FILTERS

1. What are the types of filters

Ans. Report filter, view filter, security filter, report limit filter

2. What are the types of report filters

Ans. Add an attribute qualification

Add a set qualification

Add a shortcut to report

Add a shortcut to filter

Add an advanced qualification

3. Differentiate report filter and view filter and justify which one is best

Ans. Report filter:

1) Report filter restricts the data before the execution of a report

2) Calculations are performed at Data ware house level
3) It is a standard service
4) By using report filter there will be a change in SQL view

View filter:

1) View filter restricts the data after the execution of a report

2) Calculations are performed at analytical engine
3) It is an OLAP service
4) By using view filter there will not be any change in SQL view

4. What is the difference between report limit filter and set Qualification

Ans. There is no difference between these two but report limit filter is applicable
only to that specific report where as a filter with set Qualification created outside
can be used in multiple reports

5. Does report limit filter is applicable to drill report

Ans. Yes, when a report limit filter condition is applied on a report, the same
condition is applied automatically when we drill the same report

6. Can we apply report limit filter on attributes, if no, if I want to filter on region
attribute how can we do that
Ans. No, we cant! Report limit filter is applied only on metric values. To put filter
condition on attributes we go for report filter or view filter

7. If we use report filter(set qualification) and report limit filter on the same
report which one is best
Ans. Report limit filter is best. When compared to set qualification, report limit
filter takes less no. of passes to execute the report i.e., why report limit filter
is best

8. What is relationship filter

Ans. This is a kind of filter which is used when we know some value and we
dont know the other value that means,
We can run a report with 2 attributes that are directly related however a
report indirectly related attributes must include metric that relates to
attributes, without this metric the report results Cartesian product. To get
beyond this metric requirement for relating indirectly related attributes we go
for relationship filter

9. Security role and security filter

Ans. security filter A filter applied in the report reflects in the where clause of
the sql and can be associated to a user or group for project. Security filter are
the same as regular filters except that they contain only attribute
qualifications, custom expressions and joint element list. Relationship filters
and metric qualifications are not allowed in the security filters.

Security role It is nothing to do with the data, it is designed to provide

privileges based on who is logging in.

PROMPTS
10.What is a prompt and what are the different types of prompts

Ans. Prompt is an object which allows users to interact with report at runtime.
There are four types of prompts 1) filter definition prompt

a. Choose from all attributes in a hierarchy

b. Qualify on an attribute
c. Choose from an attribute element list
d. Qualify on a metric

2) object prompt

3) Level prompt
 4) Value prompts

11.What is a nested prompt, give me a scenario

Ans. when we use prompt within another prompt that is called as nested
prompt.
Ex: suppose we have a prompt that list all the states and in second prompt
you would like to see the cities that belong to that particular state, then we
have to create 2 prompts one prompt for states and another prompt for cities
and place one in another

12.Scenario: when we select a year we need to display only 6 months (say: jan,
feb,only 6months)
Ans. a) create a year prompt and select all years by qualifying on attribute
element list
b) Create a month prompt and select month of the year attribute and select
add elements and select any of six months which to be prompted
Create a report and place year, month attributes and place revenue metric
and place the above two prompts on to report filter definition

13.In a text file we have 10 regions and we are using prompt element in one of
our requirement, so how to use that text file in our report
Ans. Open a new filter and Qualify on attribute(region), select attribute
region, Qualify onDesc form, select operator as in list or not in list, then
click on import and browse for the text file containing 10 regions and save it.
Place this filter in prompt and use this prompt in a report.

14.In one of my requirement we have attributes and metrics. How many object
prompts have to create in this scenario
Ans. 2
15.Can we place reports in object prompts
Ans. yes
16.Can we place dashboards in object prompts
Ans. yes
17.What is value prompt provide an example
Ans. The prompt which allows users to enter a text, date, number or other
value type at run time . Value prompt is again subdivided into 4 types: 1.
Date and time prompt
2. Numeric prompt
3. Text prompt
4. Big decimal
Ex: conversion of currency to dollars

18.Scenario: output of the report must include category, subcategory, revenue.

Metric should be single , functions (avg, max, min,) must be prompted
19.Can we place hierarchies in prompts
Ans. yes
 METRICS

20. What is a level metric, what are the elements of level metric, differentiate
between standard and absolute filtering

Ans. Metrics which calculate at specified attribute level rather than default
report level, such type of metrics are called as level metrics.
Target, filtering, grouping are the 3 elements of level metric
Standard filtering: In case of standard filtering the report filter interacts in the
usual way with level metric and shows data only for the elements specified in
the report filter
Absolute filtering: In case of absolute filtering it raises the report filter
elements to the parent level

21.What is non aggregate metric

Ans. In level metrics if the grouping is set to none then it is called as non
aggregate metric.
The non aggregate metrics are used in solving percentage calculations.

22.Can we place filters and prompts in derived metrics

Ans. No
23.Can we place hierarchies in metrics
Ans. No
24.Under level dimensionality what are the objects can we place
Ans. Prompts and attributes only
25.Scenario: banker, client, industry, revenue, sales Revenue must be
calculated on banker sales must be calculated on client, industry
Ans. Create two level metrics. On first metric select the revenue metric and in
level dimensionality select the target as banker. On second metric select the
sales metric and in level dimensionality select the target as client and industry.
Then on report put the above two level metrics

26.Difference between compound metric and compound smart metric

Compound Metric Smart Metric

We can perform arithmetic operations on When we want to subtotals/grand totals
more than one metric values correctly then go to smart metric
scenario & enable Smart metric
Ex: rank(metric) Formula: sum(m1)/sum(m2)
 Ntile(metric)
Ans.

When we perform subtotals you find difference in compound metric & smart metric reason
is calculations calculated at row level in smart metric [accurate correct values come in smart
metric]

27.Scenario: in a report top 10 items in terms of revenue is calculated using report

filter and top 5 customers in terms of revenue is calculated using conditional
metric. In output which qualification (report filter/conditional metric) is going to
be executed
28.In the above Question if it applies report filter first it should ignores report filter
and should apply on conditional metric

29.Is nested metric a simple metric or compound metric

Ans. Nested metric is a simple metric

30. What is a nested metric, explain with a scenario

Ans. A metric with in another metric or The metric which performs multiple
aggregation by placing one calculation formula inside another.
Ex: Suppose we want to see profit data averaged at the year level but
existing fact tables provide month level profit data so, to calculate yearly
average for profit we go for nested metric
Avg( sum(profit){~ month}) {~ year}

31.When we use level metric which part of SQL gets effected

Ans. where and groupby
32.Can we use transformations as derived metrics
33.What are the metric join types, what are the default join types, is there any
case to change metric as outer
Ans. The join type for metric is inner join.
The default join type for
Attributes Outer join
Metrics Inner join
Yes we can change the metric join type from inner to outer, go to report data
options and select metric join type click the drop down box and select join
type as outer.

34.Can we apply level or dimensionality to derived metric

Ans. yes
35.Can we apply transformations to derived metrics
Ans. yes
 DOCUMENTS/DASHBOARDS

36.Can we place dashboard in a dashboard

Ans. No
37.What is a widget
Ans. widget is one of the features of dashboard with which we can visualize
data in multiple ways

38.In guage widget if I place 2 metrics how would be the output

Ans. guage widget will get two pointers/needles
39.How many attributes and metrics can be placed on document
Ans. any no. can be placed
40.Suppose we have two reports, in one report we have region and revenue and in
another report we have region and profit. If we place region as selector and
selected any specific region which report is going to be effected
Ans. target
41.What is target in a selector
Ans. targets are the controls that the selector effect such as grid/graphs,
panel stack and other selectors
42.What is a panel and what is a panel stack
Ans. we can display different controls (objects that can be placed on a
document such as grid/graph,graph, grid etc.,) in a dashboard/document so
that users can navigate them as if they are pages for the larger document,
these pages or layers are panels.
Group of panels is referred as panel stack.

43.Interesting or challenging about mstr in your experience

44.Difference between RSD(report service document) and dashboard
45.In dashboard can we see other sections
46.In a document how can we create a metric
Ans. No we cant create a metric in a document rather a derived metric can be
created
47.How do we link one document to other document
48.What are the different selector properties you are aware of
49.What is the difference between filter and slice in selector

CONSOLIDATIONS & CUSTOMGROUPS

50.Differentiate between consolidations and customgroups
Ans. Consolidations:
a. Consolidations are derived from attribute elements only
b. In consolidations the calculations are performed at analytical engine
c. Less no. of SQL passes
d. Efficiency is high
e. Consolidations are preferred when the data is static

Customgroups:

a. Customgroups are derived from attributes as well as metrics also

b. In Customgroups calculations are performed at DWH level
c. More no. of SQL passes
d. Less efficient
e. Customgroups are preferred when the data is dynamic

51.What is a derived element, what are the types of derived elements

Ans. grouping of attribute elements on a report, these groups provide a
new view of report data for analysis and formatting purposes
Derived elements are evaluated on the report data set retrieved from an
icube, without re-executing SQL
Types of derived elements :
1) Grouped derived element
2) Filter derived element
3) Calculation derived element

52.Can we import consolidation elements from other consolidations

Ans. yes, go to elements tab, click on import elements
53.In which scenario you go for consolidations and customgroups
Ans. in our requirement if we need to deal with only attributes we go for
Consolidaitons
In our requirement in a report we need to display say :top 5
customers, bottom 10 items, top 5 items(dealing with both attributes and
metrics) in such case we go for customgroups.

Intelligent CUBES

54.What is icube
Ans. icube is a multi-dimensional object on IN-Memory database. When we run
some specific report, rather than returning data from the DWH we can return
sets of data from the DWH to Intelligent server memory, so that we can build
multiple reports that gather data from icube instead of querying DWH

55.Why we go for icubes

Ans. Mainly to reduce the execution time of the report we go for icubes.
 Suppose we have 15 columns (combination
of attributes and metrics), if these 15 columns are existing in 10 reports in
such case rather than going against DWH and fetching data which leads more
execution time we can create a single Icube with all those 15 columns which
leads to very less execution time

56.What are the objects that can be placed on to icube

Ans. Attributes, metrics, reports, filters, hierarchy, templates etc

57.What are the objects that cant be placed on to icube OR What are the
limitations of icube
Ans.
a) consolidations and customgroups
b) OLAP services features
view filter
derived metric
derived element
dynamic aggregation
c) prompts

58.Can we place prompts in icube, if yes how

Ans. No we cant place prompts in icubes

59.Can we drill outside the icube, if so, whether it hits icube or data ware house
Ans. yes, we can drill outside of an icube.
Drilling outside the icube requires a
new report to be executed against the DWH. Uncheck the option use default
settings and check allow reports to drill outside of the icube

60.What is dynamic sourcing

Ans. dynamic sourcing is an automatic link between icubes and reports.

If the complete report definition of any report is present in any single cube
then it gets the data from icube or else it hits the DWH.

Once we enable dynamic sourcing option, report first checks the data is present in
icube or not then if not it fetches the data from DWH.

61.How many types of icubes are there, differentiate between icube and personal
icube
Ans. The icubes are of two types: 1) normal icubes and 2) personal icubes
1) Icube: we can access multiple reports
Only report filter is available before publishing the icube
Derived elements can be worked
2) Personal Icube: It is linked to a single report
Both report filter and view filter are available
Derived elements cannot be worked
62.What are the possible errors that we get when we publish an icube
Ans. a) Error1: icube is not published
 b) Error2: icube is currently offline
c) Error3: icube is being published but the publishing process is not yet
finished

63.What are the prompts that are supported in icube reporting and which are not
supported
Ans. All the prompts are supported except hierarchy prompt and level
prompt are not supported in icube reporting

ATTRIBUTES
64.How to apply color on attributes
Ans. On a report go to grid options, select custom banding, click on settings
and select the color whatever we require
65.How to get odd records in different color
Ans. On a report go to grid options, select custom banding, click on settings
and select the two banding colors and in banding criteria select option by
number of rows and select the rows as 1 for first color and second color also

66.How to apply condition on attribute and the result should reflect on metric

67.What is logical size, how is it calculated, explain its significance

Ans. In microstrategy all the tables are defined with some specific size
depending on number of attributes and position of attributes in hierarchy
which is called as logical size
There is a formula to calculate logical size:
(Level of attribute in hierarchy)/ (total no. of attributes in
hierarchy) *10

Significance: when we have same column present in multiple tables, the table with
lowest logical size is going to hit

68.If I want to change the header object on the top of a report how can we do it
Ans. On that report go to report data objects, right click on the object which
we want to change and click rename. By this we can rename the header
object

69.Can we change the header object which should be reflected in SQL, if yes how
to do
Ans. No we cant do

FACTS
70.We have two dimension tables say prod_dimension, time_dimension. If we need
data from both these two tables how can we do that
Ans. The above two tables have no relationship between them so, by the help
of a fact table including the key columns of above two tables we can fetch
data from both the tables

71.Explain about star schema and snow flake schema and point out some
differences
Ans. In microstrategy if a fact table is surrounded by multiple dimension tables
then such a schema is called as star schema.

In microstrategy if a dimension table is further divided into sub dimension

tables and that sub dimension tables are indirectly related to fact tables, such
a schema is called as snowflake schema.

72.Fact doesnt exist at level specified, what would be the reasons

Ans. when related objects are updated and we forgot to update schema
Fact doesnt exist at Level fact
When corresponding tables are unchecked in fact editor
73.How to hit a particular fact table
Ans. it hits the table with lowest logical size. To hit the particular fact table :
1) Using metric editor (Rclick on formula -> sum parameters->fact id -> select
the table to forcibly hit )
2) Using fact editor (by changing mapping from automatic to manual and
checking or selecting the desired table)
3) Explicitly changing the logical size in table editor

74.What is fact extension

Ans. If the fact at warehouse level will be loaded at lowest granularity and in
microstrategy we want to report at different level (parent level), then in such
case we go for fact extension
Ex: In warehouse we have day level granularity and in mstr if we want to
report at month level, it is called as fact extension
Fact extension is done in fact editor.

75.What is fact degradation

Ans. In warehouse we have month level granularity and in mstr if we want to
report at day level, it is called as fact degradation

76.What is heterogeneous mapping

Ans. As per business functionality they serve the same but they exist as
different column names in different tables. Grouping all those different
column names in to 1 single name is called as heterogeneous mapping

TRANSFORMATIONS
77.What are transformations and various types of transformations

Ans. Transformation is an object which is used for time series analysis. When we
need to compare current data to previous data for better business analysis we
go for transformations.

Transformations are helpful in data mining. Table based transformations and

expression based transformations are the two types of transformations

Table based transformation:

Whenever the values calculated are stored in a table which is specifically

designed for transformation such a transformation is a table based
transformation

Expression based transformation:

When we apply arithmetic operations, mathematical functions for the table

based transformations such type of transformations are called as expression
based transformation

78.Which part of SQL is effected when we put transformations in a report

Ans. Where clause is affected and number of passes are more on the report
using transformations

HIERARCHIES
79.What is hierarchy, what are the types of hierarchies
Ans. Hierarchies are grouping of directly related attributes ordered to reflect
their relationship.
There are two types of hierarchies,
System Hierarchy: when we drill on a report we get system hierarchy
User defined Hierarchy: customized grouping of attributes. If we want a
particular hierarchy not to be shown to end user at that instance we go for
user defined hierarchy

80.Can we edit system defined hierarchies

Ans. Yes, every business keeps on changing so there should be updation for
existing hierarchies

81.What is the default evaluation order

Ans. The default evaluation order is: 1) Compound smart metric
2) Consolidations
3) Derived metric
4) Report limit filter
5) Sub Totals
82.Can we change the evaluation order, if yes how
Ans. Yes, we can change the default evaluation order. Go to report data
options and select evaluation order, uncheck the option set default
evaluation order and then we can change evaluation order by changing the
numbers

PERFORMANCE TUNING
83.What are the vldb settings you have worked out
Ans. 1. Sql version 89 to 92
2. derived table (avoiding multiple passes and creates less passes)
3. avoiding Cartesian join type
4. Avoiding sub-Query type
5. Create indexes on temporary tables and drop before
6. Drop all temporary tables before passes

84.In database say we have 100 rows but on mstr report we are getting 80 rows
what can be the possible reason
85.If a dashboard is running for more time what are the different steps you have
to take to tune it
Ans. 1) we see whether the report is bringing data from cube or data ware
house, if it is bringing from data ware house we check if it is feasible to create
an icube
2) By building aggregate tables
3) By building indexes on the columns used for conditional checking (In
where clause)
4) By changing the date, time data type to date data type in mstr
5) By setting vldb properties

GENERAL QUESTIONS

86.Can we place template in a template

Ans. No

87.Scenario: in a report we have one attribute and one metric (say revenue), if
revenue is greater than 60% it should be in green color else it should be in red
color
Ans. By the help of Thresholds we can do it

88.When you click on update schema, what are the options we get
89.What are view reports and standard reports, differentiate them
90.Object manager
91.Difference between object manager and project manager
92. , in any expression
 93.Scenario: Create a report that returns number of items sold by region and
category for the year 2011
94.Foreign key
95.Sub queries in mstr
96.Team structure and your role
97.Your responsibilities
98.Relocation bang delhi
99.When we have database why there is need for data ware house
100. What is surrogate key
Ans. non intelligent keys are surrogate keys
101. How joins are established in mstr
102. What are the different things you have worked on admin
103. What is groupby in sql
104. In one single column if we get both negative and positive values our
requirement is positive values should be one individual column and negative
values should be in another column
105. How do you resolve m to m relationships
Ans. by using bridge tables (temporary tables)
106. Difference between mstr 8 to mstr 9 versions

Ans. The Major differences are

Icubes
Distribution services
In Mstr web, creation of prompts, filters, custom group
Mstr 9.2 mobiles & Ipads/tablets
Export data & we can create cube on it
Dashboards
a) New Selectors
b) New Widgets

107. What is the current version you are working

Ans. 9.3.0
108. What are the new features included in the current version you are working
Ans.
Ability to create prompts, filters, consolidations
Row data(Excel/Empty excel) import into web, we can create cube on
it[Row data/Empty excel]
Auto refresh of the documents in mstr web

109. Differences between mstr 9.2 and 9.3 versions

Ans. The Major differences are

Ability to create prompts, filters, consolidations in 9.3

Row data(Excel/Empty excel) import into web, we can create cube on
it[Row data/Empty excel] in 9.3
Auto refresh of the documents in mstr web in 9.3
 110. Can you explain the backend process when a report is executed

Ans. The backend process will be designed by architect

Sql Engine: Generates the query [Bring the data from metadata database and then
generate the query]

Query Engine: It interacts with data ware house & brings the data for the query
generated by sql engine

Analytical Engine: All the calculations required for the report are performed by
analytical engine For ex: total, sub-total, Grand totaletc

111. What is the difference between two tier and three tier architecture
112. In your project which tier connection are you using
Ans. 4 tier connection
113. What are the different engines in mstr

Ans. Sql Engine: Generates the query [Bring the data from metadata database and
then generate the query]

Query Engine: It interacts with data ware house & brings the data for the query
generated by sql engine

Analytical Engine: All the calculations required for the report are performed by
analytical engine For ex: total, sub-total, Grand totaletc

114. Can we have two metadata databases for a single project

Ans. No, because mstr is having centralized metadata (powerful feature of
mstr)
115. What are managed objects
 116. What is transactional services, have you ever worked on free form sql
117. How do you move components from one environment to other environment..
do you move the objects individually or do you create a package and move
them
118. What are the different conflicts we encounter while moving objects from one
environment to other environment
119. What are the different action types that are present In object manager
120. What is the difference between object manager and project merge
121. What is an APP server
122. Using pass through functions how can we create previous year transformation
123. Do you have working exposure on mobile apps
124. In my database I have a column I have some values and some nulls but when
I browse in mstr I should see only values
125. What are the different caches we have in mstr
126. What is Unit testing in MSTR?

Ans. Testing of each object in MSTR.

1. Data testing
2. Format testing
3. Performance testing

127. Can you explain the work flow of your project (OR) Once you get the
requirement from the client what do you gonna do

Ans. a) Once we get the requirement from the client, we analyze the requirements
and based on the analysis we provide the estimations.

b) Once the estimates are approved we will start with technical design document by
considering some steps like:

1) All formatting should be included as per requirement document

2) Ordering of prompts, totals, sub totals placing should be as per

requirements

3) Drilldowns if any should be clearly specified

4) Security and data refreshing should be clearly mentioned

5) Prompt page and report layout design should be done as per

requirement document

c) Then we will start with the report/document design

d) And then we do unit testing, in unit testing we perform format testing,

performance testing and data testing.

128. Can you explain about your experience in mstr

129. What are the different public objects you have involved?

Ans. filters, consolidations, custom groups, prompts, documents

135. What is the client you are working?

136. What were your roles and responsibilities?

137. What is the exposure you have In documents

Ans. I have worked on panels, panel stack, selectors, different types of widgets etc.,

138. I have one document when I run the document the document should display
current month data, how do you achieve it

Ans. in selector properties check the option of slice and select the option use first

139. While creating object prompts on attribute and metric I want to make that
attributes and metrics dynamically added to my object prompt when new attributes
and metrics are added to my project

140. In database I have one metric value as 100 and in my mstr the value is
displaying as 200 for that same metric, what would be the possible reasons

Ans. in vldb settings, check the option data population

141. What are the different objects you have worked in schema

Ans. attributes facts, transformations, hierarchies etc.

142. Do you have experience in working logical data model