- Launch Query Studio
- Query Studio High-Level Interface
- Report Types
- Open an Existing Report
- Create a List Report
- Run the Report
- Change Layout
- Create a Crosstab Report
- Create Filters
- Summarize Report
- Sort Data
- Create Calculations
- Create Charts
- Define Conditional Styles
- In a Nutshell: Reviewing by IBM Cognos BI Audience
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
In a Nutshell: Reviewing by IBM Cognos BI Audience
Depending on your role in IBM Cognos BI project implementation, you may be interested to know those aspects of IBM Cognos Query Studio that relate to your role on the project. Following points review IBM Cognos Query Studio by role at a high level.
Architect Perspective
Architects are interested to know the capabilities of the product, so they can appropriately recommend a tool or component for the overall BI implementation. Query Studio is a core component of IBM Cognos BI and is installed with the Cognos BI software install. Query Studio is an end user ad-hoc query tool suited for business authors and business analysts to help them explore the data for their various business questions. It uses the existing IBM Cognos BI security and data sources already defined in the IBM Cognos BI environment. Some of the key points to consider follow:
- Cognos Workspace Advanced is the logical upgrade path for Query Studio for IBM Cognos BI v10.x users. For new customers, Cognos Workspace Advanced instead of Query Studio is recommended. For legacy IBM Cognos 8.x customers, they can continue to use existing reports in Query Studio; however, it is recommended to use Cognos Workspace Advanced for creating brand new reports.
- Query Studio is an end-user tool and can be used as soon as the metadata package has been published to IBM Cognos Connection.
- Query Studio can use dimensionally and relationally modeled data from Framework Manager.
- Query Studio is an ad-hoc query and data exploration tool that can be recommended to business users.
Project Manager Perspective
Project Managers are interested in knowing if Query Studio has been identified and recommended as part of the IBM Cognos BI solution. If it will be used, what are the related tasks, what skills and resources are required to implement the tasks, and what phase do these belong to? Here are some points to consider:
- Cognos Workspace Advanced is the recommended upgrade path for Query Studio for IBM Cognos BI v10.x users. Legacy IBM Cognos 8.x users can use their existing Query Studio reports from the IBM Cognos BI 8.x environment in the IBM Cognos BI v10.x environment after the upgrade.
- Query Studio is an end-user tool for data exploration and ad-hoc query to answer quick business questions and is targeted for business users and business analysts.
- Business users can start using Query Studio as soon as the Framework Manager package is published by the metadata modeler. It does not require any other task to be completed before users can start using Query Studio in a nonsecured environment. If the package contains sensitive data, the package must be secured in an IBM Cognos BI environment before turning it over to the end users.
- Query Studio is part of the IBM Cognos BI software install and does not need to be purchased separately.
Business Analyst Perspective
Business Analysts should be familiar with the features of Query Studio and Cognos Workspace Advanced, so they can guide the end users appropriately. Cognos Workspace Advanced is the logical upgrade path for Query Studio users in IBM Cognos 8.x environment. Customers upgrading from IBM Cognos 8.x environment can use their existing queries and reports in IBM Cognos v10.x environment using Query Studio in the new environment. For new queries and reports, it should be recommended that they use Cognos Workspace Advanced. Using Cognos Workspace Advanced, they can use the enhanced features available to them. Some of the key points to consider follow:
- Query Studio is an end-user tool for business users and business analysts to help them answer their many business questions by dragging and dropping items to the report, applying filters, and creating calculations.
- Query Studio uses dimensionally and relationally modeled data. For dimensionally modeled data, the dimensions, hierarchies, levels, and measures (metrics or Key Performance Indicators), the requirement should be clearly understood and captured to enable the metadata modeler to build appropriate package.
- Users can also access reports with detail data via the drill-through options. If such need exists you should gather the requirement pertaining to these drill through reports and document it appropriately.
- If the data in the Framework Manager is sensitive and should not be accessible by all, understand the requirements and document it for the Cognos development team to help them secure the metadata appropriately.
Developer Perspective
Developer refers to the Cognos development team. Some points to consider for Query Studio implementation are highlighted here:
- Query Studio works with dimensionally as well as relationally modeled data; ensure the package is built using the appropriate style.
- Capture the dimensions, hierarchies, levels, and measures per requirements, if the package is to be modeled dimensionally.
- Appropriate drill-through reports exist and have the required permissions for user access.
- Ensure filters and filter values are set up for efficient query execution when filtering on non-indexed or non-numeric columns.
- Ensure all security requirements are implemented in Framework Manager as well as IBM Cognos Connection, as required.
End-User Perspective
End User refers to business users and business analysts who will be using Query Studio to create their queries to explore and analyze data. Some of the points you should consider are listed here:
- Cognos Workspace Advanced is the logical upgrade path for Query Studio. If you are a new Cognos user (are not moving from IBM Cognos 8.x or prior versions), it is recommended you use Cognos Workspace Advanced for data exploration and querying to tap into its rich capabilities.
- If you are a legacy Cognos 8.x user now upgrading to IBM Cognos BI v10.x, Cognos Workspace Advanced is the logical upgrade path you should consider for creating new reports.
- Query Studio works with both relationally and dimensionally modeled data. Share with the Business Analyst or Cognos development team your requirements for the different paths relevant to your reports, the metrics/KPIs you want to monitor, and so on, so they can be made available in the metadata package to fulfill your reporting needs. These requirements tell the metadata modeler how the data should be structured in the package to address your data exploration and reporting needs.
- If the metadata has sensitive information and should not be accessible by all, you must clearly communicate the security needs to the Business Analyst/IBM Cognos BI Administrator/Cognos development team, as appropriate in your organization.
IBM Cognos BI Administrator Perspective
IBM Cognos BI Administrators should work together with the team to ensure that the Cognos BI system can cater to those needs with the existing Cognos BI installation. There are many situations when a choice has to be made between easy to implement and easy to maintain; you can help the team make the right decision based on the infrastructure, unique customer situation, and culture. Some of the points worth considering follow:
- Ensure Query Studio is accessible to all the users who need access.
- Is there any security requirement for who can see the metadata package required for querying and reporting in Query Studio?
- Ensure packages that must be accessed by Query Studio have been modeled with end users in mind.