Hot Hints

1
Hot Hints Tips Cognos PlanningPeak
Performance 2009

• David Barrett Consultant Cognos Planning
• Gemma Huggett Trainer Cognos Planning

2
Hot Hints Tips

• What kind of Hints Tips?
• Library Functions
• Creating Custom Menus in Analyst
• Creating basic HTML
• Taking copies of models easily and effectively
  without losing data
• Taking well known Analyst Contributor
  techniques and concepts to the next level
  thinking outside the box!

3
Substituting D-Lists on Mass

• Using Library Functions Filter - Substitute
  D-lists on Mass Across Multiple Libraries
• Saves Time - Automatically Updates All D-Cubes,
  D-Links, Macros and Manager Front End Screens
• Search Using Wildcards ?
• ? Replacing Single Characters
• Series of Characters

4
Summary Substituting D-List on Mass

• Library Functions
• Find the D-List, Can Use the Filter
• Explore where D-list Is Used
• Move Objects To Bottom of Screen
• Right Click, Substitute D-list
• Select D-List to use as Substitute
• Select D-List to be Replaced
• Create Allocation/Relationship between the two
  D-lists
• Open Cube Check Results

5
Custom Menus

• What is a custom menu?
• A User defined menu which can contain whatever
  you want
• Quick way of launching other applications,
  manager, contributor, running macros
• How do you create a custom menu?
• Over to David.

6
HTML Contributor Help Text

• Useful syntax to create Simple HTML Text
• Use ltH1gt lt/H1gt lower or upper case to create
• Headings H1, H2 or H3
• To incorporate files such a logos use
• ltimg scr file path in double quotegt
• Add new paragraph use ltpgt then your
  paragraph.lt/pgt

7
Useful HTML Syntax Contd..

• Hypertext Link lta hrefhttp//wwwgtInca
  Websitelt/agt
• Numbered List
• ltolgt
• ltligt this is the first numbered list item. lt/ligt
• ltligt this is the second numbered list item.
  lt/ligt
• ltligt this is the third numbered list item. lt/ligt
• lt/olgt
• Bulleted List
• ltulgt
• ltligt this is a bulleted list item. lt/ligt
• ltligt this is another bulleted list item. lt/ligt
• lt/ulgt

8
Analyst Library Copy

• Issues
• Analyst Copy Wizard can cause issues
• Manager Reports lose references
• ODBC updates and Filemap references can be lost
• Timescales appear in multiple cubes
• Extremely time consuming
• Easy to miss all instances

9
Solution Alternative approach to Library Copy

• Using a combination of File Manager and Analyst
• Achieving quick and easy library copy
• Always remember to do a back up
• Steps Demo
• Make a copy of the original library folder using
  File Manager
• In Analyst create a new EMPTY library with an
  appropriate name
• In Analyst MOVE (not copy) all objects from
  original library folder to new library.
• Therefore original library now empty and new
  library contains all original items
• In Analyst restore original library by repointing
  
• to the copy made in step 1.

10
Advantages of this library copy method

• Removes some of the Copy Wizard issues e.g.
• Inability to find all required objects easily
• In Manager reports no longer link to the new
  library
• Particularly irritating if you have customised
  menu screens
• Quick and easy

11
Things to be aware of

• This method is not strictly speaking a copy
• Therefore BE CAREFUL if you have a Common library
  structure
• This would mean that changing the Timescale
  d-list would change the timescale IN BOTH
  LIBRARIES
• Extra step
• In Analyst make a copy of the timescale d-list
  first and then amend the copy
• Then the multiple substitute can be performed
• For true archiving Copy Wizard remains best
  practice method

12
Preparing for 8.4 Upgrade

• Take a back up of all your Analyst Libraries
• Back up Contributor Databases inc Publish
  Containers
• Take a Back up of your User Class Rights in
  Contributor Admin Console
• Validate User Classes in Contributor Admin
  Console
• Speak to Inca Helpdesk 01784 270870

13
Any Questions?

• Or