Adding a dimensional calculation to a blank report
Create a report using a dimensional calculation to query the PowerCube and retrieve the tuple representing the intersection between different dimensions of the data.
About this task
In reports, basic data items use counts drawn directly from the PowerCube. The example reports showing total "update" and "create" events for the Connections applications simply query the Metrics PowerCube directly for those totals and require no additional calculation. A more complex report might present the number of "create" events for the "file" item in the Files application only (that is, it would show the number of new files created in the Files application). This count is not stored directly in the PowerCube; however the "create" event counts, the different data items, and the different Connections applications are all included in the PowerCube. Each of those values is represented in a dimension of the PowerCube; the point where they intersect is called a tuple. You can create a dimensional calculation for a report to query the PowerCube for the value stored in the tuple that represents that intersection.
The instructions that follow demonstrate the procedure for creating a report using a dimensional calculation to query the PowerCube and retrieve a tuple. Follow the steps in the example to create a report using a dimensional calculation to query the Metrics PowerCube and retrieve the tuple representing "new files created in the Files application for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012" and then display the result in a trend chart.
For more information on the dimensions available in the Metrics PowerCube, see PowerCube dimensions. For more information on working with Cognos® Report Studio, see the Report Studio User Guide.
Procedure
- Create a blank report as described in Creating a blank report from the PowerCube model.
- Add a trend chart to the report showing the total number of "create" events for all Connections applications for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012, as described in Adding a chart to a blank report.
- View the PowerCube query that generates the data for the
basic trend chart:
When you created the trend chart, the query was generated automatically based on the measure, categories, and data series that you placed in the chart.
- Click to display the queries used in the report.
- Double-click Query1 to open the query definition window.
- In the Properties window, expand Data and locate the Query attribute.
- Define the tuple that you want to display in the report:
For this example, the tuple represents the intersections of the following data items:
- The FILES category (the Connections application being report on)
- The FILE item (the report will only count files in the selected application and will ignore other others such as comments)
- The CREATE measure (the report will only count "create" events)
- Rename the new data item so you can easily find and work
with it later:
- Modify the trend chart to use the new
NumOfNewFiles
data item: - Click Save to save the updated report.
- Click Cognos® Viewer; then close the viewer when ready to proceed. to test the report by viewing it in the