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To create a bar chart that compares products for 2005, 2006 and 2007 it requires that you hide 2004, the Time summary and the More & Hidden columns.

Right-click and hide 2004:

Hide More & Hidden and Time Column:

Bringing back 2004 data, Click on the Properties icon:

Click on link to Time link:

Click on down arrow by Hidden items and select Unhide 2004:

Click on Subtotals link:

Put a check mark next to Overall total and click on Save:

The report with no hidden columns:

Creating sections in a report allows you to then create page breaks off of those sections.

To create a section:

1.      Highlight the column you would like to use as the section.

2.      Click on the Section icon.

To create the Page Breaks:

1. Highlight the sectioned report item

2. Change Layout \ Set Page Breaks

To see the page breaks:

1. Run Report

2. View as PDF

Note: The PDF file will show a page break after all the products for each retailer listed.

In this example there is a section on Retailer and Product Line.  Use Page down to see how the report pages break after each product for a retailer.

Controlling page breaks in Analysis Studio is dependent on having Context Filters in a report.

Report with two context filters:

The first context filter will automatically page break based on its hierarchy.  Select an Order Method (i.e. Sales Visit) for the second context filter.

Turning page breaks on: Run \Report Options \ Display Tab \ checkmark next to Context Filter you want to break the page on and click on OK.
Page Break on Retailer Context Filter

Page Break results in PDF format:

Each page shows Revenue by Retailers for the Sales Visit – Order Method.

Version 8.4 allows you to create simple calculations in dimensional data sources using the calculation icon just like you do in Analysis or Query Studio.

1. Create a crosstab report off of a dimensional data source like this one created off the Sales and Marketing cube.

2. Select the Revenue and Planned Revenue column title headers (crosstab node member)

3. Click on the calculation icon.

4. In the drop down list select: Revenue – Planned Revenue

Note: The order you select the columns determines the math order of operations.

The report with the calculation added:

Run the report to see the results:

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Since I use Cognos 8, I was wondering how I can get this type of content into Cognos 8?  As it turns out, by using IICE (Information Integrator Content Edition) by IBM as the ’source’ of consolidated info and Omnifind the indexing mechanism that classifys all the content into a format that makes for lighting fast searches against volumes of infomation.

The final way it is exposed in Cognos 8 is via GO! Search.  Cool stuff and much along the lines of Innovative BI including structured and unstructured data I have been working with lately. 

You want to create a new report, but use a different package as the data source. Do you need to go back to Cognos Connection to select a different package for the new report?

When clicking on File \ New or the New icon, Report Studio keeps you working in the same package. You can easily change the new report data source without going back to Cognos Connection.

1. File \ New or New icon. (Make sure the old Report is saved.)

2. Select report type (List, chart, Crosstab etc.)

3. File \ Report Package

4. Navigate to the package.

5. Click on OK.

The new reports source is: “Go Data Warehouse (analysis)”.

What is the total revenue by Product Type? The answer to this business question results in a report with multiple pages. What if you want to scroll through the entire report and not look at it page by page?

When creating a report, you often need to use the page links at the bottom of the screen to move through the report.

You can increase the number or rows visible on a web page:

Steps:

1. Select a grouped or sectioned report item
2. Change Layout \ Set Web Page Size …
3. Click the down arrow by Default
4. Select a number to increase the visible rows. Note: you can add a row count.
5. Click on OK.

Note the page links are missing. You can scroll down to the bottom of the report using the scroll bar on the right side of the screen.

Click here to learn more about ISA’s Cognos training offerings.

What is the 2006 revenue by Product Lines? When using Analysis Studio to answer this business question, the report shows you the quarters of 2006 and a summary column. What if you only want to see 2006 without the quarter details? 

Insert with details:

Insert with Details is the default setting. That default can be changed to “Insert without Details”. It is permanent change until you go back to settings and turn the Insert with Details back on. Turning insert with details off: Settings > Insert Options > Insert without Details

The results of Insert without Details:

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