COGNOS GOVT. & HE USERS GROUP

Operational reporting using Cognos and Oracle’s Logical database

technologies

Presenter: Angela Hooper, Colorado Community College

September, 18th, 2009

Description

This session addresses the gap in real-time operational reporting in Banner.

CCCS has leveraged Cognos, Oracle's Logical Standby database, ODS views and custom pl/sql procedures to provide an efficient and secure operational reporting environment.

Discussion to include technical set up information, and ways that schools without high end report writing tools can use the core of this solution.

Session Rules of Etiquette

Please turn off your cell phone/beeper If you must leave the session early, please

do so as discretely as possible Please avoid side conversation during the

presentation

Thank you for your cooperation!

Introduction

Angela Hooper – Manager of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing

Colorado Community College System (CCCS), Denver 13 colleges, 107,000 annual enrollment 1 centralized banner 7.4 installation VPD

Topics of Discussion

CCCS Business need Business solution Technical answer to CCCS’ need

Oracle LSB-DB Ref-Cursors in PL/SQL Cognos FWM setup

Take home architecture points

CCCS Business Need

Current reporting set up Home grown student data mart on 9hr refresh Custom job subs – strain on PROD Cognos front end Future ODS client (Dec 2008)

Tasks Reduce reporting off of PROD Maintain real time data (HR and FIN) Control and audit security Don’t buy anything new

Business Solution – “Good” Practices

Don’t report off of Production if you can help it

Do a requirements document for ALL report requests. (example)

Separate business logic from report writing tool

Don’t self promote code

Technical Solution for CCCS

Logical stand by reporting database New LSB schema for views and procs Cognos framework model – one query

subject per report or view

DataGuard

PROD PROD_LSB

Operational Reporting Database

PKG_HR

REPORTS Schema owned package for HR related reports and functions

ODSMGR.VIEWS

ODSMGR schema objects from PROD

`

COGNOS

PKG_STU

REPORTS Schema owned package for Student related reports and functions

PKG_FIN

REPORTS Schema owned package for Finance related reports and functions

USER

FWM

Re

port

Req

uest

s

Technical Solution for Technical Solution for CCCSCCCS

Oracle LSB-DB

Stand by database 10gR2 Uses Oracle Data Guard with SQL Apply The main advantage of logical database

is that the data structure of the replicated may be different than the master database. 

April Simms SUU – Seta Dallas 2007

Ref-Cursor – What is it?

The ref cursor is a "pointer" data type Allow you to quickly reference any cursor

result (usually an internal PL/SQL table array)

Data values are kept in RAM Can be used multiple time in one Proc

http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_pl_sql_ref_cursor_benefits.htm

Ref-Cursor – How it helps?

Returns a large dataset – for reporting Return Specific SQL to users Control joins in DB not report writer PIN procedures with ref cursor output in

memory

Ref-Cursor – Example?

procedure PROC_SALARY_VERIFICATION (p_cursor out cursorType, p_vpdi in varchar2, p_effect_date in date) isBEGIN

open p_cursor for

select spriden_id … from spriden, nbrjobs,where spriden_pidm = nbrjobs_pidm and spriden_change_ind is null… and pebempl_empl_status <> 'T' and nbrjobs_status <> 'T' and nbrjobs_effective_date = trunc(p_effect_date) and (pebempl_vpdi_code = p_vpdi or pebempl_vpdi_code like p_vpdi);

END PROC_SALARY_VERIFICATION;

Ref-Cursor – More Info

Devshed: http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Oracle/Working-with-REF-CURSOR-in-PL-SQL/

Burelson: http://www.fast-track.cc/t_easyoracle_pl_sql_ref_cursors.htm

Returning ref-cursors to report writer tool Stored procedure output - just like a

table Access Example

Pass thru query (ODBC) Crystal Example

Enable data connection to packages or procs Cognos Example

FWM example

Cognos FWM 1 of 4

Steps for set up1. Compile proc in database 2. Create directory connection object to

LSB in cognos connection3. Create new FWM model with LSB 4. Set up name spaces for data and

business areas

Cognos FWM 2 of 4

5. Create new query subject in database layer

Cognos FWM 3 of 4

6. Create business layer QS

Cognos FWM 4 of 4

7. Create package. Include only business layer query subjects

8. Publish package9. Grant security10. Build report front end

DataGuard

PROD PROD_LSB

Operational Reporting Database

PKG_HR

REPORTS Schema owned package for HR related reports and functions

ODSMGR.VIEWS

ODSMGR schema objects from PROD

`

COGNOS

PKG_STU

REPORTS Schema owned package for Student related reports and functions

PKG_FIN

REPORTS Schema owned package for Finance related reports and functions

USER

FWM

Re

port

Req

uest

s

Technical Solution for Technical Solution for CCCSCCCS

Added Value

– Portability, & disaster recovery for reporting

– Quicker drop down parameters in Cognos

– Security modifications allowed Mgr to promote developer code

– PL/SQL skills spread out. Cognos skills kept light.

Take Home Architecture

– Try setting up LSB– Create “Views” with Ref cursors to

protect Ad-hoc users– Create Procs with Ref Cursors for

frequently requested SQL – doubles as code repository

– Invest on learning the tables and data, NOT on a report writer tool expert.

Questions and Answers

Presenter Information

Angela H.Hooper Colorado Community College SystemManager of Business Intelligence and Data

Warehousing

1059 Alton Way Denver, CO 80230

(720) 858-2710angela.hooper@cccs.eduhttp://angela.h00per.com/setadallas2008