IBM Cognos Analytics Overview and New Features Jumpstart

Transcription

1 IBM Cognos Analytics Overview and New Features Jumpstart

2 Training Materials are proprietary and confidential. Materials may not be reproduced or distributed in any way without permission from Senturus, Inc. Copyright Senturus, Inc

3 IBM Cognos Analytics Overview In this course, we will: Become familiar with the Cognos Analytics interface Upload personal data Create data modules Create dashboards Create simple reports 3

4 Introduction Instructor introduction Student introduction Your role Experience with the tools Expectations and reasons for attending the course 4

5 Who We Are Business Analytics Consultants 5

6 BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN DATA & DECISION MAKING Business Needs Analysis Ready Data Analysis Ready Data DECISION S & ACTIONS 6

7 BUSINESS ANALYTICS ARCHITECTS Dashboards, reporting & visualizations Data preparation & modern data warehousing Self-service business analytics Big data & advanced analytics Planning & forecasting systems Proprietary Analytics Connector software 7

8 1000+ CLIENTS, PROJECTS, 16+ YEARS 8

9 Become Familiar with the IBM Cognos Analytics Interface 9

10 Module Overview In this module we will: Explore the IBM Cognos Analytics (Cognos v11) platform Navigate content Consume and personalize existing reports Review Items to Look Out for Before Migrating Browser, OS, mobile and data source support JavaScript Portal pages Workspaces 10

11 Overview of the IBM Cognos Analytics Platform IBM Cognos Analytics is basically v11 of the Cognos platform Built on the same basic architecture There are some SIGNIFICANT differences Brand new capabilities of IBM Cognos Analytics Dashboards Data modules Data sets (11.0.4) Stories (11.0.5) Major differences All new modern user interface the entire portal experience has been remodeled 11

12 Overview of the IBM Cognos Analytics Platform Authoring is now a singular environment/user experience that replaces: Report Studio Cognos Workspace Advanced Query Studio* Analysis Studio* PowerPlay Studio* Modeling and System Administration remain basically unchanged from Framework Manager, Transformer, Cube Designer 12

13 Data Modules Data modules are a brand new capability in Cognos Analytics Allow users to perform light data modeling Can be based on: - Existing data modules built in Cognos Analytics - Pre-configured database connections such as SQL Server, DB2, Redshift, SAP HANA - Desktop-based files such as Excel Workbooks, CSV - Extracts, or snapshots from existing packages - Live connections to existing (relational) packages 13

14 Data Modules and Dashboards A couple of notes on data modules and dashboards: As of Release 5 (November, 2016): Dashboards can be based on data modules or packages Data modules can use packages Directly for relational packages Indirectly through data sets for OLAP packages No hierarchy support (flat extracts) *Direct access coming in Release 6, March, 2017) A report can be based on any single package or data module 14

15 Other Considerations Browser, OS, mobile and data source support Always changing, new sources are supported, some older sources are no longer support Which browser to use? What about server platforms? Keep up to date: 01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg Ibm.com > Search: Cognos software environments 15

16 Navigate the New UI Navigating the new portal is VERY different 16

17 Navigate the New UI Browsing content My Folders = My Content Public Folders = Team Content Modern content browsing experience 17

18 Navigate the New UI Switching between open objects Use the Welcome/Browse tool Welcome is your default Home page Set any other content as Home Bye-bye Welcome Screen Use Preferences to reset Home page to Welcome Screen 18

19 Navigate the New UI Demo 1-1 Log in and Search, Browse and Consume Content Purpose: It is our first exposure to IBM Cognos Analytics. We want to familiarize ourselves with the modern user interface and get comfortable with navigating the portal and consuming reports in the interactive viewer. 1. Connect to the Cognos Analytics environment at: (note the / at the end, this is IMPORTANT!). 2. Log in as studentx, Admin1234. (you will be assigned a unique student #, student1 through student20) 3. The main tools on the left of the page. A single left-click on each tool will display the level one pane for that tool. A second single-click on the tool icon will hide the pane. Some panes have multiple layers of navigation. 4. At the very top, click the Search tool and type top to demonstrate the auto-fill feature. 5. Click on the Top 10 Retailers for 2011 result. 6. There are many results, sorted by relevance. Click the first entry to view this report. 19

20 Navigate the New UI Demo 1-1 Log in and Search, Browse and Consume Content 7. You can select features in the list, such as column titles and individual values; however, the interactive features (sort, filter, etc.) for this report have not been enabled. 8. To return to the Welcome Screen, you can use the main navigation: a) Navigate back to Welcome, b) Or remove the current report 9. Click on the Navigation tool in the top center of the page. 10. Click the ellipsis next to Top 10 Retailer for 2011 to remove it. 11. In the upper left, click the Recent tool. This will show all the entries that have been viewed by your user ID. 12. Hover over the Top 10 Retailers for 2011 entry and click the More action at the for right. 20

21 Navigate the New UI Demo 1-1 Log in and Search, Browse and Consume Content 13. You can perform several actions here, including removing the entry for your recently viewed list. 14. Click the Recent tool again to hide this pane. 15. Click the Team content folder. 16. Follow this path to open the Sales summary report: Samples -> Reports -> Standard Reports. 21

22 Navigate the New UI Demo 1-1 Log in and Search, Browse, and Consume Content 17. In the value prompt at the far left, expand Products and select Camping Equipment and click Finish at the bottom. 18. In the first list, click on Americas in the Region column. In the on-demand toolbar, click Filter and select Include Americas. Note that this filter affects all the displays. 19. In the main report toolbar at the very top of the page, click the Undo tool. 20. Scroll down to the REVENUE BY PRODUCT column chart. 21. We see that Tents are the top seller for Camping Equipment. Click Tents on the X- axis and in the tools, select Explore -> Drill down. 22. Remove the Sales summary report from your session. Click OK, we don t need to save the changes. 22

23 Uploading Local Files 23

24 Module Overview In this module we will: Use local files for analysis and visualization Upload a Microsoft Excel worksheet 24

25 Overview IBM Cognos Analytics is the latest business intelligence platform offering in the IBM Cognos family Dashboarding and data modules are solutions that encourage and empower users to perform self-service analytics Self-service means: not relying on IT or other gatekeepers to analyze data from ANY source, using the same familiar, powerful, integrated platform as all other BI activities 25

26 Overview Data modules allow users to conduct light data modeling in a non-threatening interface, empowering a simple, immediate, and shareable data integration solution for any type of data source, including local (personal) files 26

27 Overview Simple join relationships can be defined and managed by actual business (end) users Join type, cardinality and join filters can be easily managed using non-technical terminology and cues 27

28 Overview Dashboarding is a brand-new capability that replaces Cognos Workspace Can be built from single page, tabbed and infographics layouts Templates exist to facilitate drag-and-drop design 28

29 Overview Dashboards only require drag-and-drop of data elements Data is interpreted and displayed visually according to best fit for data type and context Visualizations can be customized Each widget is automatically linked as a global filter for all other widgets 29

30 Upload Local Files for Analysis What types of files can be used for upload? Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and.xls) spreadsheets Only the first sheet in a Microsoft Excel workbook is uploaded. If you want to upload the data from multiple sheets in a workbook, save the sheets as separate workbooks..csv,.txt Text files that contain either comma-separated, tabseparated, semi colon-separated or pipe-separated values Uploaded files are stored on the Cognos server in a columnar format Use the upload tool at the bottom left of the screen 30

31 Upload a Microsoft Excel worksheet Demo Upload an Excel Worksheet Purpose: We have been given forecasted sales for each of our product lines in an Excel file and we would like to quickly show our actual sales against these figures. 1. The instructor will share an Excel file called forecast.xlsx. Save this file to your desktop. 2. At the bottom left click the Uupload files tool. 3. Browse to the forecast file on your desktop and click Open. 4. You should see two columns, product type code and forecast revenue. 5. We want to include both columns. Click OK at the top right of the screen. 6. The uploaded file will be saved in the My content folder by default. 7. You can click My content to check that has been successfully uploaded. 31

32 Module Review In this module we: Examined dashboarding and data modules in IBM Cognos Analytics Uploaded a Microsoft Excel worksheet 32

33 Blend Data with Data Modules 33

34 Module Overview In this module we will: Define a data server connection to provide access to raw database tables Use data modules to blend the data from uploaded files and packages 34

35 Data Modules Data modules are a new capability in Cognos Analytics that enable users to perform light data modeling A basic understanding of data modeling concepts is important Extends our analysis beyond traditional enterprise or centrally-managed sources of information Enables users to combine personal data with other sources Can be published and shared so a consistent logical model is available to all users 35

36 Data Modules When querying a data module, the most current values in each source will be returned Uploaded files must be manually refreshed A data set can be defined to create a snapshot of select data from a data module or package Data sets can be refreshed via a schedule 36

37 Create a Data Server (Instructor-only Demo) Demo Connect a SQL Server Database Purpose: Our SQL Server-based data warehouse contains important information that we d like to be able to use for visualization and dashboarding. An administrator or delegated user can define a data server which we can then use to select objects from the DW to use on our ashboards. 1. (Since this exercise will be completed by the Instructor only, the below instructions should not be followed during the training class but are provided for your reference to assist with creating data servers when you return to work. This exercise can be repeated in an environment in which the standard sample databases have been defined on a SQL Server database.) 2. In the bottom left, click Manage -> Data server connections. Click Create a new connection. 3. Select Microsoft SQL Server. In the Connection name, type GO Sales DW. 4. For the other settings, for Server, type cognos11, for Port number, type 1433, Database name: gosales. (your actual DB server and user info will likely be different> 37

38 Create a Data Server (Instructor-Only Demo) Demo 2-1 Connect to a SQL Server 5. Select the Password checkbox under the use the following credentials option. Type cognos11 for the user name, type Admin1234 for both the password and confirm password. 6. Click Test. Click OK. 7. Click the Manage -> Data server connections tools to verify that the GO Sales DW connection is available. 38

39 Create Data Modules Demo 2-2 Link a Spreadsheet and a Package Purpose: Leveraging existing metadata from published packages is an easy way to blend personal data with centrally-available, governed data. 1. In the lower left, click New -> Data module. 2. Under Sources, click 3. Select the forecast.xlsx file in the My content area. 4. Under Sources, click 5. Select GO sales (query) from the Team content > Samples > Models area. 6. Click Start in the first panel. 7. From the Selected sources panel, drag the forecast.xlsx source to either the Data module panel, or to the Canvas at the right of the screen. 8. Drag the GO sales (query) package to the Data module panel. 9. On the canvas, you can pan around the diagram by dragging the canvas in any direction. Move the canvas so you can see both the objects. You can also drag the objects in the diagram to move them. Click on GO sales (query) and CTRL-click on Forecast Xlsx. Rightclick and select Join. 39

40 Create Data Modules Demo 2-2 Link a Spreadsheet and a Package 10. In the create a join relationship dialog, click the TOP dropdown for GO sales (query). Then, click the right arrow next to GO sales (query) to browse the package. 11. Expand sales (query), and select Products. Click the down arrow in the Select an item area below products and select Product type code. From Forecast Xlsx, select Product type code. 12. We are fine with the default Join type we only want the matching rows. The Cardinality defaults to a 1 to many; however in this case, there will only be exactly one matching row on both sides of the relationship. 13. Click the dropdown for cardinality and select: 14. Click OK. 15. In the upper left of the screen, click Save. 16. Click My content, type Product Type Forecast Package and click Save. 40

41 Module Review In this module we: Defined a data server connection to provide access to raw database tables Used data modules to blend data from uploaded files and packages 41

42 Create Joins, Calculations and Custom Data Groupings 42

43 Module Overview In this module we will: Understand the importance of proper data modeling practices Examine features and considerations for enhancing metadata in data modules Create a navigation group Test results in a dashboard 43

44 Enhance the Metadata Following the best practices of data modeling, we need to insure we have a proper join path between our objects to facilitate our analysis 44

45 Fundamentals of Data Modeling The first key to data modeling is to understand: Whenever you are querying across more than one object (database table, text file, Excel worksheet), you MUST define at least one logical relationship between them That does not mean that you need to define ALL of the possible links between objects 45

46 Fundamentals of Data Modeling Most of the time a join relationship is defined by simply linking one column in an object to a matching column in the other object This is called an equi-join (the values in columna are = the values in columnb) Matching multiple columns is rarely required This is called a compound join Necessary when multiple attributes in combination are required to define a unique value 46

47 Enhance the Metadata There are other very important considerations when defining a data module Consumers of data modules can NOT define calculations or custom groups, we must add them in the data module This changes starting with Release 6 Measure behavior and format should also be defined here 47

48 Enhance the Metadata We can also do the following: Rename, hide and remove objects Define filters Clean up columns 48

49 Enhance the Metadata Demo 3-1 Create a Navigation Group Purpose: We have been struggling to deliver information to business users that want to navigate data in a particular way. We will make this adjustment to an existing data module. 1. Return to the Welcome screen by removing any open items. Browse to Team content > Samples > Data and open the Sample data module. 2. Expand the Sample File Go Sales Xls entry. Click on Retailer country and CTRLclick Retailer type, Product line, Product type, and Product. Right-click and select Create navigation group. 49

50 Enhance the Metadata Demo 3-1 Create a Navigation Group 3. Click Apply. 4. Click the ellipsis next to Retailer country and select Properties. Under the Represents area, click the first drop-down and select Geographic Location. 5. In the second drop-down, select Country. 6. Close the Properties panel. 7. Click the down arrow to the right of the Save tool in the upper left and select Save as. 8. Click My content and type DM_GO Sales and click Save. 9. Remove DM_GO Sales from your session. Click New > Dashboard. 10. Select the single Cell layout and click OK. 11. Click Add a source. 12. Browse to My content and select DM_GO Sales and click Open. 13. Drag Retailer country to center of the dashboard canvas and drop when you see the Drop here to maximize prompt. 14. Note the default visualization for this item based on the Geographic representation we defined earlier. 15. Drag Revenue on top of the Map. Use the map tools to zoom out. 50

51 Enhance the Metadata Demo 3-1 Create a Navigation Group 16. Click on Canada and click Drill down. 17. In the bar chart, Drill down on Outdoors Shop. 51

52 Enhance the Metadata Demo 3-1 Create a Navigation Group 52

53 Module Review In this module we: Understood the importance of proper data modeling practices Examined features and considerations for enhancing metadata in data modules Created a navigation group Tested results in a dashboard 53

54 Create Dashboards 54

55 Module Overview In this module we will: Create a Dashboard from our data module Customize visualizations Use media to enhance the dashboard 55

56 Creating Dashboards Demo 4-1 Create a new Dashboard Purpose: Now that we have our data ready, we want to produce some visual displays to distribute to our end users. 1. In the lower left of the page, click New and select Dashboard. Select the Tabbed dashboard type, and in the layouts, click on the following: 2. Click OK. 3. Click the Sources tool and click Click My content and select your Product Type Forecast Package Data module and click Open. 5. Expand GO sales (query), expand go_sales, expand Sales (query). From Products, drag Product line onto the Maximize feature in the top left pane on the Dashboard canvas. 6. From Sales, drag Revenue onto the Maximize feature in the top right pane. From Products, drag Product type on top of Revenue. 7. From Forecast Xlsx, drag Forecast revenue on top of this widget as well. Change this display to Clustered column. Click the left arrow to hide the Change Display dialog. 8. Select the Product line widget and click Change Display. Select Data Player. Click the left arrow to hide the Change Display dialog. 56

57 Enhancing Dashboards Demo 4-1 Create a new Dashboard 9. Click the Play button on the Data Player. Click again to Pause. 10. From Products, drag Product line to Maximize it in the bottom left cell on the Dashboard. 11. From Sales, drag Quantity on top of the new widget. 12. In the far left area, click the Media tool. 13. Drag a Webpage to the Maximize drop zone in the bottom right cell. 57

58 Enhancing Dashboards Demo 4-1 Create a new Dashboard 14. Paste the following URL into the text box and press Enter: 58

59 Module Review In this module we: Created a dashboard from our data module Customized visualizations Used media to enhance the dashboard 59

60 Creating Reports 60

61 Module Overview In this module we will: Discuss how to create reports Create a basic list report and pivot to crosstab Examine and create visual displays of data Dynamically filter our data 61

62 Create a New Report Reports can be authored from the IBM Cognos Analytics welcome page in your browser 62

63 Create a New Report Start by choosing a report, the layout style and adding one or more data sources 63

64 Create a New Report The Work Area pane is the area in which you build your report 64

65 Explore the Data, Toolbox and Navigate Areas Use the Data tool to add, modify or view the data source Select Source to view the entire metadata tree Select Data Items to view the queries and data items used in the report. 65

66 Explore the Data, Toolbox and Navigate Areas The Toolbox contains all available report objects Available objects depend on what is in focus Pages Queries Conditions 66

67 Explore Page Views Page views Use the Page Views tool in the upper right region to choose how to view report pages Page design Page preview Page structure 67

68 Explore the On Demand Toolbar On demand toolbar Select an object to access the on demand toolbar Add filters, define formatting, or apply suppression Additional options are available when clicking More 68

69 Create List Reports What is a list report? A report that displays data as a series of tabular columns Each row is one record Each column is one field 69

70 Create List Reports Demo 5-1 Create a List Report Purpose: Create a list of products that shows Product Line, Product Type, Product Name and the Revenue and Quantities sold for each product. 1. Click New on the bottom left corner of the toolbar and select Report. 2. Select the 1 column template and click OK. 3. Click the plus sign to add a new data source. Navigate to the GO Sales (query) package by browsing to Team Content Samples Models and clicking Open. 70

71 Create List Reports Demo 5-1 Create a List Report 4. Click the Plus sign in the center of the table cell. This is the quick add button and will display six pinned toolbox objects. Select List. Under Query name, replace Query1 with the text Product List and click OK. 5. Expand the Sales (query) namespace, then expand the Products query subject. 6. Double-click Product line, Product type, and Product to add them to the list. 7. Expand the Sales query subject and drag Revenue to the end of the list. Make sure there is blinking bar between 2 bars and a dotted line around the Product column. 71

72 Create List Reports Demo 5-1 Create a List Report 8. Right-click the Quantity data item and click Insert. 9. There are 3 ways to bring data items into objects; double-click, drag-and-drop, and right-click to insert. 10. In the left pane, click the Data Items link to see the query just created. 11. Click back to the Source to see all available data items. 72

73 Create List Reports Demo 5-1 Create a List Report 12. Click the Revenue column body and ctrl-click the Quantity column body. 13. From the on-demand popup toolbar click the font icon. 14. Under Weight click Bold and click OK. 15. Click the Run Report button and select Run HTML to see the report. 16. Cognos viewer will appear with the result in HTML format in a new tab. 17. Close the viewer tab and return to the report. 73

74 Create List Reports Demo 5-1 Create a List Report 74

75 Analytical Report Authoring The crosstab (pivot table) or chart can consolidate/aggregate data into a format that can be consumed more efficiently The report does the analysis, not the consumer 75

76 Crosstab Terminology Columns/Rows/Cells A report that shows summary measure values as intersections of row and column data Rows and columns are always grouped and cells are summarized 76

77 Define Filters Expressions used to focus data into smaller subsets All filters must contain three parts 1. Query item 2. Comparison operator 3. Criteria [gosales_goretailers].[orders].[order year] = 2004 [gosales_goretailers].[orders].[quantity] between 1000 and 5000 [gosales_goretailers].[countries].[country] in ( Canada, China, Brazil ) [gosales_goretailers].[sales reps].[staff name] Starts with Jake [gosales_goretailers].[orders].[return date] Is not null [gosales_goretailers].[orders].[margin] <.331 The section of the query item in green is qualification of the query item and must be used if the query item is not in the report 77

78 Inline Filtering Filters can also be applied directly from within the display by clicking on either: Data items Actual values 78

79 Create a Crosstab Report Demo 5-2 Pivot List to Crosstab Purpose: The VP of Marketing would like to see our report show the summary of product line sales revenue and quantity for each year, for Central and Northern European Sales regions. The report must fit one page or slide on the annual presentation. 1. We can modify our report by swapping out the data items converting to a Crosstab (pivot). 2. From the Time query subject drag Year to the right of Product. 3. In the List, select Product type and CTRL-click Product and press Delete. 4. In the Insertable Objects pane, expand the Sales staff query subject, and drag and drop Sales Region into the List in between Product line and Year. 5. Select the Year list column. Click the More ellipsis to the far right of the toolbar and select Pivot List to Crosstab. 6. Change to the Page preview mode. Click on Central Europe and CTRL-click Northern Europe. 7. Use the on-demand toolbar to Filter and Include just these two regions. 79

80 Create a Crosstab Report Demo Pivot List to Crosstab 7. Xxxx 80

81 Visualizations How and When to Use Cognos Analytics ( and beyond) provides three groups of visualizations New visualizations include the most modern RAVE 2 library of visualizations (shipped with the default install) Legacy visualizations include the original library of RAVE 1.0 visualizations to support seamless upgrade of reports which may include these specifications Charts are the Cognos 10 library of chart objects 81

82 Visualizations How and When to Use Visualizations are used to visually communicate relationships, comparative values, trending and forecasting 82

83 Visualizations How and When to Use Depending on the visualization type, you may be able to Display multiple measures Display trends Display proportions Display acceptable ranges 83

84 Visualizations Cognos Analytics ships with many visualizations The visualization library can be customized and expanded 84

85 Visualizations Demo 5-3 Use a Visualization in a Report Purpose: We have been asked to show worldwide gross profit in a way that clearly shows how each country is performing in comparison to one another. 1. Using the same steps as before, create a new 1 column report. Add the Go Sales (query) data source. 2. Quick add a Visualization onto the work area. Filter for Legacy visualizations. 3. Select the first Dynamic Map and click OK. Click OK again. 4. From the Source, expand Sales (query), expand Sales staff, and drag Country to the Location drop zone. Expand Sales and drag Gross profit to the Color drop zone. 5. Switch to Page preview. 85

86 Visualizations Demo 5-3 Use a Visualization in a Report - Results 86

87 Detail Filters Demo 5-4 Filter from the Report Preview Purpose: We want to focus on just the North American results (US, Canada, Mexico). 1. Select the Map and in the Dynamic map: Data area, click on <#Country#>. 2. Click the Filters tool and select Create Custom Filter. 3. Double-click on Canada, Mexico, and then United States to add them to the Selected Values box, and click OK. 87

88 Module Review In this module we: Discussed how to create reports Created a basic list report and pivot to crosstab Examined and created visual displays of data Dynamically filtered our data 88

89 Course Summary

90 IBM Cognos Analytics New Features for Authors In this course, we: Became familiar with the Cognos Analytics interface Uploaded personal data Created data modules Created dashboards Created simple reports 90

91 Course Wrap-Up We sincerely thank you for attending our training! Please complete the course evaluation Who is Senturus? Did you know that we have a full-service consulting and analytics solutions practice? Your instructor may be available for small-group mentoring, facilitated learning, prototyping, knowledge transfer or even full project-scale engagements Private, on-site and fully customized training using your business requirements and your data are also available Contact training@senturus.com for more information 91

92 WHAT S NEXT? OVERVIEW OF IBM COGNOS ANALYTICS TRAINING Senturus Formal Classes IBM Cognos Analytics System Administration (2 days) Framework Manager Metadata Modeling (3 days) OLAP Modeling with IBM Cognos Transformer (2 days) OLAP Modeling with IBM Cognos Dynamic Cubes (2 days) Professional Authoring with IBM Cognos Analytics (2 10 days total) IBM Cognos Analytics Overview and Self-Service Authoring (1 day) IBM Cognos Analytics OLAP Data Exploration (1 day) IBM Cognos Self- Service Analytics with Dashboards and Data Modules (1 day) DEV/Install Administrators Cognos Configuration, Admin Console Req ts gathering Modelers Framework Manager, Transformer, Cube Designer Development Project Timeline System Validation System Launch - GO Live Professional Authors Reporting Business Authors/Analysts Reporting Consumers Data Modules, Dashboarding Suggested Attendees by Role Tools Used Optional OLAP Only 92