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Version 2.1
Version Control
Version Created Author Reviewer Signed Off
2.0 Dec-2013 M. Houghton T. Webber 16/01/2014
2.1 Apr-2014 M. Houghton D. Rees 07/04/2014
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Contents
1 Course Objectives & Agenda ........................................................................................... 1
2 Introduction to OBIEE ...................................................................................................... 1
3
OBIEE Home Page .......................................................................................................... 3
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3
3.2 OBIEE Global Header ............................................................................................. 4
4 Creating a Folder ............................................................................................................. 5
4.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 5
4.2 Exercise 1 Create a Folder .................................................................................. 5
5
Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis .............................................................................................. 7
5.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Exercise 2 Create an Ad-Hoc Analys is .............................................................. 7
6 Formatting Column Properties ....................................................................................... 11
6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 11
6.2 Exercise 2 Formatt ing Column Propert ies ...................................................... 11
7
Conditional Formatting ................................................................................................... 16
7.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 16
7.2 Exercise 3 Condi tional Formatting .................................................................. 16
8
Applying Filters .............................................................................................................. 21
8.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 21
8.2 Exercise 4 Applying Fil ters ............................................................................... 21
9 Applying Bins ................................................................................................................. 26
9.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 26
9.2 Exercise 5 Bins .................................................................................................. 26
10
Formula Editing .......................................................................................................... 30
10.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 30
10.2 Exercise 6 Formula Edit ing .............................................................................. 30
11
Table Properties ......................................................................................................... 34
11.1
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 34
11.2 Exercise 7 Table Properties .............................................................................. 34
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12 Creating a Chart View ................................................................................................ 38
12.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 38
12.2 Exercise 8 Creating a Chart View ..................................................................... 38
13
Creating Pivot Tables ................................................................................................. 41
13.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 41
13.2
Exercise 9 Creating Pivot Tables ..................................................................... 41
14 Editing the Compound Layout .................................................................................... 44
14.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 44
14.2
Exercise 10 Editing the Compound Layout..................................................... 44
15 Creating My Dashboard ............................................................................................. 47
15.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 47
15.2 Dashboard Prompts ............................................................................................. 48
15.2.1 Creating Dashboard Prompts .......................................................................... 48
15.2.2
Exercise 11 Step 1 - Setting Dashboard Prompt Column Filters.................. 49
15.2.3 Exercise 12 Step 2 - Creating a Dashboard Prompt .................................... 55
15.3
Creating My Dashboard ....................................................................................... 60
15.3.1
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 60
15.3.2
Exercise 13 Creating My Dashboard ............................................................ 60
16
Appendix A Icon Definitions .................................................................................... 66
16.1
Catalog .................................................................................................................. 66
16.2 Folders Region ..................................................................................................... 66
16.3 Save As .................................................................................................................. 66
16.4 Criteria Tab ............................................................................................................ 67
16.4.1
Subject Areas Pane ......................................................................................... 67
16.4.2
Criteria Icons ................................................................................................... 67
16.4.3
Selected Columns Pane .................................................................................. 67
16.4.4
Filters Pane ..................................................................................................... 68
16.5
Results Tab ........................................................................................................... 68
16.5.1 Subject Areas Pane ......................................................................................... 68
16.5.2
Catalog Pane ................................................................................................... 68
16.5.3
Views Pane ..................................................................................................... 68
16.6 Table ...................................................................................................................... 69
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16.7
Compound Layout Title ....................................................................................... 69
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Legend
These recognised abbreviations tell you what action to take in the practical exercises. They
will not appear as options on your Oracle 12 system, but are our instructions to you:
(N) Navigate
(T) Tab
(ST) Sub Tab
Responsibility BIS OBIEE Analysis GL
Action Note:
This is to draw your attention to an action you MUSTtake in order to effectively
use the system.
Learning Note:
This is to draw your attention to useful additional information that you may find
interesting.
Caution Note:
This is to give you forewarning about an action that is NOTadvisable or may
have consequences that could impact on your effective use of the system.
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1 Course Objectives & Agenda
By the end of this course delegates will have an understanding of:
Creating and saving an ad-hoc report
Formatting Reports
Report Filters
Creating Bins (Summarising data)
Creating Different Report Views
The Dashboards
2 Introduction to OBIEE
Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) (sometimes simply referred to as
Oracle Business Intelligence) provides a full range of business intelligence capabilities that
allow you to:
Collect up-to-date data from your organization
Present the data in easy-to-understand formats (such as tables and graphs)
Deliver data in a timely fashion to the employees in your organization
The data, accessed by OBIEE, is held in a Data Warehouse which is updated every night bythe Extract Transform Load (ETL) processes.
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In Oracle BI Enterprise Edition, you can work with:
Analyses (This area of Oracle BI EE is also known as Answers).
Analyses are queries against your organization's data that provide answers to
business questions.
Analyses allow you to explore and interact with information by visually presenting
data in easy-to-understand formats (such as tables and graphs).
You can save, organize, and share the results of analyses.
Dashboards (This area of Oracle BI EE is also known as Interactive Dashboards.)
Dashboards provide personalised views of corporate and external information.
A dashboard consists of one or more pages that contain content, such as analyses,
links to websites, Oracle BI Publisher reports, and so on.
Dashboards allow you to provide end users with access to analytics information.
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3 OBIEE Home Page
3.1 Introduction
The Home page provides the starting point for performing tasks in Oracle BI EE. The Home
page is divided into sections that allow you to quickly begin a specific task, locate an object,
or access technical documentation. It also includes sections (for example, Recent and
Favorites) that allow you to quickly access objects that you have recently viewed, created, or
updated, and objects that are accessed the most often by the users assigned to the groups
to which you belong.
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3.2 OBIEE Global Header
The global header provides quick access to commonly used functions and is always
available from the screen.
The global header includes the following functions:
Function Purpose
Enables you to search the catalog
Displays the Catalog page in search mode, where you can search for objectsin the catalog
Displays the following options:
Help Contents Displays a cascading menu that provides optionsthat link to the tables of contents for Oracle BI EE, BI Publisher, andMarketing.
Documentation Displays the documentation library for Oracle BIEE.
About Oracle BI EE Displays a dialog identifying the Oracle BI EEversion and copyright information.
Signs you out of Oracle BI EE
Displays the Home page
Displays the Catalog page, where you can locate objects in the catalog andperform tasks specific to those objects
Displays your favorite objects and any categories that you created to organizeyour favorite objects
Contains links to all dashboards that are stored within the Dashboards sub-folder of the user's folder or any shared folder. Note that dashboards notsaved to the Dashboards sub-folders are not displayed from the global headerDashboards list)
Displays a list of the objects that you can create. To create an object, select itfrom the list. The appropriate dialog or editor is displayed for you to create the
objectDisplays the following options:
Open Displays the Open dialog where you can select the objectwith which you want to work.
Recent objects Displays a list of the objects that you haverecently viewed, created, or updated. You can use this list to select anobject with which you want to work.
Most Popular objects Displays a list of the objects that areaccessed the most often by the users that are assigned to the groupsto which you belong. You can use this list to select an object withwhich you want to work
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4 Creating a Folder
4.1 Introduction
A folder in OBIEE is analogous to a directory in Windows where folders are the containers
and the objects are the files held in the folders. An OBIEE folder represents a group of
related objects. OBIEE end users store and select from one or more folders to get
information from the database.
Folders can be created before objects are created or at the time an object is to be saved.
Learning Note:
Term Definition
Object OBIEE generic term for analysis, reports, charts and dashboards
4.2 Exercise 1 Create a Folder
1. (N)- BIS OBIEE Analysis GL
2. Select the function
3. Select the link from the Global Header
4. Expand
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Learning Note:
My Folders
All of your folders will be displayed. These will be personal to your login and therefore
not visible to other users.
Folders can be add or deleted as required.
5. Expand the New drop-down list and select the icon
6. Enter the following data items:
Field Value
Name Your NameTraining
7. Select the button. Your new folder will now be displayed within the parent folder
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5 Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis
5.1 Introduction
Analysis and tables are created from Subject Areasheld in the data warehouse.
A subject area contains folders, measure columns, attribute columns, hierarchical columns,and hierarchy levels that represent information about the areas of an organization's business
or about groups of users with an organization. Subject areas usually have names that
correspond to the types of information that they contain, such as Financials GL Balance
Sheet.
When you create an analysis, you first select the subject area with which you want to work.
This is known as the primary subject area and is displayed in the Subject Areas pane. If, as
you work, you find that you need more data, you can add additional subject areas that are
related to the primary subject area that you have chosen.
Learning Note:
You can add related subject areas only if they are available for the primary
subject area and only if you have permission to access them.
5.2 Exercise 2 Create an Ad-Hoc Analysis
In this exercise you will create a basic General Ledger Trial Balance Reportas a simple
introduction to OBIEE Analysis, sometimes referred to as Answers.
The report will be saved in the new folder created in exercise 1.
1. Responsibility - BIS OBIEE Analysis GL
2. Select the function
3. Expand the drop-down list from the Global Header
4. Select from the displayed list:
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5. Select the required subject area
Learning Note:
My Folders
Analysis are created and maintained from the Criteriatab
6. To add a report column to a report, expand the relevant folder and either double clicka data element or drag it to the Selected Columnsarea of the screen.
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7. Select the following columns for the General Ledger Trial Balance Report
Subject Area Folder Data Element
GL Segment1 (Entity) Segment Code
GL Segment2 (Business Unit) Segment Code
GL Segment3 (Cost Centre) Segment Code
Facts - GL Balance Opening Amount
Facts - GL Balance Debit Amount
Facts - GL Balance Credit Amount
Facts - GL Balance Closing Amount
8. The following should be displayed in the Selected Areasarea of the screen
9. To view the content of the report select the tab (note that it may take a
few moments to retrieve the report data).
10.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page.
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11.Click in and then select the folder the report is to be saved in
12.Name this report as Ex 1and click the button to save the report
13.Select to return to the Home Page
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6 Formatting Column Properties
6.1 Introduction
After you create and run an analysis, default formatting rules are applied to the analysis'
results. Default formatting rules are based on cascading style sheets and XML message
files. You can create additional formatting to apply to specific results. Additional formats help
you to highlight blocks of related information and call attention to specific data elements. You
can also use additional formatting to customise the general appearance of analyses and
dashboards.
When you build an analysis, you can edit properties for columns to control their appearance
and layout. You can also specify formatting to apply only if the contents of the column meet
certain conditions. By default, the specifications for a column apply only to the current
analysis.
6.2 Exercise 2 Formatting Column Propert iesIn this exercise we will look at the various formatting options available to customise the
report we created in Exercise 1. As well as formatting style options, you can also change
the format of the data itself.
1. First we need to open our previous report; from the Catalog. Select the tab
from the Global Header.
2. Select the folder you created earlier and click on the link for the report created in
Exercise 1
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3. The report is automatically displayed in the tab
4. To edit the report, select the tab
5. To begin formatting the column , select the options icon to the
right of the column name
6. Select from the displayed list of options
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7. The Column Propertieswindow is displayed
Learning Note: My Folders
The column properties are initially set to the system default values.
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8. This window has 5 tabs as follows:
o Style- This tab mainly deals with column formatting such as colour, font, cell
alignment, etc.
o Column Format- This tab allows you to edit the column headings and the
suppression rule.
o Data Format -This tab allows you to amend data format properties like the
number format, how negative values are displayed and the number of
decimal places.
o Conditional Format - Conditional formatting allows you create rule
specific formatting options. This is very useful for directing attention to data
when certain criteria are met. We will cover this in more detail in a later
exercise.
o InteractionUse this box to specify what happens when you click either the
column heading or a value in the column or hierarchy level. The values that
are available depend on the type of column and on column heading versus
value.
9. Select the tab
10.Tick the box to override the system default values and
amend the Data Formatting for the Opening Amountcolumn as shown below:
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11.Select the tab and change the Style formatting for the same column as shown
below:
12.Click the button
13.Now, feel free to use the style and column formatting options to personalise your
report.
14.Click the tab
15.Your report should now be displayed similar to the below depending on your
formatting options:
16.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page
17.Save the report as Ex2in your folder
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7 Conditional Formatting
7.1 Introduction
Use this tab of the Column Properties to add a condition to a column. You specify a
condition to affect the formatting of values based on certain criteria. The formatting that
you specify for a column on this tab is visible in any view that can display data and its
formatting, with the exception of graphs, funnel graphs, and gauges.
7.2 Exercise 3 Condit ional Formatting
Conditional Formatting allows you to direct attention to a specific piece of data when certain
criteria are met. In this example we will add Conditional Formatting to the report created in
Exercise 2.
1. First we need to open our previous report. Select the tab from the tGlobal
Header.
2. Select the folder you created earlier and click on the link for the report created in
Exercise 2
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3. The report will open in the tab
4. To edit the report, select the tab
5. Now we will add some conditional formatting to the column; click the
Column Properties icon and navigate to the tab
6. Select the button to create the first condition
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7. Select Closing Amount and enter the following details:
Field Value
Operator Is less than or equal to
Value 0
8. Click the button. You will now have the option to edit the Style for your
condition.
9. Set the Fontcolour as red and the style as Bold.
10.Add an image for your condition:
11.To select an image, click in
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12.Select the image icon followed by an image radio button
13.Select the button
14.Select the button
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15.Add 2 more conditions to the Closing Amountcolumn as shown below:
Condition Operator Value 1 Value 2 Font Colour Image
2 Is between 0 10000 Bold Yellow
3 Is greater than or equal to 10000 Bold Green
16.To view the results of the report, click on the button then the tab
17.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page andsave as Ex3
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8 Applying Filters
8.1 Introduction
You use filters to limit the results that are displayed when an analysis is run, so that the
results answer a particular question.
Together with the columns that you select for an analysis, filters determine what the results
contain. Based on the filters and selection steps, only those results that match the criteria
are shown.
8.2 Exercise4 Applying FiltersFilters can be applied to a report to limit results to match a certain criteria, combining filters
will further constrain your report results.
In this exercise a filter will be applied to GL Segment 3 (Cost Centre).
1. Open the report saved as Ex 3and click link, followed by the tab
2. First we need to apply a filter against the GL Segment Code 3 (Cost Centre)
column; click the properties icon and then select from the drop-down
list
3. Enter the following filter details:
Field Value
Operator Is equal to / is in
Value 102048
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4. Click the button
5. The filter is now showing in the Filterssection of the Criteriapage:
6. Display the results by selecting the tab to confirm that filter has been
applied correctly
7. Next we will add another filter, but this time filter against data that is not displayed in
the report
8. In this example we will filter to show only the results from a specific time period
9. Return to the tab
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10. In the Filterssection of the screen, click on the New Filter icon:
11.Select the More Columnsoption:
12.Expand the folder
13.Select the Fiscal Quarteroption, then click the button
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14.The New Fil terscreen is displayed:
15.Add a new filter so that only results for the fourth quarter of 2013 are shown by
clicking on the Search icon
16.The Select Valuesscreen is displayed, enter 2013in the search field and click the
button
17.Select 2013 Q 4and move it to the Selectedarea of the screen using the arrow key
then click on the button
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18.The proposed filter is displayed
19.Click the button
20.The filter is now showing in the Filterssection of the Criteriapage:
21.Click on the tab to view the details of the report
22.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page and save
as Ex4
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9 Applying Bins
9.1 Introduction
Bins enable you to combine values for the column into sets (summaries). For example,
summarize the column values for selected Cost Centres.
9.2 Exercise 5 Bins
Bins are useful for grouping together relative sets of data. In this example we will take a
report from an earlier exercise and group the Cost Centre (GL Segment 3) values.
1. Select the tab from the Global Header
2. Select the option for the report saved in Exercise 3and click on the
tab
3. The option to create Binsare held in the Edit Formulawindow accessed from thecolumn properties icon
4. Click the button for the Segment Code 3column:
5. In the Edit Column Formulawindow, click the tab.
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6. Click theAdd Bin button in the bottom left hand corner
7. Click the Value search icon
8. Complete the Bin by adding both 102048and 104061Cost Centresas shown below:
9. Click the button
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10.Click the button
11.Name the Bin HE & GO Science
12.Click the button
13.The Bin details are displayed
14.Click the button
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15.Display the report details by selecting the tab
16.Note that the Cost Centre column now has active drilldown (hyperlinked), click on HE
& GO Science
17.The report will drill down to show each Cost Centre contained in the Bin
18.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and
save as Ex5
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10 Formula Editing
10.1 Introduction
You can edit the formulas for columns when you specify the criteria for an analysis. This
editing affects the column only in the context of the analysis and does not modify the formula
of the original column in the subject area.
A column formula specifies what the column values represent. You can edit the formula to
add functions, conditional expressions, and so on. This editing enables you to present
analysis results in a variety of ways.
The Edit Formula option also allows the column heading to be renamed.
10.2 Exercise 6 Formula Editing
The Edit Formula button allows you to manually write a formula for a given column, such as
ranking or percentiles. In this example we will add a new column to the report and modify
the formula to create a percentage column using the Edit Formula tool.
1. Select the tab from the Global Header
2. Select the option for the report saved in Exercise 1and click on the
tab
3. Expand the folder in the Subject Areasregion of the screen
4. Add the Closing Entered Amountfact to the report
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5. The option to modify a columns formula is in the Edit Formula window accessed
from the column properties icon
6. Select
Learning Note:
The edit formula tool can be used to manually write formula statements.
OBIEE also provides a series of pre-defined commands that can be used to
make report writing easier. For more advanced help on writing report
formulae, click the link in the top right corner of the edit formula window.
7. First rename the Column Header to Percentage Difference by ticking the CustomHeadingsbox and overtyping the text.
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8. Then delete the existing Column Formula "Facts - GL Balance"."Closing Entered
Amount"
Action Note:
When creating a new formula ALWAYS place the cursor at the end of the
formula before selecting the next component.
Failure to do so will result in the formula being deleted and replaced by the next
selected formula element.
9. Enter the following new formula in the Column Formularegion of the screen:
(Debit Amount/Closing Amount)x100
a. Select the open bracket button
b. Place the cursor after the (
c. Click the button and select the column - "Debit Amount"
d. Place the cursor at the end of the formula
e. Select the divide button
f. Place the cursor at the end of the formula
g. Click the button and select the column - "Closing AmountEntered"
h. Place the cursor at the end of the formula
i. Select the close bracket button
j. Place the cursor at the end of the formula
k. Select the multiply button
l. Place the cursor at the end of the formula
m. Enter 100
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10.Click the button
11.Select the tab to display the report
12.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the results page and save
as Ex6
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11 Table Properties
11.1 Introduction
Table Properties allow you to add column totals, change the number of lines displayed per
page, alternate the background colours of the report lines and hide duplicate cell values.
11.2 Exercise 7 Table Properties
When editing the Table view, you can amend properties such as sorting defaults, column
totals, page display options and table formatting controls. In this example we will take the
report created in Exercise 2and edit some of the more useful Table properties.
1. Select the tab from the Global Header
2. Open report Ex 2and click the link
3. The Resultsscreen is displayed:
4. To edit the table properties, ensure table is selected in the Viewsregion of thescreen
5. Select the edit icon
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6. The table Layoutproperties screen is displayed below the report
7. First we will create a total row for each Business Unit in the second column. Click theicon for the second Segment Code column and selectAf terfrom the drop-down
list
8. A total row is displayed after each Business Unit Value in the results table:
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9. To add a Grand Total select the icon for and selectAf terfrom the drop-down list
10. Now we will edit the table properties; click the Table View Propert ies icon
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11. Using the Table Properties window, set the following:
i. Data Viewing - Content paging to position the report scrolling icons and thenumber of lines per page
ii. Paging Controls - Top to position the report page scrolling icons at the top ofthe report
iii. Rows per page 5to display five lines per report page
iv. Row Styling Select the tick box to display the report lines in alternatingcolours. The default is green but this can be changed by selecting the Enable
alternate styling icon
12. Your report should be displayed as follows
13. Edit any further table format properties as you wish and then the report as Ex 7
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12 Creating a Chart View
12.1 Introduction
Using the Charts View you can display your reports as various chart and graph types, and
then customise elements such as the title, legend, axis properties, data labels, and many
others.
Charts are created in a different Views(Graph, Pivot Table etc.).
12.2 Exercise 8 Creating a Chart View
In this exercise the report created in Exercise 1will be converted to a horizontal bar chart.
The bar chart will then be rotated into a vertical position
1. From the tab at the Global Header
2. Open the and select the link for report Ex1
3. Click the New Viewdrop-down list, and select Graph > Bar > Horizontal
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4. The chart will be displayed below the report
5. Click on the Edit icon in the Graphview
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6. You can Edit the displayed properties of the graph using the toolbar:
7. In our chart we have decided we would like to see the columns in a vertical format
8. Click on the drop-down list from the tool bar and select from
the displayed choices
9. Click the button
10.The chart view has now been changed as below
11.Once finished save the chart view as Ex8
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13 Creating Pivot Tables
13.1 Introduction
The pivot table is an interactive view that allows you to rotate and re-position your rows and
columns to obtain different perspectives of your data.
13.2 Exercise 9 Creating Pivot Tables
In this example we will create a pivot table that displays the results of the cost centres, not
as rows but as columns.
Row and Column totals will also be added.
1. Select the tab from the Global Header
2. Open report Ex 1and click the link
3. Click the drop-down listand selectPivot Table
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4. Two views will be displayed Table and Pivot Table
5. By default the results will be displayed as a basic table, by dragging the column
headings to different positions in the pivot table you can tailor the report view
6. Select the edit icon in the Pivot Tableview
7. With the mouse, drag the GL Segment 3 (Cost Centre)row into the Columns area
of the screen
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8. The Pivot Table will be displayed
9. Add totals for all Rows and Columns by selecting the related icons
10.The Pivot Table will be redisplayed
11.Select the button
12.Save the Pivot Table view as Ex9
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14 Edit ing the Compound Layout
14.1 Introduction
The compound view is how the report will look when viewed as part of a dashboard or
directly from answers.
Each individual view within the Compound Layout can be edited to change:
1. The Title of the Compound Layout
2. The Table Properties (See section 11)
3. The Chart Properties (See section 12)
14.2 Exercise 10 Editing the Compound Layout
In this example we will modify the Compound Layout from Exercise 8 and add titles to the
Compound Layout.
1. Select the tab from the Global Header
2. Open report Ex 8and click the link
3. The Compound Layout will be automatically displayed in the tab
4. You can edit and format each view in the compound layout
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5. To add titles to the Compound Layout select the icon in the Title section of the
Layout
6. The following screen is displayed
7. Enter the following data. As each field is populated the information is displayed in the
lower half of the screen
Field Contents
Title Basic Balance Sheet
Display Saved
Name
By default the name the compound layout was saved as will be displayed.
To hide the name deselect the check box
Subtitle Report and corresponding Chart
Started Time Display date and time
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8. Select the button
9. Save the report as Ex10
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15 Creating My Dashboard
15.1 Introduction
Dashboards provide personalized views of financial and external information. A dashboard
consists of one or more pages containing columns and sections.
Pages can display anything that you can access or open with a web browser, including the
following:
1. The results of analysis
a. The result of an analysis is the output returned from the Oracle BI Server that
matches the analysis criteria. It can be shown in various views, such as a
i. Table
ii. Graph
b. Users can examine and analyze results, print as PDF or HTML, save as PDF,
or export them to a spreadsheet.
2. Images
3. Text
4. Views of folders in the Oracle BI Presentation Catalog
5. Links to web sites
6. Links to documents
7. Embedded content (such as web pages or documents)
8. Oracle BI Publisher reports
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15.2 Dashboard Prompts
A prompt that is created at the dashboard level is called a dashboard prompt because the
prompt is created outside of a specific dashboard and is stored in the catalog as an object,
which can then be added to any dashboard or dashboard page that contains the columns
that are specified in the prompt.
Dashboard prompts allow the end user to specify the data values (parameters) that
determine the content of all of the analyses and scorecard objects contained on the
dashboard.
Dashboard prompts are reusable, because you can create one prompt and use it many
times. When the prompt object is updated and saved, those updates are immediately
displayed in all dashboards where the prompt is used. A dashboard prompt is a specific kind
of filter that, when created, saved, and applied to a dashboard or dashboard pages, can filter
all or some of the analyses and scorecard objects that are embedded in a dashboard or
analyses and scorecard objects that are embedded on the same dashboard page.
A dashboard prompt is interactive and is always displayed on the dashboard page so that
the user can prompt for different values without having to re-run the dashboard. Users can
create and save dashboard prompts to either a private folder or to a shared folder.
15.2.1 Creating Dashboard Prompts
Creating Dashboard Prompts is a two step process:
Step 1 - Set the option for the columns that are to act as Prompt
paramaters in the Dashboard page to is prompted
Step 2 - Create and save a Dashboard Prompt file
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15.2.2 Exercise 11 Step 1 - Setting Dashboard Prompt Column Filters
In this example we will modify the Compound Layout from Exercise 10changing the column
headings and set the filters for Segments 1, 2 and 3 to is prompted.
1. From the tab at the top of the screen select the link for report Ex10
2. The Compound Layout will be automatically displayed in the tab
3. To change the column headings for Segments 1, 2 and 3 select the tab
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4. To change the names of column headings for Segments 1, 2 and 3 repeat the
following steps:
5. Select the options icon to the right of the column name
6. Select from the displayed list of options
7. Select the tab
8. To change the column heading select the check box
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9. In the Column Headingfield enter Entity
10.Select the button
11.To set the column filter to is prompted select the options icon to the right of the
column name and select the option
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12.From the drop-down list select is
prompted
13.Select the button
14.Repeat the above process for Segments 2 and 3
Segment Column Heading Filter Setting
2 Business Unit is prompted
3 Cost Centre is prompted
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15.Select the tab
16.To remove the prompts from the graph view select the edit icon in the Graph
view
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17. In the Graphs Promptsregion drag both Segment Code fields to the Excluderegion
of the screen
18.Select the button
19.Save the report, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and
save as Ex11
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15.2.3 Exercise 12 Step 2 - Creating a Dashboard Prompt
In this example we will create a Dashboard Prompt to apply to reports created from the
Financials GL Balance SheetSubject Area to be placed on a dashboard.
1. Select the from the Global Header
2. Select from the displayed drop-down list. A list of the Subject
Areas will be displayed
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3. Select the Subject Area the Dashboard Prompt is to be created from. In this example
select the subject area. The Dashboard Prompt screen
will be displayed
4. To add a Prompt select the icon drop-down list
5. Select Column Promptfrom the displayed list
6. Expand the GL Segment 1folder
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7. Select followed by the button to display the New Prompt detail
screen
8. Overwrite the contents of the Label field with Entity. This will be the name displayed
for the prompt.
Field Description
Label The name displayed against the prompt
Description Description of the prompt
Operator What data is returned on the report is based on the operator valueselected
User Input
Choice List default displays a list of the possible data items for the
prompt from a drop-down list. Allows the selection of multiple prompt
values
Check Boxes automatically displays the complete list of possible
data items for the prompt with together with check boxes for
selection (No drop-down list). Allows the selection of multiple prompt
values
Radio Buttons- automatically displays the complete list of possible
data items for the prompt with together with radio buttons for
selection (No drop-down list). Allows the selection of multiple prompt
values
List Box - automatically displays the complete list of possible data
items for the prompt. (No drop-down list). Single prompt selection
only
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9. Select the button. The new Prompt will be displayed in the top half of the
screen. The lower half of the screen displays how the Prompt will be displayed in the
Dashboard
10.Add two additional prompts for GL Segments 2 and 3 by repeating steps 4 through 9
11.By default the prompts will be displayed in a column format in the lower half of the
screen. To change the grouping of how the prompts will be displayed select the
check box(es) in the New Column if the prompts are to be displayed in different
columns
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12.Save the Dashboard Prompt, click the icon in the top right corner of the page and
save as Ex11 Dashboard Prompt
Learning Note:
Dashboard prompts can be used on multiple reports that have been created form
the same Subject area(s).
It is suggested that a new folder is created to hold all your Dashboard Prompt
files
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15.3 Creating My Dashboard
15.3.1 Introduction
My Dashboard is a personal space within OBIEE where you can place objects such as
reports, URLs, text, images and prompts. The dashboard can be arranged across multiple
sections, columns or even pages depending on how much content you want and how youwant it to be arranged.
15.3.2 Exercise 13 Creating My Dashboard
In this exercise we will cover the basics of arranging a dashboard page.
1. From the tab on the Global Header select My Dashboard
2. Your personal Dashboard will be displayed which should be blank as the Dashboardhas not been created.
3. Select to create your dashboard:
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4. In the Catalogsection of the screen expand to locate the Reports,Tables and Charts to be populated on the dashboard
5. Locate the Ex3report you saved in your own folderand drag it into the blank regionon your dashboard page
Learning Note:
OBIEE has automatically created Page 1 of the dashboard, Column 1 and
Section 1, containing the report.
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13.To create another column select from the Dashboard Objectsregion of
the screen and drag it to the desired location. For example to the right of column 1
Learning Note:
Where the new column will be located is determined by the position of a bluelocation line that is displayed while the new column is being dragged.
14.Select Ex11 Dashboard Promptand drag it into column 2
15.To create another section select from the Dashboard Objectsregion of
the screen and drag it to the desired location. For example below section 1 in column
1
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16.Select and drag Ex6into the second section in Column 1 below Ex3
17.Select and drag Ex11into Cloumn 2 and drop it below Ex11 Dashboard Prompt
Learning Note:
The properties of the columns, sections or items on the dashboard can be
modified by selecting the icon in the relevant region that the cursor has been
placed.
An active Column, Section or Item is highlighted by a yellow boarder.
18.As a demonstration the first Section in Column 1 will be given a name.
19.Ensure the first section is highlighted and from the icon select Rename
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20.Enter Basic GL Balance Sheetas the section name and select the button
6. Select the to review the contents of the Dashboard
7. Close the Preview screen
8. Select the icon to save My Dashboard
Learning Note:
Select the icon to save the Dashboard under a different name.
9. Select the icon to refresh and display the Dashboard data
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Action Note:
The Dashboard MUST be saved before selecting the icon. If not the
details of the Dashboard will be lost.
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16 Appendix A Icon Defini tions
16.1 Catalog
Icon Name Function
New Create a new analysis, filter, dashboard prompt
Refresh Refresh the contents of the catalog
Up Move up to the next level in the folder hierarchy
Show / Hide folders
pane
Search Search for a file(s) in the catalog
Change List View Type Change the format of how the folder contents are
displayed
Create a new folderOnly active at the My Folders level via the icon
16.2 Folders Region
Icon Name Function
Show Folder Tree Display all folders in hierarchical directories
Show Quick Access
Folders
Use this button to list, excluding their hierarchy, the
following folders:
1. My Folders
2. Shared folders
3. My (object) folder
16.3 Save As
Icon Name Function
Up Move up to the next level in the folder hierarchy
Create a new folder
Change List View Type Delete the Title section from the Layout
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16.4 Criteria Tab
16.4.1 Subject Areas Pane
Icon Name
Add/Remove Subject Areas
Refresh display
Remove View from Compound Layout
16.4.2 Criteria Icons
Icon Name
Show/Hide Filters pane
Show/Hide Selection Steps pane
Edit Analysis Properties
Save
Save As
Help
16.4.3 Selected Columns Pane
Icon Name
Remove all columns
Apply the following to the selected column
Sort
Edit Column Formula
Column Properties
Add a Filter to the column
Delete the column
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16.4.4 Filters Pane
Icon Name
Create a filter
Remove all filters
16.5 Results Tab
16.5.1 Subject Areas Pane
Icon Name
Add/Remove Subject Areas
Refresh display
Remove View from Compound Layout
16.5.2 Catalog Pane
Icon Name
Refresh display
16.5.3 Views Pane
Icon Name
Create a new view
Edit the view
Duplicate the view
Delete the view
Rename the view
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16.6 Table
Icon Name Function
Format Container Modify cell alignment, background colour and
borders
Edit View Format the Table Column properties
Remove View from Compound
Layout
Delete the Table from the Compound Layout
16.7 Compound Layout Title
Icon Name Function
Format Container Modify cell alignment, background colour and
borders
Edit View Modify the name of the Title
Remove View from Compound
Layout
Delete the Title section from the Compound
Layout
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