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Modify CM 14 Forms and Reports with BI Publisher Rudy Ising August 29, 2012 Thank you for joining today’s technical webinar • Mute – all call in phones are automatically muted in order to preserve the quality of the audio for all attendees. • Questions – due to the high volume of participants, you can email questions to [email protected]. We will try to address your questions during or at the end of the presentation. • Follow up – all registrants will receive an Excel file listing all questions and responses along with a link to the recorded webinar. 8/30/2012 2 Agenda • What is BI • Structure of CM • BI Versions – BI Web tool – BI Publisher Desktop • • • • Licensing Considerations with Use Benefits Report/Form Modification Examples – Adding fields – Adding Logo What is BI • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) is an enterprise report writing solution used by Contract Management to create and print all forms/reports/letter templates. • Utilizes a dedicated server to handle all print jobs (formerly handled by the CM web server). CM Structure CM User performs all work through CM Web Server—do direct login to BI server required. BI Versions • Two Versions: – Web Interface – BI Publisher Desktop (local install using Word) • Form/Report Developer uses either web interface or Desktop tool to customize reports – BI User licenses required for all developers. BI Web Tool Web Interface can be used for ALL BI design tasks, including data models and form design Designs/layouts created in BI Desktop are uploaded in web tool. BI Web tool • Faster performance in Firefox • Create Data Models (SQL Queries) – Emphasis on raw SQL statement creation • Create Form/Report/Template Design – Similar interface to other report writers • BI Server Administration – Data Connection Setup – Font Mapping BI Publisher Desktop Desktop tool provides some layout options not in Web and works offline with exported XML copies of data models. Complex design options here require higher level of programming skill. BI Publisher Desktop • Embeds directly into Word and works on local machine. – Creates a custom toolbar in Word • Data Models are saved as XML Schema to allow modifications to design. – Web tool used for Data Model creation and modifications – After changes re-export the Data Model XML design to work offline. • Allows more Word-like page/content formatting than the Web tool. – Advanced formatting requires higher level of programming expertise. Which to Use? BI Web • One stop shop • Most like Infomaker • Most expressions must be in data model, not in report design. • Some layout restrictions • All default Oracle forms/reports are in this tool so shortest path to making simple changes. BI Desktop • Only used for report design; data model designed in BI Web. • Upload to BI Web to appear in CM • Advanced users can do more here than in Web • Letter Templates work best in this tool Licensing Use License Notes Run Default Forms/Reports from CM Runtime License included with CM No direct access to reports from BI Web server allowed. Modify User License for each BI User Forms/Reports/Let who’s making modifications ter Templates (named users) Advanced BI Web Server Features Needs BI Web Server licensing, plus User Licensing for all end-users No license to use BI Web Server to use BI Scheduled Delivery, etc. Considerations • Conversions from older CM Versions – No conversion utility currently available for Infomaker to BI – Good time to clean up report designs and “clean house” of any non-essential form designs. – New designs should use default CM14 designs as basis. – Letter Templates from old version (in Word) can be modified using BI Desktop—however will require manually re-creating links in document. Some Current Limitations • CM doesn’t currently support “prompted” reports (prompt for date range, etc.) • Currently enhancement request, so expect to see this added in future. • Feature is already supported by BI, but doesn’t work when run in CM. • Paragraphs • BI Web forms/reports do not print paragraphs, but instead print all text in continuous block. • Custom programming in BI Desktop will provide support for this, but this is not in the very “basic” skillset. • This will also be a feature that may be resolved in a future release. • Data Model Graphical View • Graphical view in Data Model limited to 60 fields • Data Model best suited for programmers with SQL experience. • Learning Curve for “Graphical View” Infomaker Users. Benefits Benefit Comments CM14 Server doesn’t Running reports from dedicated server process reports frees up performance on the CM14 server Most features are No Remote Desktop/Citrix use required web-based like with Infomaker. One data model can Different reports can use the same data be used on many model, rather than having to re-create reports the data model multiple times. One data model can “Embedded” or “Nested” queries are have MANY data sets now all in the same data model. Benefits Benefit Comments Each Data set can have its own Data Source This can provide for multiple data sources inside of one report (e.g. “consolidated reporting”) Create multiple layouts in same report with setting to pick the correct current report layout.. Original layout can be quickly restored. Cache report values to speed retrieval time. Multiple Layouts for Report Report Cache Setting Summary • Similar functionality to Infomaker • Provides Web-based tool • Complex designs require thorough SQL syntax understanding Report/Form Modifications • Using BI Web tool, we will: – Review report design window – Review data model design window – Add a column to a report – Insert a logo on a form Questions? Don McNatty Principal Consultant [email protected] T. (877) 367-7990 Web www.drmcnatty.com Web www.mlmpsinc.com 8/30/2012 19