IBM COGNOS Error CM-REQ-4313 / CM-SYS-5043 (CMOBJECTS cannot be locked)

This usually occurs when the deployment folder does not contain the destination package for the exporting object.

Let me put an example here, while creating a package we put in a ‘PROD Export’ as the destination file so that we can modify it before the release(depending on the kind of release). If the deployment folder does not contain this ‘PROD Export’ zip or was not created during the export object creation; we get this error. As the error explains ---‘Content Manager failed to create an object’. (This was because I set up things in a way that I can blindly build the package every time but due to maintenance we had to remove all the files in the deployment folder and I completely forgot about it)

Anyways, the screen actually talks you about the exact error.

Solution, redo the process with the export object name so the IBM COGNOS can build a new package as we don’t have an existing file here.

Finding the issue before the error occurs --- In the configuration > Content Administration > go to the properties of the export object > click on ‘export’ property and check if there is a Deployment Archive folder specified.

IBM COGNOS Cube error ---- The supported limit of categories in the model has been exceeded.

Recently I was asked about a situation where a cube would run out of space. There are scenarios / wrong design where I think the cube would usually go out memory other than excess data:
1. Too many date columns J
2. Unwanted drill downs ( should always be user centric)
3. Improper usage of pivot property for the columns that are relative
4. Creating a cube from a framework / report that is build on a wrong data schema

A good example I can relate to here, is the default date column that the transformer creates with date, year, quarter, month. In my case, the end users don't really use quarters in their reporting. When I removed quarters for couple of date columns, the cube size drastically changed and even the performance improved.

In the first image here, the error was due to large amount of data and excess date columns on the cube. The design was just ridiculous. Once I removed the quarter it did solve the issue, temporarily. Sometimes it is better to educate the end user and make them use a canned report based on the cube rather than letting them use the analysis studio or query studio on the cubes. Just a thought.

Best practices ---- it is always good to have a session bi-weekly or monthly with a group of end users and design  / update the cubes according to the changing needs. (with the business modules being so aggressive now a days, I am confident the requirements change from day to day). I understand people are reluctant to change but that is where proper education comes to place. I have seen the impact of proper education to a business process and approach. Business Intelligence tool like IBM COGNOS is not only designed for reporting needs but also for decision making.

IBM COGNOS 'sqlPrepareWithOptions' staus='-69' Error --- explaining the issue right!!!

I was working on a report where we needed some SQL based query subject that had to be joined in with metadata based query subject. Usually, I write the SQL queries on an editor; check it once and then put it on the report studio but this was one of those cases where I am trying to finish up things.

In the query I wrote, I had used   'max (case …..) 'Function; basic syntax on SQL query is that when we use an aggregate function we need to have a 'group by' function at the end. There is nothing new in this, the only thing that surprised me was that COGNOS error -69 details, explained the issue perfectly. I was so impressed, don't know why but made me happy. J

IBM COGNOS Report Studio List / Block with a scroll bar without Java Script

COGNOS Report Studio has a million options to create a report; but we only explore a few depending on our needs. 

In most of my reports (8.3 / 8.4 / 10 versions) I try to use some java scripting to the lists or graphs in order to make them look better. The problem that I face is, when the list moves to the next page, the scripting does not work as efficiently as it should. Check the image 1 & 2.

So the solution to this is;

1. Put the list  / graph / crosstab into to a block

2. Go to the properties pane and select the 'Size and Overflow'

3. Choose 'Use scrollbars only when necessary' 

It is as simple as that.

 

F Y I ---- Screen shot based on junk data.

IBM COGNOS Java script for auto refresh of a report in a COGNOS viewer / bringing the concept of live feed to COGNOS report studio.

I came across this script in the IBM COGNOS documents that lets you automatically refresh the report data depending on the time interval that we have selected.  This script would especially be useful for someone who works on transactional data or someone is trying to work on alerts on a report. (Alerts on a report can be achieved through Metric Studio but this script here helps us achieve the same in a report studio.)

Let me put in a story line so that we have a concept that we can sellJ.  A good example for this would be to calculate the check-in and check-out times. Here our goal is to minimize the avg wait time the guest has to wait. So we can build a report with guess no check-in, check-in time, checkout-time, time taken to process, expected process and delta (difference between check-in and check-out).  Just like the RMV or customer care call where they tell us the avg time.

The screen shot above explains a different scenario where we are counting no of guests attended by each employee. A team lead or a manager has a target for the day (for each team member) and he can keep track of their work with this live feeder report; no need to run the report every now and then. We can set the auto refresh time (which is 2 minutes in this case) and project the report on a TV in the roomJ. Taking things positively, the manager can help out the employee who might be stuck with one guest for a long time.

Implementing the report; copy the java script image ‘Script for COGNOS Report Studio Auto Refresh ‘ and add it to the report studio in a HTML tag from the toolbox.(I am not able to upload the script file will do it ASAP)  Now create your regular report.

 TIP --- Add footer to the report with timestamp; this way it will let the user know when the report was last run.

bringing tree structure into report studio IBM COGNOS (Writing positive and creative stuff)

  

When I started writing my professional blog my mindset was to write all the issues that I come across, especially to help out newbies out there. Most of the blogs that I have written so far are issue oriented and very few blogs where I have written some creative stuff. Off late, the issues that I come across seems to be very silly and I don't get enough critical issues to write on the blog.

Anyways, I have been googling a lot on new ideas that are running in my mind, things like COGNOS to new ways of presentations to gaming and apps. It has been crazy but there is so much stuff available out there.

Just created a report that will show the hierarchy levels on a data in a tree format. (the image explains better) assume you want to look at the revenue of the entire organization (USA) and specifically look at each sub level regions to see where you might have the best and worst revenue generated.  (more like conditional blocking.... A simple red for below avg and green for above avg) This tree structure helps you to drill down and drill up at any level and all the blue cubes show the path of drill down.

This kind of report can be created on relational database / report studio 8.3 / simple lists / some conditional blocking. Email me if you want to implement this.Been lazy to replicate it on sample data and upload the XML. Will do it in future.

Tight Integration of IBM COGNOS within an application

The basic idea is to bring the reports to the user and not asking the user to go the reports .  Integrating BI into your application always help. The project had few things:

End users don't have to go to a different location to run their reports.  
Tighter integration for security
Utilization of the BI GUI
P.S - No SDK required

Let me put down an example / scenario

You have a portal where business users login. Here, you want them to view few specific reports that can alert them. In my case the front end of the application is java and I am familiar with simple java coding. What we did here is, using iFrames we pass the URL of the report with the prompt values ( for security reasons). So as soon as this link is clicked, it runs the cognos report. we have given a small window size of 400 by 400 for the cognos viewer and have designed the reports accordingly. Believe me, it has come out beautifully and the performance is amazing as the framework was designed based on these particular reports. Only disadvantage here, the end user cannot open anything but just watch the cognos viewer. No print options, no email, no output formatting etc. Advantages , it's lighting speed, security, GUI.

I have tried to put a rough sketch of how it looks. The red section is where you will see the cognos viewer.  Each individual box here is a separate report and not 1 single dashboard. This way the user can drill down on individual report without affecting the other.