Creating A Model - IBM Cognos User Manual

maximizes query speed, Cognos Transformer does not check your model for
uniqueness conflicts. For this reason, save your model after every cube build.
To ensure successful business intelligence applications using IBM Cognos BI, the
data sources that feed your Cognos Transformer models must have unique
business keys or source values through the levels of each structural dimension that
you model. In addition, source values that conform with the business keys in other
applications used in IBM Cognos BI will have the best success rates when used
with drill-through applications and other business intelligence applications.
Using Calculated Columns to Qualify Non-unique Data
You can use Cognos Transformer calculated columns, Framework Manager, or a
query tool to render the level values unique, or simply redefine the data in your
source so that it does provide unique values. Correlate the settings in the
appropriate property sheets of your model so that your data is correctly mapped in
the relevant IBM Cognos components.
Ensure that the data sources that feed your Cognos Transformer models account
for this uniqueness. Provide conformed values to any applications that you want to
use with IBM Cognos Business Intelligence products.

Creating a Model

To create the cubes that you need for OLAP reporting, you begin by creating a
model.
This involves
v specifying the data sources for the model and any required security credentials
v defining dimensions, levels, and measures based on the selected query objects in
v defining cube objects that use the contents of the model to create PowerCubes or
You can store your models as text (.mdl) files or in binary format (.py? files, where
? is replaced by a character that represents the version of Cognos Transformer used
to create the model). In Cognos Transformer versions 8.3 and later, models are
given a .pyj extension. Binary format (.py?) files are not compatible across different
versions of Cognos Transformer. For this reason, you should always create a text
(.mdl) version of your model.
Reordering Data Sources
You can organize your data sources in a way that is meaningful for you by
reordering the data sources or the items within data sources. This can be done for
presentation purposes only.
You can reorder
v the top-level data sources, such as flat files, packages, reports
v queries within a package or a report
v columns within a data source
Tip: Dragging an item to its parent places it at the front of the list.
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IBM Cognos Transformer Version 10.1.1: User Guide
your IBM Cognos package or report, or the tables, rows, or columns of your
other data sources
cube groups