B5270G: Essentials for IBM Cognos BI (V10.2)

Essentials for IBM Cognos BI (V10.2) is a blended offering consisting of five-Days of instructor-led training (ILT) and 21 hours of Web-based, self-paced training. This accelerated offering is intended for core project team members wishing to acquire a broad understanding of a Business Intelligence platform implementation. During the ILT segments, participants will perform hands-on demos and workshops that cover four essential topic areas: Modeling, Report Authoring, Workspace Intermediate, and Administration of a BI platform. Throughout the ILT, participants will be guided to more-in depth training offerings and paths leading to certification.

What You Will Learn

Audience

Prerequistes

Course Outline

Overview of IBM Cognos BI

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

Identify Common Data Structures

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

Gather Requirements

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

Create a Baseline Project

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

Prepare Reusable Metadata

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

Model for Predictable Results: Identify Reporting Issues

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

Model for Predictable Results: Virtual Star Schemas

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

Model for Predictable Results: Consolidate Metadata

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

Calculations and Filters

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

Implement a Time Dimension

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

Specify Determinants

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

Create the Presentation View

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

Create Analysis Objects

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

Introduction to the Reporting Application

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

Create List Reports

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

Focus Reports Using Filters

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

Create Crosstab Reports

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

Present Data Graphically

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

Focus Reports Using Prompts

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

Extend Reports Using Calculations

• Create calculations based on data in the data source
• Add run-time information to the reports
• Create expressions using functions
• Highlight exceptional data
• Show and hide data
• Conditionally render objects in reports
• Conditionally format one crosstab measure based on another
• Identify changes that impact a MUN
• Sort members for presentation and predictability

Customize Reports with Conditional Formatting

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

Drill-Through From One Report to Another

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

Create Reports using Relational Data

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

Introduction to IBM Cognos BI Administration

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

Identify IBM Cognos BI Architecture

• Identify and explain:
  • the features of the IBM Cognos BI architecture
  • the three architectural tiers
  • IBM Cognos BI servlets and services
  • the default servlet container and alternatives to its use
  • an example of IBM Cognos BI request processing
  • installation options
  • load balancing mechanisms
  • configuration options
  • the IBM Cognos Application Firewall

Secure the IBM Cognos BI Environment

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

Manage Run Activities

• Manage current, upcoming and past activities
• Manage schedules

Manage Content in IBM Cognos Administration

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

Post class e-Learning:

• IBM Cognos for Microsoft Office: Integrate with Microsoft Office (V10.1/10.2) - eLearning (B5130)
• IBM Cognos BI Event Studio: Create and Manage Agents (V8.4/10.1) - eLearning (B5131)
• IBM Cognos Transformer: Create PowerCubes (V10.1) - eLearning (B5169)
• IBM Cognos Workspace Advanced: Introduction (V10.2) - eLearning (B5283)

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