P8173ES ::: IBM Cognos Express: Essentials for Reporter (V10.1)

Overview of IBM Cognos BI

• Describe IBM Cognos BI components

Identify Common Data Structures

• Identify different data traps
• Examine OLAP data sources

Create a Baseline Project

• Define a project and its structure

Prepare Reusable Metadata

• Verify relationships and query item properties

Model for Predictable Results: Identify Reporting Issues

• 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

Calculations and Filters

• Use calculations to create commonly-needed query items for authors
• 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

Specify Determinants

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

Create Analysis Objects

• Apply dimensional information to relational metadata to enable OLAP-style queries

Set Security in Framework Manager

• Examine the IBM Cognos security environment
• Restrict access to objects in the model

Introduction to Reporting Application

• Create a simple, sorted, and formatted report

Create List Reports

• Group, format, and sort list reports
• Create a multi-fact query

Focus Reports Using Filters

• Create filters to narrow the focus of reports
• Examine detail and summary filters

Create Crosstab Reports

• Format and sort crosstab reports
• Examine detail and summary filters

Present Data Graphically

• Create charts containing peer and nested items

Focus Reports Using Prompts

• Identify various prompt types
• Use parameters and prompts to focus data

Extend Reports Using Calculations

• Add run-time information to the reports
• Create expressions using functions

Customize Reports with Conditional Formatting

• Create multi-lingual reports

Drill-Through From One Report to Another

• Pass parameter values to filter the data in drill-through targets

Introduction to Dimensional Data in Reports

• Define and use members in reports
• Define and use sets in reports

Dimensional Report Context

• Understand current members, root members and default members

Focus Your Dimensional Data

• Compare relational and dimensional queries
• Identify dimensional style filtering techniques

Calculations and Dimensional Functions

• Combine functions for complex calculations
• Avoid common errors

Advanced Drilling Techniques and Member Sets

• Review basic drilling up and drilling down
• Identify cases for advanced drilling configurations

Introduction to IBM Cognos Active Report

• Examine an active report and its controls
• Convert an existing report to an active report

Filter and Select in Active Reports

• Distinguish between filter and select
• Explore properties to use in active reports