toolkit 7.0. Installation is required if video adapter supports

hardware-software architecture CUDA.

https://developer.nvidia.com/Cuda-downloads

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Supported Versions of Linux OS

BI server can be installed on Linux OS of one of the following versions:

Linux OS version Distribution version Required program packages

Debian Distribution of 6.0 and 7.0 versions

Actual versions of libraries from system repositories are supported:

libqt4-gui.

libglib2.0.

apache2.

tomcat7.

X server must be installed. It is also recommended to install desktop environment:

For Debian: Gnome, KDE or Mate.

For Ubuntu: Unity, Gnome, KDE or

Mate.

Ubuntu Distribution of 12.04 LTS, 14.04 LTS versions

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Distribution of 6 version Actual versions of libraries from system repositories are supported:

glib2.

httpd.

tomcat7.

It is necessary to install Qt 4.8.1 library from the website: download.qt-project.org and X server. It is also recommended to install desktop environment: Gnome or KDE.

Astra Linux Distribution kit SE 1.4 (smolensk)

Actual versions of libraries from system repositories are supported:

libqt4-gui.

libglib2.0.

apache2.

X server must be installed

Client Station

The following are the system requirements for the hardware and the software to the client workstations, the

fulfillment of which is necessary for the correct installation and work of the Prognoz Platform 8desktop, Web

and mobile applications.

http://download.qt-project.org/archive/qt/4.8/

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Minimum requirements Recommended Requirements

CPU Intel Celeron 2Ghz. Intel Core 2 Duo 2.40Ghz.

Platform bitness 32 bit. 64 bit.

RAM 512 MB or more. 2 GB or more.

Video adapter

Video adapters supporting VGA,

with 1024 x 768 or higher

resolution and with 64MB or

more video memory*

Video adapters supporting

Shader Model 3.0, such as:

NVidia GeForce

6600 or better.

ATI Radeon

X1300 or better.

Intel G35 (GMA

X3500) chipset,

Intel G4x, Q4x or

better.

Video adapters supporting

hardware-software architecture

CUDA if it is supposed to be used.

HDD Free space 2 GB or more.** Free space 2 GB or more.**

* - Working with the Tree Map and the Bubble Tree visualizers is unavailable.

** - Free space is given including the space needed to unpack temporary files. By default, temporary files are unpacked to the disk to

which the operating system is installed. The directory to unpack temporary files can be selected in the TMP variable of the variable

environments.

Client Workstation Software for the Desktop Application

Software

DBMS

Client end of the operated DBMS.

NOTE. To connect to Oracle DBMS correctly, the bitness of

Prognoz Platform 8 must match that on the Oracle DBMS

front end.

Operating System

Windows Vista family.

Windows 7 family.

Windows 8 family.

Windows 10 family.

Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 R2 family.

Windows Server 2012 family.

NOTE. In order Prognoz Platform 8 works correctly, color

depth value must be at least 16 bit.

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Video driver The latest version of the driver for the installed video adapter.

Software for

integration tools

Depending on the integration tools used, the client station must

have:

Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft PowerPoint.

MS Word.

Supports versions of Microsoft Office 2010 SP1 (14.0.6029.1000 -

14.0.7015.1000) and later, Microsoft Office 2013. Microsoft Office

365.

Software for the Tree

Map, Bubble Tree,

Bubble Chart and

Map visualizers

Graphics Libraries:

DirectX 9 or later or OpenGL 3.1 or later (provided with Windows XP

OS or later).

Software for CUDA

use

CUDA Toolkit 7.0. Installation is required if video adapter supports

hardware-software architecture CUDA.

Client Workstation Software for the Web Application

Software

Browser

Latest versions of modern browsers:

Mozilla Firefox.

Google Chrome.

Opera.

Apple Safari for Mac OS X.

Microsoft Internet Explorer (9 or later).

Microsoft Edge.

System Requirements for Mobile Device

The following are the system requirements, which should be satisfied for correct working of the Web application

and the mobile versions of Prognoz Platform 8 Web application on a mobile device.

Requirements

Device iPad 2 or later.

Storage Free space of 2 GB or more.

Operating system iOS version 6.0 or later.

Browser Apple Safari for iOS 5.0 or later.

Other Access to the network, where the BI server is located.

https://developer.nvidia.com/Cuda-downloads

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Contacts

Head Office

Country, city Address Phone number e-mail

Russia, Perm

5, Danshina St., Perm, 614068

54, Stakhanovskaya St., Perm,

614087

Phone/fax: +7 342 218 36 63 [email protected]

Russia and CIS


Russia, Moscow 8, 2nd Brestskaya St.,

Moscow, 125047 Phone/Fax: +7 495 788 52 80 [email protected]

Kazakhstan,

Astana

Block 17V, Floor 4, 8,

Orynbor St.,Astana,

010000

Phone: +7 7172 50 24 57

Fax: +7 7172 50 24 03 [email protected]

Belarus, Minsk

Office 324, 70 Myasnikova

St. Minsk, 220030,

Republic of Belarus

Phone: +375 17 336 06 80

Fax: +375 17 336 06 81 [email protected]

Europe and Asia


China, Beijing

ChaoYang dist.

Nanzhanguan South Road.13

Ruicheng international

916 100026

Phone: +86 10 6566 5337,

+86 10 6566 0670

Fax: +86 10 6566 5338

[email protected]

Belgium, Brussels Avenue des Arts, 3-4-5,

Brussels, 1210, Belgium

Phone: +32 2 217 19 50,

+32 2217 1980 [email protected]

North and South America


USA, Washington

D.C.

1899, Pennsylvania Ave NW,

Floor 3 Washington, DC, 20006,

USA

Phone:

+1 202 955 5520

Fax: +1 202 955 5060

Toll-free: 1-888-9-

PROGNOZ

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




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