Creating A Repository Using The Oracle Business Intelligence Administration Tool

Creating a Repository Using the Oracle Business Intelligence
Administration Tool
Purpose
This tutorial shows you how to use the Oracle BI EE Administration Tool to build,
modify, enhance, and manage an Oracle BI repository.
Time to Complete
Approximately 4 hours
Topics
This tutorial covers the following topics:
Overview
Prerequisites
Building the Physical Layer of a Repository
Building the Business Model and Mapping Layer of a Repository
Building the Presentation Layer of a Repository
Testing and Validating a Repository
Creating Calculation Measures
Organizing the Presentation Layer
Using Initialization Blocks and Variables
Adding Multiple Sources
Executing Direct Database Requests
Using Aggregates
Creating Time Series Measures
Summary
Related information
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Overview
This tutorial shows you how to build an Oracle BI metadata repository. You learn how to
import metadata from databases and other data sources, simplify and reorganize the
imported metadata into a business model, and then structure the business model for
presentation to users who request business intelligence information via Oracle BI user
interfaces, such as Oracle BI Answers and Oracle BI Interactive Dashboards.
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Prerequisites
Create a directory named SetupFiles under <InstallDrive>. Download and extract the
SH.zip file from here to this directory named SetupFiles.
This tutorial is for a Windows environment only.
Note: If you are a Oracle employee and are using the VMWare environment, you can
skip the subtopic Create an ODBC Data Source. Make sure you have 2 GB RAM and 15
GB hard disk space and have VMWare 1.5.x installed on your machine. If you do not
have VMWare software, download a copy of VMWare Player from
http://www.vmware.com/download/player/.
For all others, before starting this tutorial, you should meet the following prerequisites:
1. Have access to or have installed Oracle 10g Database.
2. Have access to or have installed the sample schema. This tutorial uses the SH schema included
in the Oracle10g Database.
You can also install the schema by following the instructions found in the Installing the Sample
Schemas and Establishing a Database Connection OBE tutorial.
3. Have access to or have installed Oracle BI EE 10.1.3.2.
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Building the Physical Layer of a Repository
In this topic you use the Oracle BI Administration Tool to build the Physical layer of a
repository.
The Physical layer defines the data sources to which Oracle BI Server submits queries
and the relationships between physical databases and other data sources that are used to
process multiple data source queries. The recommended way to populate the Physical
layer is by importing metadata from databases and other data sources. The data sources
can be of the same or different varieties. You can import schemas or portions of schemas
from existing data sources. Additionally, you can create objects in the Physical layer
manually.
When you import metadata, many of the properties of the data sources are configured
automatically based on the information gathered during the import process. After import,
you can also define other attributes of the physical data sources, such as join
relationships, that might not exist in the data source metadata. There can be one or more
data sources in the Physical layer, including databases, spreadsheets, and XML
documents. In this example, you import and configure tables from the sample SH schema
included with the Oracle 10g database.
To build the Physical layer, you perform the following steps:
Create a New Repository

Create an ODBC Data Source
Import SH Schema
Create Physical Joins
Create a New Repository
To create a new repository, perform the following steps:
1. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services.
2. In the Services dialog box, stop the Oracle BI Server service.
3. Click Start > Programs > Oracle Business Intelligence > Administration to open the Oracle
BI Administration Tool.
4. Click File > New to open the New Repository dialog box.
5. In the New Repository dialog box, the Repository folder is selected by default. Name the file
SH.rpd.
6. Click Save. The new repository opens in the Administration Tool and displays three empty
layers: Presentation, Business Model and Mapping, and Physical. If necessary, select Tools >
Options > Show toolbar to display the toolbar.
The Physical layer is where information on physical data sources is stored. The Business Model
and Mapping layer is where measurements and terms used in business are mapped to the
physical data sources. The Presentation layer is where the business model is customized for
presentation to the user. You can work on each layer at any stage in creating a repository, but the
typical order is to create the Physical layer first, then the Business Model and Mapping layer,
and then the Presentation layer.
Leave the Administration Tool open.
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Create an ODBC Data Source
An ODBC data source is needed to import schema information about a data source into
an Oracle BI Server repository. To create an ODBC data source for importing the SH
schema information, perform the following steps:
1. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC) to open the ODBC
Data Source Administrator.
2. Click the System DSN tab and click Add.
The Create New Data Source dialog box opens.
3. In the Create New Data Source dialog box, select the Oracle driver.
4. Click Finish to open the Oracle ODBC Driver Configuration dialog box.
5. In the Oracle ODBC Driver Configuration dialog box, enter a Data Source Name (this can be
any name), select the appropriate TNS Service Name from the drop down list (ORCL in this
example), and enter SH as the User ID for the SH schema.
6. Click Test Connection to open the Oracle ODBC Driver Connect dialog box.
7. In the Oracle ODBC Driver Connect dialog box, enter the password SH for the SH schema and
click OK.
8. You should see a "Testing Connection" message indicating the connection is successful.
9. Click OK to close the Testing Connection message.
10. Click OK to close the Oracle ODBC Driver Configuration dialog box.
11. Verify that the SH system data source is added in the ODBC Data Source Administrator and
click OK to close the ODBC Data Source Administrator.
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Import SH Schema
To import the SH schema information into the repository, perform the following steps:
1. In the Oracle BI Administration Tool, click File > Import > from Database . . .
2. In the Select Data Source dialog box, select the SH ODBC DSN you created in a previous step,
enter SH as the user name and password, and click OK to open the Import dialog box.
3. In the Import dialog box, locate the SH schema folder.

4. Expand the SH schema folder and use Ctrl + Click to select the following tables:
CHANNELS, COSTS, COUNTRIES, CUSTOMERS, PRODUCTS, PROMOTIONS,

SALES, TIMES
5. Verify that only the Tables and Keys checkboxes are selected, which is the default, and click the
Import button. The Connection Pool dialog box opens.
It is best practice to only import objects needed to support your business model. However, don’t
worry if you import extra objects at this point. You can always delete objects later if they do not
support your business model.
6. In the Connection Pool dialog box, on the General tab, verify that the call interface is set to
Default (OCI 10g) and change the data source name to the appropriate tnsnames.ora entry (
ORCL in this example). Please note that this is the TNS service name, not the ODBC DSN.
7. Leave the rest of the settings as they are and click OK to close the Connection Pool dialog box.
The import process starts.
8. When the Import process completes, click Close to close the Import dialog box.
9. In the Physical layer of the repository, expand the SH schema folder and verify that the correct
tables are imported.
10. To verify connectivity, click Tools > Update All Row Counts.
11. When update all row counts completes, verify that the row counts are displayed in the Physical
layer of the Administration Tool:
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To create physical joins in the Physical layer of the repository, perform the following
steps:
1. In the Physical layer, right-click the SH schema folder and select Physical Diagram > Object
(s) and All Joins. Alternatively, you can select the SH database object and then click the
Physical Diagram button on the toolbar.
2. In the Physical Diagram, if the tables are too big, right-click in the white space, select Zoom,
and adjust the size.
3. Rearrange the tables so they are all visible in the Physical Diagram.
4. Click the New Foreign Key button on the toolbar.
5. Click the Channels table and then the Sales table. The Physical Foreign Key dialog box opens.
It matters which table you click first. The join is creating a one-to-many (1:N) relationship that
joins the key column in the first table to a foreign key column in the second table. The
Administration Tool makes a best "guess" and automatically determines which columns should
be included in the join.
Make sure the join expression is:
CHANNELS.CHANNEL_ID = SALES.CHANNEL_ID
6. Click OK to close the Physical Foreign Key dialog box. The join between Channels and Sales is
displayed in the Physical Diagram.
7. Continue to create the following joins:
PROMOTIONS.PROMO_ID = SALES.PROMO_ID
TIMES.TIME_ID = SALES.TIME_ID
PRODUCTS.PROD_ID = SALES.PROD_ID
CUSTOMERS.CUST_ID = SALES.CUST_ID
COUNTRIES.COUNTRY_ID = CUSTOMERS.COUNTRY_ID
Note that Countries joins to Customers and Costs in not joined for now. All other tables join
directly to Sales.
When you are finished, click the X in the upper right corner to close the Physical Diagram.
8. Select File > Save or click the Save button on the toolbar to save the repository.
9. Click No when prompted to check global consistency. Checking Global Consistency checks for
errors in the entire repository. Some of the more common checks are done in the Business Model
and Mapping layer and Presentation layer. Since these layers are not defined yet, bypass this
check until the other layers in the repository are built. You learn more about consistency check
later in this tutorial.
10. Leave the Administration Tool and the SH repository open for the next topic.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a new repository, set up an ODBC data source,
imported a table schema from an external data source into the Physical layer, and defined keys
and joins.
In the next topic you learn how to build the Business Model and Mapping layer of a repository.
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Building the Business Model and Mapping Layer of a Repository
In this topic you use the Oracle BI Administration Tool to build the Business Model and
Mapping layer of a repository.
The Business Model and Mapping layer of the Administration Tool defines the business,
or logical, model of the data and specifies the mappings between the business model and
the Physical layer schemas. This is where the physical schemas are simplified to form the
basis for the users’ view of the data. The Business Model and Mapping layer of the
Administration Tool can contain one or more business model objects. A business model
object contains the business model definitions and the mappings from logical to physical
tables for the business model.
The main purpose of the business model is to capture how users think about their
business using their own vocabulary. The business model simplifies the physical schema
and maps the users’ business vocabulary to physical sources. Most of the vocabulary
translates into logical columns in the business model. Collections of logical columns
form logical tables. Each logical column (and hence each logical table) can have one or
more physical objects as sources.
There are two main categories of logical tables: fact and dimension. Logical fact tables
contain the measures by which an organization gauges its business operations and
performance. Logical dimension tables contain the data used to qualify the facts.
To build the Business Model and Mapping layer, you perform the following steps:
Create a Business Model

Create Logical Tables
Create Logical Columns
Create Logical Joins
Rename Business Model Objects
Delete Unnecessary Business Model Objects
Build Dimension Hierarchies
Create a Business Model
To create a new business model, perform the following steps:
1. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, right-click the white space and select New Business
Model.
2. In the Business Model dialog box, name the business model SH and leave the Available for
queries box unchecked. The Description edit box is used to add a comment for yourself or
another developer. Leave it empty.
3. Click OK to close the Business Model dialog. The new SH business model appears in the
Business Model and Mapping layer. The red symbol on the business model indicates it is not yet
enabled for querying. You enable the business model for querying later after the Presentation
layer is defined and the repository passes a global consistency check.
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Create Logical Tables
To create a new logical table, perform the following steps:
1. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, right-click the SH business model and select New
Object > Logical Table.
2. In the Logical Table dialog box, name the table Sales Facts.
3. Click OK to close the Logical Table dialog. The Sales Facts logical table appears in the SH
business model in the Business Model and Mapping layer. The Sources folder is populated in the
next step when you create a logical column.
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Create Logical Columns
To create a logical column, perform the following steps:
1. In the Physical layer, expand the Sales physical table.

2. Select the column AMOUNT_SOLD.
3. Drag the AMOUNT_SOLD column from the Physical layer to the Sales Facts logical table in
the Business Model and Mapping layer. A new AMOUNT_SOLD logical column is added to the
Sales Facts logical table.
4. Expand the Sources to see the logical table source that was created automatically when you
dragged the AMOUNT_SOLD column from the Physical layer. Logical table sources define the
mappings from a logical table to a physical table. A logical table’s Sources folder contains the
logical table sources. Because you dragged a column from the Physical layer, the logical table
source name, SALES, is the same name as the physical table. However, it is possible to change
names in the Business Model and Mapping layer without impacting the mapping.
5. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, double-click the AMOUNT_SOLD logical column
to open the Logical Column dialog box.
6. Click the Aggregation tab.

7. In the Default aggregation rule drop down list, select SUM.
8. Click OK to close the Logical Column dialog box. Notice that the logical column icon is
changed to indicate an aggregation rule is applied.
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Create Logical Joins
To create logical joins in the business model, perform the following steps:
1. Select the following tables in the Physical layer. Select only these tables:
CHANNELS, CUSTOMERS, PRODUCTS, PROMOTIONS, TIMES
2. Drag the selected tables from the Physical layer onto the SH business model folder in the
Business Model and Mapping layer. This automatically creates logical tables in the Business
Model and Mapping layer. Notice that each logical table has a yellow table icon. In the Business
Model and Mapping layer, this indicates a fact table. Because you have not yet created the
logical joins, all table icons are yellow. The icon color for dimension tables changes to white in a
later step when you create logical joins.
3. Right-click the SH business model and select Business Model Diagram > Whole Diagram.
4. Rearrange the table icons so they are all visible. Place the Sales Facts table in the middle. Adjust
the zoom factor, if desired.
5. Click the New Complex Join button in the toolbar.

6. Click the Channels table icon first and then click the Sales Facts table icon in the Logical Table
Diagram window. The order is important. The second table clicked is the many side of the
relationship. The Logical Join dialog box opens. Leave the default values as they are, but note
which properties you can set: name, business model, tables, driving table, join type, and
cardinality. Also note which properties you cannot set: the join expression and the join columns.
Typically, when defining logical joins, you leave the defaults as they are.
7. Do not change the default values, click OK, and verify your work in the Logical Table Diagram.
Notice that the fact table, Sales Facts, is at the many end of the join:
8. Repeat the steps for the remaining tables. Your final result should look similar to the picture.
9. Click the X in the upper right corner to close the Logical Table Diagram. Notice that the color of
the table icons for the dimension tables has changed to white in the business model. In a business
model, a yellow icon indicates a fact table and a white icon indicates a dimension table. Defining
the join relationships determined which tables are the logical dimension tables and which is the
logical fact table. A fact table is always on the many side of a logical join. You now have a
logical star schema consisting of one logical fact table, Sales Facts, and five logical dimension
tables: Channels, Customers, Products, Promotions, and Times.
10. Save the SH repository. Do not check global consistency.
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Rename Business Model Objects
To use the Rename Wizard to rename the objects in the business model, perform the
following steps:
1. Click Tools > Utilities.
2. In the Utilities dialog box, click Rename Wizard and then Execute.
3. In the Rename Wizard, click the Business Model and Mapping tab and select the SH business
model.
4. Click the Add Hierarchy button.

5. Click Next.
6. Click Select None.

7. Check Logical Table and Logical Column.
8. Click Next.
9. Select All text lowercase.

10. Click Add.
11. Click Change specified text. In the Find box, type an underscore. In the Replace box, type a
space.
12. Click Add.
13. Click First letter of each word capital and click Add.
14. Click Change specified text. In the Find box, type a space and the letters Id. In the Replace
With box, type a space and the letters ID. Check Case sensitive.
15. Click Add.
16. Click Next and review changes.
17. Click Finish and verify that logical tables and logical columns in the Business Model and
Mapping layer are changed as expected.
18. Save the repository. Do not check global consistency.
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Delete Unnecessary Business Model Objects
To delete logical columns that are not needed in the business model, perform the
following steps:
1. For the Channels logical table in the Business Model and Mapping layer, use Ctrl + click to
select the Channel Class ID and the Channel Total ID logical columns.
2. Right-click either of the highlighted columns and select Delete to delete the columns.
Alternatively, you can use the Delete key on your keyboard.
3. Click Yes to confirm the delete.
4. Verify that the Channels logical table now has only four logical columns.
5. Repeat the steps to delete the following logical columns in the Customers table:
Cust City ID
Cust State Province ID
Country ID
Cust Main Phone Number
Cust Total ID
Cust Src ID
Cust Eff From
Cust Eff To
Cust Valid
6. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and verify that the Customers logical
table has only the following logical columns:
7. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and repeat the steps to delete the
highlighted logical columns in the Products table.
8. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and verify that the Products logical table
has only the following logical columns:
9. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and repeat the steps to delete the
highlighted logical columns in the Promotions table.
10. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and verify that the Promotions logical
table has only the following logical columns:
11. Do not delete any columns in the Times table.
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Build Dimension Hierarchies
Dimension hierarchies introduce formal hierarchies into a business model, allowing

Oracle BI Server to calculate useful measures and allowing users to drill down to more
detail. In a business model, a dimension hierarchy represents a hierarchical organization
of logical columns belonging to a single logical dimension table. Common dimension
hierarchies used in a business model are time periods, products, customers, suppliers, and
so forth.
Dimension hierarchies are created in the Business Model and Mapping layer and end
users do not see them in end user tools such as Oracle BI Answers or Interactive
Dashboards. In each dimension hierarchy, you organize dimension attributes into
hierarchical levels. These levels represent the organizational rules and reporting needs
required by your business. They provide the structure that Oracle BI Server uses to drill
into and across dimensions to get more detailed views of the data. Dimension hierarchy
levels are used to perform aggregate navigation, configure level-based measure
calculations, and determine what attributes appear when Oracle BI users drill down in
their data requests.
To build the Channels dimension hierarchy in the SH business model, perform the
following steps:
1. Right-click the Channels logical table and select Create Dimension.
2. Right-click the ChannelsDim object, which was created by the action in the previous step, and
select Expand All.
3. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and verify that the ChannelsDim
dimension hierarchy matches the picture.
4. Right-click the Channels Detail level and select New Object > Parent Level.
5. In the Logical Level dialog box, name the logical level Class and set the Number of elements
at this level to 3. This number does not have to be exact. The ratio from one level to the next is
more important than the absolute number. These numbers only affect which aggregate source is
used (optimization, not correctness of queries).
6. Click OK to close the Logical Level dialog box. The new Class level is added to the hierarchy.
7. Right-click the Class level and select Expand All.
8. Drag the Channel Class column from the Channel Detail level to the Class level to associate
the logical column with this level of the hierarchy.
9. Right-click Channel Class and select New Logical Level Key.

10 In the Logical Level Key dialog box, verify that Channel Class and Use for drilldown are
selected. The level key defines the unique elements in each logical level. Each level key can
consist of one or more columns at this level.
11. Click OK to close the Logical Level Key dialog box. The Channel Class column now displays
with a key icon.
12. Right-click the Class level and select New Object > Parent Level.
13. In the Logical Level dialog box, name the logical level Channel Total Attribute and set the
Number of elements at this level to 1.
14. Click OK to close the Logical Level dialog box. The Channel Total Attribute level is added to
the hierarchy.
15. Right-click the Channel Total Attribute level and select Expand All.
16. Drag the Channel Total column from the Channel Detail level to the Channel Total Attribute
. level.
17. Right-click Channel Total and select New Logical Level Key.
18. In the Logical Level Key dialog box, verify that Channel Total and Use for drilldown are
selected.
19. Click OK to close the Logical Level Key dialog box. The Channel Total column now displays
with a key icon.
20. Right-click the Channel Desc column and select New Logical Level Key.
21. In the Logical Level Key dialog box, notice that Use for drilldown is selected.
22. Click OK to close the Logical Level Key dialog. Both Channel Desc and Channel ID display
with key icons.
23. Double-click the Channels Detail level to open the Logical Level dialog box.
24. Click the Keys tab.
25. Click Channels Detail_Key.

26. Click the Edit button.
27. In the Logical Level Key dialog box, uncheck Use for drilldown.
28. Click OK to close the Logical Level Key dialog box. Notice that the key icons are different.
Channel Desc is used for drill down Channels Detail_Key is not. Later, when a user drills
down in Answers or a dashboard, the default drill is to the level key that has Use for drilldown
checked in the next lowest level. Based on this example, when a user drills down from the
Channel Class column (the next highest level), the default is to drill down to the Channel Desc
column, not the Channels Detail_Key column.
29. Click OK to close the Logical Level dialog box.
30. Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and verify that the finished
ChannelsDim hierarchy looks like the picture.
32. Optional: Build a dimension hierarchy for the Products logical table. Use the preceding steps,
the screenshot, and the characteristics below as a guide. Don't worry if you cannot complete this
step. In Part Two of this OBE, you use a different repository that already has the dimension
hierarchies prebuilt.
The ProductsDim dimension hierarchy should have the following characteristics:
For the Subcategory level, set Number of elements at this level to 21.
For the Category level, set Number of elements at this level to 5.
For the Product Total Attribute level, set Number of elements at this level to 1.
For the Products Detail level, uncheck Use for drill down for Products Detail_Key (Prod ID).
Check Use for drill down for all other keys in the ProductsDim hierarchy.
If you complete this step, save the repository. Do not check global consistency.
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Building the Presentation Layer of a Repository
In this topic you use the Oracle BI Administration Tool to build the Presentation layer of
a repository.
The Presentation layer is built after the Physical layer and Business Model and Mapping
layer and adds a level of abstraction over the Business Model and Mapping layer. It is the
view of the data seen by end users in client tools and applications, such as Oracle BI
Answers. The Presentation layer provides a means to further simplify or customize the
Business Model and Mapping layer for end users. For example, you can organize
columns into catalogs and folders.
Simplifying the view of the data for users makes it easier to craft queries based on users’
business needs because you can expose only the data that is meaningful to the users,
organize the data in a way that aligns with the way users think about the data, and rename
data as necessary for the set of users.
You typically create Presentation layer objects by dragging objects from the Business
Model and Mapping layer. Corresponding objects are automatically created in the
Presentation layer. Presentation layer objects can then be renamed and reorganized.
To build the Presentation layer, you perform the following steps:
1. Drag the SH business model from the Business Model and Mapping layer to the Presentation
layer to create the SH catalog in the Presentation layer.
2. Expand the SH catalog in the Presentation layer. Notice that the tables and columns in the
Presentation layer exactly match the tables and columns in the Business Model and Mapping
layer. Notice also that dimension hierarchies are not displayed.

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Testing and Validating a Repository
You have finished building the initial business model and now need to test the repository
before continuing your development. You begin by checking the repository for errors
using the check consistency option. You then test the repository by running queries using
Oracle BI Answers. Finally, you examine the query log file to verify the SQL generated
by Oracle BI Server.
To test and validate a repository, you perform the following steps:
Run a Consistency Check

Enable Query Logging
Modify NQSConfig.ini
Start Oracle BI Services
Use Oracle BI Answers to Execute Queries
Use Query Log to Verify Queries
Run a Consistency Check
Consistency check is a utility in the Administration Tool that checks if a repository has
met certain requirements. Repositories and the business models within them must pass
the consistency check before you can make business models available for queries. When
a repository or business model is inconsistent, a detailed message alerts you to the nature
of the inconsistency.
The Consistency Check Manager displays three types of messages:
Error messages indicate errors that need to be fixed to make the repository consistent.
Warning messages indicate conditions that may or may not be errors, depending upon the
intent of the Oracle BI Server administrator. For example, if the Administrator user has
an empty password this should be addressed, but is not a requirement for a consistent
repository.
Best Practices messages provide information about conditions but do not indicate an
inconsistency. For example, if there are physical tables with no keys defined, a best
practice message is displayed. Defining keys for physical tables is best practice, but is not
a requirement for a consistent repository.
For each message the Consistency Check Manager identifies the message type, the object
type, the object, and provides a detailed description of the message. There are options to
display only selected message types, display results using qualified names, check all
objects in the repository, and copy the results to another file.
To check consistency, you perform the following steps:
1. Select File > Check Global Consistency.
2. You should receive a message indicating that the repository is consistent and asking if you want
to make it available for queries.
3. Click Yes to make the SH business model available for queries. The Consistency Check
Manager displays.
4. If the Consistency Check Manager displays any Error messages, edit the repository to correct
the inconsistencies and run the consistency check again.
If you see only Warning and Best Practices messages, you can ignore the messages for now
and click Close.
5. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, notice that the SH business model icon has changed
to indicate the business model is now available for queries (the red circle with a line is gone).
6. Double-click the SH business model object to open the Business Model properties dialog box.
Notice that Available for queries is checked.
7. Click OK to close the Business Model properties dialog box.
8. Save the repository. Click No when asked to check global consistency (you just checked it).
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Enable Query Logging
To enable query logging for the Administrator user, perform the following steps:
1. Select Manage > Security.

2. In the Security Manager, select Users in the left pane. The Administrator user appears in the
right pane.
3. In the right pane, double-click Administrator. The User dialog box opens.
4. Verify that the User tab is selected. In the Password field, type Administrator and then confirm
in the Confirm Password field. In the Logging level field, set the value to 2.
To test the repository, you need to generate some queries, retrieve the results, and examine the
query log. You log query activity at the individual user level. Logging is intended for testing,
debugging, and technical support. In production mode, logging is normally disabled because
query logging can impact performance by producing very large log files.
5. Click OK to close the User dialog box.
6. Click Action > Close to close the Security Manager.
8. Select File > Close to close the repository.

9. Select File > Exit to close the Administration Tool.
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Modify NQSConfig.ini
In this step, you update the Repository and Cache sections of the initialization file,
NQSConfig.ini. An entry in the Repository section of the initialization file instructs
Oracle BI Server to load a specific repository into memory upon startup. If Oracle BI
Server detects a syntax error while loading the repository, it logs the error to the server
log file (...\\OracleBI\server\Log\NQServer.log). You also disable caching. Caching is
typically not used during development, except to test the cache.
1. Navigate to ...\OracleBI\server\Config\ and open NQSConfig.INI with a text editor, such as

Notepad.
2. Locate the [ REPOSITORY ] section and change the entry to Star = SH.rpd, DEFAULT;
3. In the [ CACHE ] section, immediately below the [ REPOSITORY ] section, change the
ENABLE parameter from YES to NO.
4. Save the changes and close NQSConfig.INI.
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Start Oracle BI Services
In this step, you start the Oracle BI Server service to load the SH repository into memory.
1. Select Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services.
2. Start the Oracle BI Server service. Verify that the Oracle BI Presentation Server and Oracle
BI Java Host services are started. If they are not started, start them. It is not necessary to start
the Oracle BI Scheduler or Oracle BI Cluster Controller services. The services can be started
in any order.
3. Minimize the services window.
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Use Oracle BI Answers to Execute Queries
To start Oracle BI Answers and execute a query, perform the following steps:
1. Select Start > Programs > Oracle Business Intelligence > Presentation Services.
2. Log in to Oracle Business Intelligence as Administrator with password Administrator.
3. Click the Answers link.
4. Click the SH subject area.

5. In the left pane, click the Customers folder to expand it. Notice that the folders and columns in
Answers match the folders and column in the Presentation layer of the repository.
6. Click the Cust State Province column in the left pane to add it to the request criteria on the
right.
7. Click the Sales Facts folder in the left pane to expand it.
8. Click the Amount Sold column to add it to the request criteria.
9. Click the Results tab.
10. By default, results are displayed in a compound layout, consisting of a title and a table view.
Back to Topic
Use Query Log to Verify Queries
1. Click Settings > Administration to open the Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration
Window.
2. Click the Manage Sessions link to open the Session Management window.
3. In the Session Management window, under Cursor Cache, click the View Log link for the last
entry.
4. The log displays the last query executed by Administrator. The log file should look similar to
the picture.
Locate the SQL Request section. This section contains the logical SQL issued from Answers.
Locate the General Query Info section, just below the SQL Request section. This section
identifies the repository, subject area, and presentation catalog from which the query was run.
Locate the Sending query to database named SH section, just below the General Query Info
section. This section identifies the physical data source to which Oracle BI Server is connecting
and the physical SQL that was generated.
The rest of the file contains information such as query status, number of rows returned, and so
forth.
5. Close the query log.

6. Click Finished to close the Session Management window.
7. Click Close Window to close the Oracle Bi Presentation Services Administration window.
8. Leave Answers open.
Congratulations! Up to this point you have successfully built the Physical, Business Model and
Mapping, and Presentation layers of a repository, run a consistency check, and tested the
repository using Oracle BI Answers. For the remainder of this OBE you enhance the repository
by performing tasks such as building calculation measures, adding multiple logical table sources,
building variables and initialization blocks, mapping to aggregate tables, and so forth.
Back to Topic
Back to Topic List
Creating Calculation Measures
Often, a business wants to compare values of a measure and needs a calculation to

express the comparison. Oracle BI Server has a calculation engine to perform a multitude
of calculations. Calculation measures allow end users to ask business questions like
“Show me the accounts receivable balance as of Q3” or “Show me the difference
between units ordered and units shipped.” An Expression Builder enables you to create
expressions that are similar to expressions created with SQL. In the examples in this
lesson, you use the Expression Builder to create calculation measures that appear as
columns to users in Answers. Users can then easily build queries using familiar
terminology.
There are different methods for creating calculation measures in the Administration Tool.
You can use existing logical columns as objects in a formula, use physical columns as
objects in a formula, or use the Calculation Wizard to automate the process. All three
methods are covered in this OBE. You use physical columns for calculations that require
and aggregation rule to be applied after the calculation. You use logical columns for
calculation formulas that require an aggregation rule that is applied before the
calculation. You can also build calculation measures in Answers. The advantages to
building calculation measures in the repository is the measures are built once and can be
made available to all users. The advantage of defining a logical column formula based on
existing logical columns is that you only have to define it once. When you create
formulas based on physical columns, you have to map for each physical source it could
be derived from.
To create calculation measures, you perform the following steps:

Load a Prebuilt Repository
Create a New Measure
Create a Calculation Measure Using Answers
Create a Calculation Measure Using Logical Columns
Create a Calculation Measure Using Physical Columns
Create a Calculation Measure Using the Calculation Wizard
Load a Prebuilt Repository
A prebuilt repository is provided to expedite your completion of the remaining exercises

in this OBE. The provided repository is similar to the repository you built in the first part
of this OBE, but with the following relevant differences:
Physical joins are built for the the COSTS physical table in the Physical layer.
There are four additional dimension hierarchies: CustomersDim, ProductsDim,

PromotionsDim, and TimesDim.
To load the prebuilt repository, perform the following steps:
1. Stop the Oracle BI Server service.
2. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to <InstallDrive>\OracleBI\server\repository.
3. Change the name of the SH.rpd file to SH_PartOne.rpd.
4. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the SetupFiles folder and copy the SH_PartTwo.rpd file to
<InstallDrive>\OracleBI\server\repository.
5. Rename SH_PartTwo.rpd to SH.rpd. There is no need to update the NQSConfig.ini file,

because, in an earlier step, you modified the entry in the Repository section of the initialization
file to instruct Oracle BI Server to load the SH repository into memory upon startup.
6. Start the Oracle BI Server service.
7. Click Start > Programs > Oracle Business Intelligence > Administration to open the
Administration Tool.
8. Click File > Open > Online.

9. In the Open Online AnalyticsWeb dialog box, type Administrator in the Password field and click
Open.
10.The SH repository opens in online mode.
Up to this point , all the changes you have made to the repository have been in offline mode. Now
that you have a consistent repository and Oracle BI Server is running and using the repository,
you can make changes to the metadata in online mode.
In offline mode the relationship between the Administration Tool and the repository is like the
relationship between any Windows application and a file. An application, the Administration Tool
in this case, opens a file for editing, makes changes to its in-memory copy, and tells the OS to
save the changed file.
In online mode, the relationship is different. Oracle BI Server has already opened the repository
file and the operating system has put a write-lock on the file. In this mode, Oracle BI Server can
act as an agent of the Administration Tool. When the Administration Tool tells it to, Oracle BI
Server sends the Administration Tool a copy of its in-memory repository. Then it listens for
messages from the Administration Tool about changes, makes those changes to its in-memory
copy, and, when told by the Administration Tool, tells the OS to save the changed file.
When you start the Administration Tool in online mode, you pick an Oracle BI ODBC DSN that
points to the repository you want to edit (i.e., the repository that is the default repository in the
DSN). The Administration Tool then communicates changes to Oracle BI Server and Oracle BI
Server makes the corresponding changes to its in-memory copy.
Typically, you develop a repository in offline mode and use online mode for minor updates and
changes.
If desired, examine the structure of the provided repository before proceeding with the remaining
steps in this OBE. In particular, examine the relevant differences: the physical joins for the
COSTS physical table, and the four additional dimension hierarchies: CustomersDim,
ProductsDim, PromotionsDim, and TimesDim.
11.To verify connectivity, click Tools > Update All Row Counts. This may take a few minutes.
12.When Update Row Counts completes, expand the Physical layer and verify that row counts
appear for all tables and columns.
Notice that the objects have a red check mark. Since Oracle BI Server may be processing queries
while you are editing the repository in online mode, you must check out objects before editing
them. Once the objects have been edited, you check them in again. At that point the changes you
made become active. When you are finished editing, you can save the changes to the repository.
In this example, the Administration Tool is configured to check out objects automatically. Thus,
objects were checked out automatically when you ran Update Row Counts. If you do not see the
red check marks, select Tools > Options > General Tab > Check out objects automatically.
Back to Topic
Create a New Measure
To add a new measure to the Sales Facts table, perform the following steps:
1. In the Physical layer, navigate to COSTS > UNIT_COST.
2. Drag UNIT_COST from the Physical layer to the SALES logical table source for the Sales Facts
logical table. UNIT_COST appears as a logical column in the Sales Facts logical table.
3. Right-click the UNIT_COST logical column, select Rename, and rename the column to Unit
Cost. Alternatively, slowly double-click the column to make it editable.
4. Set the aggregation rule for the Unit Cost logical column to SUM. Hint: double-click the column
to open the Logical Column properties dialog box and click the Aggregation tab..
5. Drag the Unit Cost logical column to the Sales Facts presentation folder.
6. Click File > Check In Changes or click the Check In Changes button on the toolbar to check in
changes.
7. Click Yes when prompted to check global consistency. The Consistency Check Manager opens
and displays Warnings and Best Practices messages. Review the messages.
8. For the purposes of this OBE, you disable the Warnings and Best Practices messages. Click the
Options tab.
9. Expand Warnings folder, select Check Features Match Default, and then click the Disable
button.
If you desire, review the other Warnings items that are checked.
10.Select Best Practices > Physical Table > Search for Tables With No Keys, and then click the
Disable button.
If you desire, review the other Best Practices items that are checked.
11.Click the Messages tab.
12.Click Check All Objects. The Consistency Check Manager displays with no messages, indicating
a consistent repository.
13.Click Close to close the Consistency Check Manager.
14.Save the repository.
15.Return to Answers to test the new column in Answers. If Answers is not open, select Start >
Programs > Oracle Business Intelligence > Presentation Server, log in as Administrator with
password Administrator, click the Answers link, and click the SH subject area.
16.Click Reload Server Metadata.
17.Build the following request:
Times.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold, Sales Facts.Unit Cost.

18.Click Results.
19.Click Settings > Administration > Manage Sessions > View Log to view the query log and
examine the SQL generated by the request.
Back to Topic
Create a Calculation Measure Using Answers
Before you create calculation measures in the metadata using the Administration Tool,
you create a calculation measure using Answers. You do this so you can compare your
results later when you create similar calculations measures in the repository.
To create a calculation measure using Answers, perform the following steps:
1. Click the Criteria tab. The request from the previous set of steps should still be open.
2. Add another Amount Sold column to the request.
3. Click the Edit Formula button for the Amount Sold column that you just added.
4. The Edit Column Formula dialog box displays with "Sales Facts"."Amount Sold" in the Column
formula field.
5. In the Edit Column Formula dialog box, click to the right of "Sales Facts"."Amount Sold" in
the Column Formula field.
6. Click the Minus operator to add it to the formula.

7. In the left panel, click Sales Facts > Unit Cost to add it to the formula.
8. Click the Custom Headings check box.
9. In the Custom Heading field, type Gross Profit.
10. Click OK to close the Edit Column Formula dialog box and verify the change to the request.
11. Click Results.
12. Click Settings > Administration > Manage Sessions > View Log to view the query log.
13. Leave Answers open for the next topic.

Back to Topic
Create a Calculation Measure Using Logical Columns
In this topic, you define a new calculation measure named Gross Profit in the Sales Facts
logical table, using existing logical columns to define the calculation formula.
To create a calculation measure using logical columns, perform the following steps.
1. Return to the SH repository, which should still be open in online mode in the Administration
Tool.
2. Right-click the Sales Facts logical table and select New Object > Logical Column.
3. In the Logical Column dialog box, name the logical column Gross Profit and check Use existing
logical columns as the source.
4. Click the Expression Builder button (three dots) to open the Expression builder.
5. In the left pane, click Logical Tables.

6. Select Sales Facts in the middle pane, Amount Sold in the right pane, and click Insert. The
Amount Sold column is added to the formula.
7. Click the minus sign operator to add it to the formula.

8. Double-click Unit Cost in the right pane to add it to the formula.
9. Click OK to close the Expression Builder. Notice that the formula appears in the Logical Column
dialog box.
10.Click OK to close the Logical Column dialog box. The Gross Profit logical column appears in the
business model.
11.Drag the Gross Profit logical column to the Sales Facts table in the Presentation layer.
12.Check in changes.
13.Click Yes when prompted to check global consistency. If the repository is consistent (no Error
messages), close the Consistency Check Manager. If there are Error messages, you must correct
the errors before continuing.
15.Return to Answers, which should still be open from the previous topic.
17.Expand Sales Facts and verify that the Gross Profit column is now visible in Answers.
18.Create the following request. (If the request from the previous topic is still open, delete the Gross
Profit column you created in Answers and then add the Gross Profit column you created in the
repository to the query.)
Times.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold, Sales Facts.Unit Cost, Sales Facts.Gross
Profit
19.Click Results. Verify that the results are the same as for the query you built using the Gross Profit
column created in Answers.
20.Click Settings > Administration > Manage Sessions > View Log to view the query log. Your
results should look similar to the picture.
Note that the difference between AMOUNT_SOLD and UNIT_COST is being calculated in the
outer query block (SAWITH0.c2 - SAWITH0.c1 as c4 in the example pictured here). Because
you defined the Gross Profit calculation using logical columns, the columns are summed first and
then the difference is calculated. You compare these results to the query results in the next
practice.
21.Close the query log.
22.Click Finished to close the Session Management window.
23.Click Close Window to close Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration.
24.Leave Answers open for the next topic.

Back to Topic
Create a Calculation Measure Using Physical Columns
In this topic, you define a new calculation measure named Gross Profit Physical in the
Sales Facts logical table, using physical columns to define the calculation formula.
To create a calculation measure using physical columns, perform the following steps.
Tool.
2. Right-click the Sales Facts logical table and select New Object > Logical Column.
3. In the Logical Column dialog box, name the logical column Gross Profit Physical.
4. Click the Aggregation tab.
5. Set the default aggregation rule to SUM.

6. Click OK to close the Logical Column dialog box. Gross Profit Physical is added to the business
model.
7. Expand Sales Facts > Sources and double-click the SALES logical table source. The Logical
Table Source dialog box opens.
8. Click the Column Mapping tab.

9. Click the Expression Builder button for the Gross Profit Physical logical column.
10.In the Expression Builder, select Physical Tables > SALES > AMOUNT_SOLD and then click
the Insert button to add the column to the formula.
11.Click the minus sign operator to add it to the formula.
12.Select Physical Tables > COSTS > UNIT_COST and then click the Insert button to add the
column to the formula.
13.Click OK to close the Expression Builder. Notice that the expression is added in the Logical
Table Source dialog box.
14.Click OK to close the Logical Table Source dialog box. The icon for Gross Profit Physical
changes to indicate an aggregation rule is applied.
15.Drag Gross Profit Physical to Sales Facts in the Presentation layer.


21.Expand Sales Facts and verify that the Gross Profit Physical column is now visible in Answers.
22.Create the following request.
Times.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold, Sales Facts.Unit Cost, Sales Facts.Gross
Profit Physical
23.Click Results. Verify that the results are the same for the Gross Profit Physical (built using
physical columns) as they were for the Gross Profit column (built using logical columns).
The calculation formula for the logical columns looks like this: sum(Amount Sold) – sum(Unit
Cost), whereas the calculation formula for the physical columns looks like this:
sum(AMOUNT_SOLD – UNIT_COST). Because of arithmetic laws, you know that you can sum
ColumnA and sum ColumnB and then take the differences of those sums, and have exactly the
same results if you calculate the difference first (the value in ColumnA – the value in ColumnB
for each row) and then sum the difference. So in this example, the results are the same for the
logical column and the physical column calculations.
24.Click Settings > Administration > Manage Sessions > View Log to view the query log. Your
results should look similar to the picture.
Note that the difference between amount sold and unit cost is calculated first and then summed:
sum(T245.AMOUNT_SOLD - T168.UNIT_COST)in the example pictured here.
26.Click Finished to close the Session Management window.
27.Click Close Window to close Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration.
28.Leave Answers open for the next topic.
Back to Topic
Create a Calculation Measure Using the Calculation Wizard
In this topic, you use the Calculation Wizard to define a new calculation measure named
Share of Category in the Sales Facts logical table.
To create a calculation measure using the Calculation Wizard, perform the following
steps:
Tool.
2. Right-click the Amount Sold logical column and select Duplicate.
3. A new column named Amount Sold#1 is added to the business model.

4. Rename Amount Sold#1 to Category Sales.
5. Double-click Category Sales to open the Logical Column dialog box.

6. Click the Levels tab and select Category as the logical level for ProductsDim.
Category Sales is now a level-based measure that will calculate total sales at the category level
when used in a query. Level-based measures are useful for creating share measures. You use the
Calculation Wizard to create a share measure in the steps that follow.
7. Click OK to close the Logical Column dialog box.
8. Right-click Amount Sold and select Calculation Wizard.

The Calculation Wizard opens.
9. Click Next.
10.Check Category Sales as the column to compare with Amount Sold.

11.Click Next.
12.Uncheck Change and Percent Change and check Percent.

13.Change Calculation Name to Share of Category.
14.Click Next.
15.Click Finish. Share of Category is added to the business model.
16.Drag Category Sales and Share of Category to Sales Facts in the Presentation layer.
22.Expand Sales Facts and verify that Category Sales and Share of Category are now visible in
Answers.
23.Place the cursor over the icon to display the screenshot and use it as a reference to create a query.
Notice the sort settings for the Prod Category and Amount Sold columns.
24.Expand the Times folder.
25.Hold down the Ctrl key and click the Calendar Year column to open the Create/Edit Filter
dialog box.
26.Click the All Choices link.
27.Click 2001 to add it to the Value field.

28.Click OK to close the Create/Edit Filter dialog box. The filter is added to the request.
29.Click Results. Only partial results are shown in the picture.

30.Leave Answers open.
Back to Topic
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Organizing the Presentation Layer
The Presentation layer is built after the Physical layer and Business Model and Mapping
layer and adds a level of abstraction over the Business Model and Mapping layer. It is the
view of the data seen by end users in client tools and applications, such as Oracle BI
Answers. The Presentation layer provides a means to further simplify or customize the
Business Model and Mapping layer for end users. For example, you can organize
columns into catalogs and folders.
Simplifying the view of the data for users makes it easier to craft queries based on users’
business needs because you can expose only the data that is meaningful to the users,
organize the data in a way that aligns with the way users think about the data, and rename
data as necessary for the set of users.
You typically create Presentation layer objects by dragging objects from the Business
Model and Mapping layer. Corresponding objects are automatically created in the
Presentation layer. You also can manually create catalogs and folders based on the needs
of your users.
Presentation catalogs allow you to show different views of a business model to different
sets of users. Presentation catalogs have to be populated with content from a single
business model. They cannot span business models. However, multiple presentation
catalogs can refer to the same business model.
Presentation catalogs contain presentation tables. You can use the Presentation Tables tab
in the Presentation Catalog properties dialog box to reorder, sort, or delete Presentation
layer tables. You can also use this tab to access the Presentation Table dialog box, where
you can create and edit tables. Changes to the Presentation layer do not impact
corresponding objects in the Business Model and Mapping layer.
Use presentation tables to organize columns into categories that make sense to the user
community. Presentation tables appear as folders in the Oracle BI user interface.
Presentation tables contain presentation columns. A presentation table can contain
columns from one or more logical tables. The names and object properties of the
presentation tables are independent of the logical table properties.
Presentation tables contain presentation columns. Use the Columns tab in the
Presentation Table properties dialog box to reorder, sort, or delete Presentation layer
columns. You can also use this tab to access the Presentation Column dialog box, where
you can create and edit columns.
Presentation columns define the columns used to build queries in the Oracle BI user
interface, such as Oracle BI Answers. The presentation column names are, by default,
identical to the logical column names in the Business Model layer. To provide a
convenient organization for your end users, you can drag a column from a single logical
table in the Business Model and Mapping layer onto multiple presentation tables.
To organize the Presentation layer, perform the following steps:
Tool.
2. In the Presentation layer, double-click the SH presentation catalog to open the Presentation
Catalog dialog box.
3. Click the Presentation Tables tab.
4. To create a new presentation Table, click the Add button to open the Presentation Table dialog
box.
5. Click the General tab and name the presentation table Calendar.
6. In the Description field, type -> Calendar time attributes. Adding -> in the description nests the
table under the table above it. The description displays as a tool tip in Answers.
7. Click OK to close the Presentation Table dialog box.
8. Repeat the steps and create another presentation table named Fiscal with ->Fiscal time attributes
in the Description field.
9. Drag the tables or use the Up and Down buttons to rearrange the tables in the following order:
Times
Fiscal
Calendar
Products
Customers
Channels
Promotions
Sales Facts
10.Click OK to close the Presentation Catalog dialog box. The new tables are added to the
Presentation layer and the presentation tables are reordered.
11.Double-click the Channels presentation table to open the Presentation Table dialog box.
12.Click the Columns tab.
13.Drag the columns or use the Up and Down arrows to reorder the columns. A suggested approach
is to order the columns hierarchically from top to bottom.
14.Click OK to close the Presentation Table dialog box. The column order is changed in the
Presentation layer.
15.Expand the Times presentation table.
16.Use cut and paste to move all the fiscal columns from the Times presentation table to the Fiscal
presentation table and all the remaining columns from the Times presentation table to the
Calendar presentation table. Use Shift+click and Ctrl+click to select multiple columns.

22.Verify that the Fiscal and Calendar folders are nested under the Times folder.
23.Verify that the columns in the Fiscal and Calendar folders appear as expected.
24.Verify that the Channels columns appear as expected.
25.Leave Answers open.
Back to Topic List
Using Initialization Blocks and Variables
You can use variables in a repository to streamline administrative tasks and modify
metadata content dynamically to adjust to a changing data environment. A variable has a
single value at any point in time. Variables can be used instead of literals or constants in
the Expression Builder in the Administration Tool. Oracle BI Server substitutes the value
of a variable for the variable itself in the metadata.
You use the Variable Manager to define variables and initialization blocks.
There are two classes of variables: repository variables and session variables.
A repository variable has a single value at any point in time. There are two types of
repository variables: static and dynamic. Static repository variables have values that are
constant and do not change while Oracle BI Server is running. Dynamic repository
variables have values that are refreshed by data returned from queries in initialization
blocks. Repository variables are represented by a question mark icon in the Variable
Manager.
Session variables are created and assigned a value when each user logs on. There are two
types of session variables: system and nonsystem. System variables have reserved names
and are used for specific purposes by Oracle BI Server, such as authenticating users.
Non-system variables are application-specific variables created by an Administrator.
System and nonsystem variables are represented by a question mark icon in the Variable
Manager.
Initialization blocks are used to initialize dynamic repository variables, system session
variables, and nonsystem session variables.
To create initialization blocks, session variables, and dynamic repository variables, you
perform the following steps:
Create an Initialization Block for Session Variables

Test the Initialization Block and Session Variables
Create a Dynamic Repository Variable
Create an Initialization Block for Session Variables
Session variables are like dynamic repository variables in that they obtain their values
from initialization blocks. Unlike dynamic repository variables, however, the
initialization of session variables is not scheduled.
When a user begins a session, Oracle BI Server creates new instances of session variables
and initializes them. Unlike a repository variable, there are as many instances of a session
variable as there are active sessions on Oracle BI Server. Each instance of a session
variable could be initialized to a different value.
A session is an instance of a user running the client application. The session starts when
the application is started and ends when the application is exited.
To create an initialization block for session variables, perform the following steps:
Tool.
2. Click Manage > Variables to open the Variable Manager.
3. Click Session > Initialization Blocks.

4. Right-click in the white space on the right and select New Initialization Block.
5. In the Session Variable Initialization Block dialog box, type setUser in the Name field.
6. Click the Edit Data Source button to open the Session Variable Initialization Block Data Source
dialog box.
7. Click the Browse button and select SH > Connection Pool in the Select Connection Pool dialog
box.
8. Double-click Connection Pool or click the Select button to add the connection pool to the
Session Variable Initialization Block Data Source dialog box.
9. In the Default Initialization String field, type the following initialization string:
select ':USER', case when upper(':USER') = 'KURT' then 'Germany' when upper(':USER') =
'KEIKO' then 'Japan' when upper(':USER')= 'CHARLES' then 'United Kingdom' when
upper(':USER') = 'KAREN' then 'United States of America' end, 'CountryManagers', 2 from Dual
10. Click OK to close the Session Variable Initialization Block Data Source dialog box. The
initialization string is visible in the Session Variable Initialization Block dialog box.
11. Click Edit Data Target to open the Session Variable Initialization Block Variable Target dialog
box.
12. Click New to open the Session Variable dialog box.
13. In the Name field, type USER.
14. Click OK to close the Session Variable dialog box.
15. Click Yes when prompted about the USER session variable having a special purpose.
16. The USER variable is added to the Session Variable Initialization Block Variable Target dialog
box.
17. Repeat the steps and add three more variables: UserCountry, GROUP, and LOGLEVEL. Click
Yes when promoted about the GROUP and LOGLEVEL session variables having a special
purpose. The order is important. The order of the variables must match the order of the values for
the variables in the initialization string in the initialization block.
18. Click OK to close the Session Variable Initialization Block Variable Target dialog box. The
variables are displayed in the Variable Target section of the Session Variable Initialization Block
dialog box.
19. Click OK to close the Session Variable Initialization Block dialog box. The setUser initialization
block is visible in the Security Manager.
20. Click Action > Close to close the Variable Manager.
21. Check in changes.
22. Save the repository.

Back to Topic
To test the initialization block and session variables, perform the following steps:
1. Click Manage > Security to open the Security Manager.
2. Click Groups in the left pane.
3. Right-click the white space in the right pane and select New Security Group.
4. Name the group CountryManagers.
5. Click the Permissions button to open the User / Group Permissions dialog box.
6. Click the Filters tab.
7. Click the Add button.
8. Click the Customers presentation table.

9. Click Select to add Customers to the User / Group Permissions dialog box.
10. Click the Expression Builder button (three dots) on the right to open the Expression Builder
(you may need to scroll to see the button).
11. Select Logical Tables > Customers > Country and then click the Insert button to add Country
to the formula.
12. Click the = operator to add it to the formula.
13. Select Session Variables > UserCountry and click the Insert button to add UserCountry to the
formula as an argument in the VALUEOF()function.
14. Click OK to close the Expression Builder. The filter is added in the User / Group Permissions
dialog box.
15. Click OK to close the User / Group Permissions dialog box.
16. Click OK to close the Group dialog box. CountryManagers is added as a group in the Security
Manager.
17. Click Action > Close to close the Security Manager.
20. Return to Answers.
21. Log out of Answers.
22. Test the initialization block by logging in to Answers as one of the users in the initialization
block: Kurt, Keiko, Charles, or Karen.
23. Create the following query:
Customers.Country, Times.Calendar.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold.

24. Click Results. The results of the query should correspond to the the user's country (Kurt =
Germany, Keiko = Japan, Charles = United Kingdom, Karen = United States of America). The
picture shows the results when the user = Kurt.
Back to Topic
To create a dynamic repository variable, perform the following steps:
1. Return to the SH repository open in online mode.
2. Click Manage > Variables to open the Variable Manager.
3. Click Repository > Initialization Blocks.

4. Right-click the white space and select New Initialization Block to open the Repository Variable
Init Block dialog box.
5. Name the initialization block getMaxSalesDate.
6. Click Edit Data Source to open the Repository Variable Init Block Data Source dialog box.
7. Click the Browse button to open the Select Connection Pool dialog box.
8. Double-click the SH > Connection Pool object to add it to the Connection Pool field in the
Repository Variable Init Block Data Source dialog box.
9. In the Default Initialization String field, type the following SQL:
select TIME_ID, CALENDAR_YEAR, CALENDAR_MONTH_DESC,

CALENDAR_MONTH_ID from TIMES
WHERE TIME_ID = (select max(TIME_ID) from SALES)
10.Click OK to close the Repository Variable Init Block Data Source dialog box. The connection
pool and initialization string are added to the Repository Variable Init Block dialog box.
11.Click Edit Data Target to open the Repository Variable Init Block Variable Target dialog box.
12.Use the New button to create four variables: maxSalesDate, maxYear, maxMonthDesc, and
maxMonthID. The order is important. The order of the variables must match the column order in
the initialization string.
13.Click OK to close the Repository Variable Init Block Variable Target dialog box. The variables
appear in the Variable Target field in the Repository Variable Init Block dialog box.
14.Click Edit Data Source to open the Repository Variable Init Block Data Source dialog box.
15.Click Test and verify you get the results in the picture.
16.Close Results.
17.Click OK to close the Repository Variable Init Block Data Source dialog box.
18.Click OK to close the Repository Variable Init Block dialog box. The getMaxSalesDate
initialization block is displayed in the Variable Manager.
19.Select Repository > Initialization Blocks > Variables > Dynamic to see the variables displayed
in the Variable Manager.
20.Click Action > Close to close the Variable Manager.
22.Select File > Check Global Consistency. If the Consistency Check Manager displays any errors,
edit the repository to correct the errors before continuing. If there are no error messages, close the
Consistency Check Manager.
24.Return to Answers.
25.Build the following query:
Calendar.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold.
26.Click the Add Filter button for the Calendar Year column.
27.In the Create/Edit Filter dialog box, click Add > Variable > Repository.
28.In the Server Variable field, type maxYear.
29.Click OK to close the Create/Edit Filter dialog box. The filter is added to the request.
30.Click Results and verify that Calendar Year returns the expected result.
Back to Topic
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Adding Multiple Sources
Data is often partitioned into multiple physical sources for a single logical table in a
business model. When a logical table source does not contain the entire set of data at a
given level, you need to specify the portion of the set that it does contain. When
individual sources at a given level contain information for a portion or fragment of the
domain, Oracle BI Server needs to know the content of the sources in order to pick the
appropriate source for the query. The goal is to provide seamless and efficient access
from the users' perspective. When there are multiple sources, the metadata is built so that
Oracle BI Server handles the navigation to the appropriate source. Oracle BI Server can
seamlessly access and process data from multiple sources in an efficient manner to satisfy
users’ requests.
In this example, sales quota numbers are stored in an Excel workbook. The workbook,
SHQuota.xls, is stored on your machine. You incorporate the quota numbers into the
business model and create business measures to report variance from quota and percent
of quota.
To add quota information to the business model, you perform the following steps.
Create an ODBC DSN
Import the Excel Source
Map Logical Dimension Columns
Create Quota Measures
Test
To create an ODBC DSN for the Excel workbook, perform the following steps:
1. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the SetupFiles folder and copy the SHQuota.xls file to a
location on your machine.
2. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC) to open the ODBC
Data Source Administrator.
3. Click the System DSN tab and click Add.

The Create New Data Source dialog box opens.
4. In the Create New Data Source dialog box, select the Microsoft Excel Driver.
5. Click Finish to open the ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box.
6. In the ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box, enter a Data Source Name (this can be any
name).
7. Click Select Workbook to open the Select Workbook dialog box and navigate to the location
where you saved the SHQuota.xls file.
8. Click OK to close the Select Workbook dialog box. The path to the workbook is displayed in the
ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box.
9. Click OK to close the ODBC Microsoft Excel Setup dialog box.
10. Verify that the Excel system data source is added in the ODBC Data Source Administrator and
click OK to close the ODBC Data Source Administrator.
Back to Topic
To import the Excel data source into the repository, perform the following steps:
1. Return to the SH repository open in online mode.
2. Select File > Import > from Database.
3. In the Select Data Source dialog box, select the ODBC DSN you created in the previous steps.
Leave User Name and Password blank.
4. Click OK. The Import dialog box opens.

5. In the Import dialog box, select the SHQuota object.
6. Verify that only Tables and Keys are checked and click Import.
7. When import completes, close the Import dialog box and verify that all four range tables have
been imported into the Physical layer.
8. Double-click the Excel database object in the Physical layer (SHQuota in this example) to open
the Database dialog box.
9. Click the Features tab.
10. Locate COUNT_DISTINCT_SUPPORTED and uncheck the Value field.

11. Click OK to close the Database dialog box.
12. Double-click the Connection Pool for the Excel data source to open the Connection Pool dialog
box.
13. Click the General tab and uncheck the property Enable connection pooling.
14. Click OK to close the Connection Pool dialog box.
Back to Topic
To map the logical dimension columns, perform the following steps:
1. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, expand Customers > Sources and note that there are
two logical table sources: CUSTOMERS and COUNTRIES.
2. Drag the physical column COUNTRY_REGION from Geography in the Physical layer to the
logical column Customers.Country Region in the Business Model and Mapping layer. Notice
that a new logical table source, Geography, is created automatically.
3. Drag the physical columns COUNTRY_SUBREGION, COUNTRY_NAME, COUNTRY_ID,

and COUNTRY_TOTAL from Geography in the Physical layer to the corresponding logical
columns in the Customers table in Business Model and Mapping layer (Drag
COUNTRY_NAME to Country).
4. Double-click the Geography logical table source in the Customers > Sources folder to open the
Logical Table Source dialog box.
5. Click the Column Mapping tab. Notice the logical to physical column mappings.
6. Click OK to close the Logical Table Source dialog box.
7. Drag the physical column CALENDAR_YEAR from XLDates in the Physical layer to the
logical column Times.Calendar Year in the Business Model and Mapping layer. Notice that a
new logical table source, XLDates, is created automatically.
8. Drag the remaining physical columns from XLDates in the Physical layer to the corresponding
logical columns in the Times table in Business Model and Mapping layer.
9. Double-click the XLDates logical table source in the Times > Sources folder to open the Logical
Table Source dialog box, click the Column Mapping tab, and verify the mappings. Note that
"Show unmapped columns" is unchecked.
10.Click OK to close the Logical Table Source dialog box.
11.Repeat the steps and map Products.Prod Category to ProdCategory.PROD_CATEGORY and

verify the logical table source mapping.
12.Use Ctrl+Click to select all four SHQuota tables in the Physical layer.
13.Right-click any one of the four tables and select Physical Diagram > Selected Object(s) Only to
open the Physical Diagram.
14.In the Physical Diagram, use the New foreign key button to create the following joins. Hint: Use
CTRL+click to create the multi-column joins or type the join expressions in the Expression field.
Create new keys when prompted.
XLDates.CALENDAR_QUARTER_NUMBER = Quotas."Calendar Quarter Number" AND

XLDates.CALENDAR_YEAR = Quotas."Year" AND
XLDates.CALENDAR_QUARTER_DESC = Quotas."Calendar Quarter Desc"
Geography.COUNTRY_NAME = Quotas.Country AND Geography.COUNTRY_SUBREGION

= Quotas."Country Subregion" AND Geography.COUNTRY_REGION = Quotas."Country
Region"
ProdCategory.PROD_CATEGORY = Quotas."Prod Category".
15.Close the Physical Diagram.

Back to Topic
To create the quota measures, perform the following steps:
1. Drag the column Quotas.Quota from the Physical layer onto the Sales Facts logical table. Notice
that a new logical table source, Quotas, and a new logical column, Quota, are created.
2. Double-click Sales Facts.Quota to open the Logical Table dialog box.
3. Click the Aggregation tab and set the aggregation rule to Sum.
4. Close the Logical Table dialog box.
5. The Quota logical column states quota in thousands, so rename Quota to Quota (000).
6. Right-click Sales Facts and select New Object > Logical Column to open the Logical Column
dialog box.
7. Click the General tab and name the logical column Quota.
8. Check Use existing logical columns as the source.

9. Click the Expression Builder button (three dots) to open the Expression Builder.
10. Create the following formula:
1000*"SH"."Sales Facts"."Quota (000)"

11. Close the Expression Builder. The formula displays in the Logical Column dialog box.
12. Close the Logical Column dialog box. The Quota column is added to the business model.
13. Right-click Sales Facts.Amount Sold and select Calculation Wizard.
14. Click Next.
15. Select the Quota column.

16. Click Next.
17. Make sure Change is selected. In the Calculation Name field, name the calculation Variance
from Quota.
18. Uncheck Percent Change.
19. Check Percent and make sure it is selected. In the Calculation Name field, leave the name as is:
% of Quota.
20. Click Next.
21. In the Finish window, verify the calculations that will be created by the Calculation Wizard.
22. Click Finish. The calculation measures are added to the business model.
23. Add the Quota (000), Quota, Variance From Quota, and % of Quota measures to the Sales
Facts presentation table.
25. Check global consistency. If you receive any Error messages, edit the repository to correct the
errors before proceeding.
Back to Topic
To test the quota measures, perform the following steps.
1. Return to Answers. Log out and then log back in as Administrator with password
Administrator.
2. Reload Server Metadata.

3. Create the following request:
Calendar.Calendar Year, Sales Facts.Amount Sold, Sales Facts.Quota, Sales Facts.Variance

From Quota, Sales Facts.% of Quota.
4. Create the following filter:
Calendar Year is equal to / is in 1999, 2000, 2001.
5. Click Results. (Please note that SHQuota contains data only for 2001).
6. Drill down on 2001.
7. Examine the query log.
Back to Topic
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Executing Direct Database Requests
Users with the appropriate permissions can create and issue a direct database request
directly to a physical back-end database. The results of the request can be displayed and
manipulated within Oracle BI Answers, and subsequently incorporated into Oracle BI
Interactive Dashboards and Oracle BI Delivers.
The following privilege settings in Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration

control whether you can create and issue physical requests:
Edit Direct Database Requests: If this privilege is set for you, you can create direct
database requests. By default, this privilege is set only for users defined as Presentation
Server Administrators.
Execute Direct Database Requests: If this privilege is set for you, you can issue physical
requests. By default, this privilege is not enabled for anyone. It can be changed by a
Presentation Server Administrator.
To execute a direct database request, perform the following steps:
1. In Answers, click Settings > Administration.
2. In the Oracle BI Presentation Service Administration screen, click Manage Privileges to open the
the Privilege Administration screen.
3. In the Privilege Administration screen, scroll down to Answers. Note that the Edit Direct
Database Requests privilege is granted to Presentation Server Administrators. By default, the
Administrator user is a member of this group.
4. Note that the Execute Direct Database Requests privilege is not granted to anyone.
5. Click (not permitted) to open the Change Privilege Permissions screen.

6. Click the Add button next to Presentation Server Administrators to give this group explicit
access to this privilege.
7. Click Finished to close the Change Privilege Permissions screen. Notice the change to the
privilege permissions for Execute Direct Database Requests.
8. Click Finished to close the Privilege Administration screen.
9. Click Close Window to close the Oracle BI Presentation Services Administration screen.
10.Click the Answers link to return to the Answers start page.
11.Click the Create Direct Request link.
12.In the Connection Pool field, type the connection pool name for the SH data source enclosed in
double quotes ("SH"."Connection Pool" in this example).
13.In the SQL Statement field, type SELECT * FROM Channels.

14.Click Validate SQL and Retrieve Columns to display the columns from the Channels table.
15.Click Results. Your results should look similar to the screenshot.
16.Leave Answers open
Back to Topic List
Using Aggregates
Aggregate tables store pre-computed results, which are measures that have been
aggregated (typically summed) over a set of dimensional attributes. Using aggregate
tables is a very popular technique for speeding up query response times in decision
support systems. This eliminates the need for run-time calculations and delivers faster
results to users. The calculations are done ahead of time and the results are stored in the
tables. Aggregate tables should have many fewer rows than the non-aggregate tables and,
therefore, processing should be quicker.
The aggregate navigation capability of Oracle BI Server allows queries to use the
information stored in aggregate tables automatically, without query authors or tools
having to specify aggregate tables in the queries. Oracle BI Server allows users to
concentrate on asking the right business questions, because the server decides which
tables provide the fastest answers. For Oracle BI Server to have enough information to
navigate to aggregate tables, you need to configure certain metadata in the repository.
To build and use aggregate tables, perform the following steps:
Use Direct Database Request to Create Aggregate Tables

Import Aggregate Tables
Map Existing Logical Columns and Set Aggregation Content
Test in Answers and Examine Query Log
To use Direct Database Request to create the aggregate tables, perform the
following steps:
1. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the SetupFiles folder and open the aggregate table SQL
script file: agg_table_sql.txt.
2. Click the Criteria tab to return to the direct database request page.
3. Verify that the Connection Pool field is still set to the connection pool name for the SH data
source enclosed in double quotes ("SH"."Connection Pool" in this example).
4. Copy the CREATE TABLE SQL for the first table, AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F, from
agg_table_sql.txt and paste it into the SQL Statement field.
5. Click Results. You should see a No Results message.
6. Click the Criteria tab.
7. Remove the CREATE TABLE SQL from the SQL Statement field.
8. Type the following SQL in the SQL Statement field:
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F.

9. Click Validate SQL and Retrieve Columns.
10.Click Results. You should see COUNT(*) = 158142.
11.Click the Criteria tab.
12.Remove the SELECT COUNT(*) SQL statement from the SQL Statement field.
13.Copy the CREATE TABLE SQL for the second table, AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D, and
paste it into the SQL Statement field.
14.Click Results. You should see a No Results message.
16.Remove the CREATE TABLE SQL from the SQL Statement field.
17.Type the following SQL in the SQL Statement field:
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.

18.Click Validate SQL and Retrieve Columns.
21.Remove the SELECT COUNT(*) SQL statement from the SQL Statement field.
22.Copy the CREATE TABLE SQL for the third table, AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D, and
paste it into the SQL Statement field.
23.Click Results. You should see a No Results message.
25.Remove the CREATE TABLE SQL from the SQL Statement field.
26.Type the following SQL in the SQL Statement field:
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D.

27.Click Validate SQL and Retrieve Columns.
Back to Topic
To import the aggregate tables, perform the following steps:
1. Return to the SH repository, which should still be open in online mode.
2. Select File > Import > from Database.
3. In the Select Data Source dialog, select the SH data source, enter SH as User Name and
Password, and click OK.
4. In the Import dialog box, expand the SH schema and select the three aggregate tables:
AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F, AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D, and
AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D.
5. Click Import.
6. When the import process completes, close the Import dialog box.
7. Expand the SH folder in the Physical layer and verify that the aggregate tables are added.
9. Select the three aggregate tables in the Physical layer, right-click and select Update Row Count
to verify connectivity. You should see the expected row counts after each table.
Back to Topic
To create physical joins for the aggregate tables, perform the following steps:
1. In the Physical layer, use Ctrl+Click to select the three new aggregate tables and the Times table.
2. Click the Physical Diagram icon on the toolbar.
3. In the Physical Diagram, use the New Foreign Key button to create the following joins. Click
Yes when prompted to create matching table keys.:
AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.CUST_STATE_PROVINCE_ID =
AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F.CUST_STATE_PROVINCE_ID
AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D.PROD_CATEGORY_ID =
AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F.PROD_CATEGORY_ID
TIMES.TIME_ID = AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F.TIME_ID
4. Close the Physical Diagram.
Back to Topic
To map existing logical columns to aggregate columns and set aggregation content,
perform the following steps:
1. Map existing logical columns to new sources by dragging columns from the Physical layer to
corresponding columns in the Business Model and Mapping layer:
Logical Column Physical Column

Sales Facts.Amount Sold AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F.AMOUNT_SOLD
Customers.Cust State Province AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.CUST_STATE_PROVINCE
Customers.Country AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.COUNTRY_NAME
Customers.Country Subregion AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.COUNTRY_SUBREGION
Customers.Country Region AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.COUNTRY_REGION

Customers.Country Total AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.COUNTRY_TOTAL
Products.Prod Category AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D.PROD_CATEGORY
Products.Prod Total AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D.PROD_TOTAL

2. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, expand Sales Facts > Sources and verify that a new
logical table source, AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F, is created.
3. Double-click the AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F logical table source to open the Logical

Table Source dialog box, click the Column Mapping tab, and verify the mapping.
4. Click the Content tab.
5. Use the drop-down menu in the Logical Level field to set the following logical levels:
CustomersDim = State Province
ProductsDim = Category
TimesDim = Times Detail
You are setting aggregation content for the fact table to the corresponding levels in the dimension
hierarchies. In a subsequent step you set similar levels for the dimension table aggregate sources.
Later, when a user queries against a particular level, Oracle BI Server will access the aggregate
tables instead of the detail tables.
For example, after setting aggregation content, if a user queries for Amount Sold by Country
Region, the server will access the AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F aggregate fact table and the
corresponding aggregate dimension table, AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D.
If a user queries for a level lower than the levels specified here, for example, Subregion or
Country, then the server will access the detail tables. If a user queries for higher level, for
example, Country Total, the aggregate tables will be used as well, because whenever a query is
run against a logical level or above, the aggregate tables are used.
6. Click OK to close the Logical Table Source dialog box.
7. Expand Customers > Sources and verify that a new logical table source,
AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D, is created.
8. Expand Customers > Sources and double-click the AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D logical

table source, click the Column Mapping tab, and verify the mappings.
9. Click the Content tab.
10.Use the drop-down menu in the Logical Level field to set the following logical level to specify
what level of detail is stored in the aggregate table:
CustomersDim = State Province

12.Expand Products > Sources and verify that a new logical table source,
AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D, is created.
13.Double-click the AGG_PRODUCTS_CATEGORY_D logical table source, click the Column

Mapping tab, and verify the mappings.
14.Click the Content tab.
15.Use the drop-down menu in the Logical Level field to set the following logical level to specify
what level of detail is stored in the aggregate table:
ProductsDim = Category
18.Check consistency. Fix any errors before proceeding.
19.Save the repository. Note that you did not need to make any changes to the Presentation layer.
You made changes in the business model that impact how the queries are processed and which
sources are accessed. Based on how you specified the aggregation content, Oracle BI Server
automatically uses the new sources when appropriate.
Back to Topic
To test in Answers and examine the query log, perform the following steps:
1. Return to Answers.
2. Reload Server Metadata.
3. Create the following query:
Customers.Country Region, Sales Facts.Amount Sold.
4. Hold down the Ctrl key and click Times > Calendar > Calendar Year. The Create/Edit Filter
dialog box opens.
5. Create the filter Calendar Year is equal to / is in 2001.

6. Click OK to close the Create/Edit Filter dialog box. The filter is added to the query.
7. Click Results.
8. Click Settings > Administration.
9. Click Manage Sessions.
10.Locate the last query run under Cursor Cache and click View Log.
11.Examine the log and verify that the aggregate tables AGG_CUSTOMER_STATE_D and
AGG_ST_CAT_DAY_SALES_F were accessed.
13.Click Finished to close the Session Management screen.
14.Click Close Window to close the Oracle BI Presentation Services screen.
Back to Topic
Back to Topic List
Creating Time Series Measures
The ability to compare business performance with previous time periods is fundamental
to understanding a business. Time comparisons allow businesses to analyze data that
spans multiple time periods, providing a context for the data. Yet, as Ralph Kimball
states, SQL was not designed to make comparisons over time straightforward:
”The most difficult area of data warehousing is the translation of simple business
analyses into SQL. SQL was not designed with business reports in mind. SQL was really
an interim language designed to allow relational table semantics to be expressed in a
convenient and accessible form, and to enable researchers and early developers to
proceed with building the first relational systems in the mid-1970s. How else can you
explain the fact that there is no direct way in SQL to compare this year to last year?” –
Ralph Kimball
The solution is to model time series data in the Oracle BI repository. This allows users to
make one request for the desired result. Oracle BI Server runs multiple queries in parallel
to get the results. The queries that run in the background to support the time measure are
transparent to the user.
Oracle BI Server provides Ago and ToDate functions for time series comparisons. Both
of these functions operate on measures. The Ago function calculates the aggregated value
as of some time period shifted from the current time. For example, the Ago function can
produce sales for every month of the current quarter, along with the corresponding
quarter ago sales. The ToDate function is used to aggregate a measure attribute from the
beginning of a specified time period to the currently displaying time. For example, the
ToDate function can calculate Month to Date sales for a given year. You use the
Expression Builder to apply the functions.
To create time series measures, perform the following steps:
Identify a Dimension as a Time Dimension

Create a Month Ago Measure
Create a Change Month Ago Measure
Create a ToDate Measure
Test the Time Series Measures
To identify a dimension as a time dimension, perform the following steps:
1. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, double-click the TimesDim dimension hierarchy to
open the Dimension dialog box.
2. In the Dimension dialog box, check Time Dimension.

3. Click OK to close the Dimension dialog box.
4. Expand TimesDim to the Times Detail level and double-click the Times Detail level to open the
Logical Level dialog box.
5. Click the Keys tab.
6. Check the Chronological Key checkbox for Times Detail_Key.
7. Click OK to close the Logical Level dialog box.

Back to Topic
To create a Month Ago measure, perform the following steps:
dialog box.
2. Name the logical column Month Ago Dollars.
4. Click the Expression Builder button (three dots) to open the Expression Builder.
5. Select Functions > Time Series Functions > Ago.
6. Click Insert to add the Ago function to the Expression Builder.

7. Click the first <<expr>> in the expression.
8. Select Logical Tables > Sales Facts and then double-click Amount Sold to add it to the
expression.
9. Click the second <<expr>> in the expression.
10.Select Time Dimensions > TimesDim and then double-click Month to add it to the expression.
11.Click <<integer>> in the expression and type 1. The Ago function calculates the Amount Sold
value one month prior to the current month.
12.Click OK to close the Expression Builder. The formula is displayed in the Logical Column dialog
box.
13.Click OK to close the Logical Column dialog box.
Back to Topic
To create a Change Month Ago measure, perform the following steps:
dialog box.
2. Name the logical column Change Month Ago Dollars.

4. Click the Expression Builder button to open the Expression Builder.
5. Select Logical Tables > Sales Facts and then double-click Amount Sold to add it to the
expression.
6. Insert a minus sign in the expression.
7. Select Logical Tables > Sales Facts and then double-click Month Ago Dollars to add it to the
expression.
8. Click OK to close the Expression Builder. The formula is displayed in the Logical Column dialog
box.
Back to Topic
To create a ToDate measure, perform the following steps:
1. Right-click Sales Facts and select New Object > Logical Column.
2. Name the new logical column Month To Date Dollars.

3. Select Use existing logical columns as the source.
4. Open the Expression Builder.
5. Select Functions > Time Series Functions and double-click ToDate to insert the expression.
6. Click the first <<expr>>.
7. Select Logical Tables > Sales Facts and then double-click Amount Sold.
8. Click the second <<expr>>.
9. Select Time Dimensions > TimesDim and the double-click Year to add it to the expression.
10. Click OK to close the Expression Builder. The formula is displayed in the Logical Column
dialog box.
Back to Topic
To test the time series measures, perform the following steps:
1. In the Business Model and Mapping layer, expand the Times logical table.
2. Double-click Calendar Month Name to open the logical column dialog box.
3. Click the Set button.
4. Select Calendar Month Desc and click OK.

5. The sort order column displays in the Logical Column dialog box.
The Calendar Month Name column is now automatically sorted by Calendar Month Desc
whenever it is used in an Answers query.
6. Click OK to close the logical column dialog box.

7. Drag the three time series measures from the Business Model and Mapping layer to the Sales
Facts presentation table.
9. Check global consistency. Fix any errors before proceeding.
11.Return to Answers and reload server metadata.
12.Create the following query and filter in Answers:
Calendar.Calendar Month Name
Sales Facts.Amount Sold

Sales Facts.Month Ago Dollars
Sales Facts.Change Month Ago Dollars
Sales Facts.Month To Date Dollars
Calendar Year is equal to / is in 2001
13.Click Results.

Creating A Repository Using The Oracle Business Intelligence Administration Tool

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Creating A Repository Using The Oracle Business Intelligence Administration Tool

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Creating a Repository Using the Oracle Business Intelligence

This tutorial covers the following topics:

Back to Topic List

This tutorial is for a Windows environment only.

1. Have access to or have installed Oracle 10g Database.

3. Have access to or have installed Oracle BI EE 10.1.3.2.

Back to Topic List

Building the Physical Layer of a Repository

To build the Physical layer, you perform the following steps:

Create a New Repository

Create a New Repository

To create a new repository, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Services.

2. In the Services dialog box, stop the Oracle BI Server service.

Leave the Administration Tool open.

Create an ODBC Data Source

3. In the Import dialog box, locate the SH schema folder.

CHANNELS, COSTS, COUNTRIES, CUSTOMERS, PRODUCTS, PROMOTIONS,

Create Physical Joins

4. Click the New Foreign Key button on the toolbar.

Make sure the join expression is:

Back to Topic List

Create a Business Model

Create a Business Model

To create a new business model, perform the following steps:

Create Logical Tables

To create a new logical table, perform the following steps:

Create Logical Columns

To create a logical column, perform the following steps:

1. In the Physical layer, expand the Sales physical table.

6. Click the Aggregation tab.

Create Logical Joins

5. Click the New Complex Join button in the toolbar.

Rename Business Model Objects

1. Click Tools > Utilities.

4. Click the Add Hierarchy button.

6. Click Select None.

9. Select All text lowercase.

Delete Unnecessary Business Model Objects

3. Click Yes to confirm the delete.

Cust State Province ID

Cust Main Phone Number

Cust Eff From

11. Do not delete any columns in the Times table.

12. Save the repository. Do not check global consistency.

Build Dimension Hierarchies

Dimension hierarchies introduce formal hierarchies into a business model, allowing

1. Right-click the Channels logical table and select Create Dimension.

9. Right-click Channel Class and select New Logical Level Key.

25. Click Channels Detail_Key.

The ProductsDim dimension hierarchy should have the following characteristics:

For the Category level, set Number of elements at this level to 5.

Back to Topic List

Building the Presentation Layer of a Repository

To build the Presentation layer, you perform the following steps:

3. Save the repository. Do not check global consistency.

Testing and Validating a Repository

To test and validate a repository, you perform the following steps:

Run a Consistency Check

Run a Consistency Check

The Consistency Check Manager displays three types of messages:

1. Select File > Check Global Consistency.