COGNOS(R) ENTERPRISE BI SERIES

C O G N O S TR A N S FO R M E R

DISCOVERING TRANSFORMER

Discovering Transformer
06-07-2004
PowerPlay Transformer
7.3
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Cognos Transformer Version 7.3
Version 7.3

DISCOVERING TRANSFORMER

THE NEXT LEVEL

TM
OF PERFORMANCE
Product Information
This document applies to Cognos Transformer Version 7.3 and may also apply to subsequent releases. To check for newer versions of this
document, visit the Cognos support Web site (http://support.cognos.com).

Copyright
Copyright (C) 2004 Cognos Incorporated.
Architect is protected by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,609,123B1; 6,611,838B1.
Cognos ReportNet is protected by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 6,609,123B1.
While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate and complete, some typographical errors or
technical inaccuracies may exist. Cognos does not accept responsibility for any kind of loss resulting from the use of information contained in
this document.
This document shows the publication date. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Any
improvements or changes to either the product or the document will be documented in subsequent editions.
U.S. Government Restricted Rights. The software and accompanying materials are provided with Restricted Rights. Use, duplication, or
disclosure by the Government is subject to the restrictions in subparagraph (C)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software
clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, or subparagraphs (C) (1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted Rights at
48CFR52.227-19, as applicable. The Contractor is Cognos Corporation, 15 Wayside Road, Burlington, MA 01803.
This software/documentation contains proprietary information of Cognos Incorporated. All rights are reserved. Reverse engineering of this
software is prohibited. No part of this software/documentation may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
transmitted in any form or by any means, or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Cognos Incorporated.
Cognos and the Cognos logo are trademarks of Cognos Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Information about Cognos Products and Accessibility can be found at www.Cognos.com
Table of Contents

Welcome 5
Chapter 1: Introduction 7
Understand the Flow of Data 7
Work with Source Data 8
Build a Model 8
Create a PowerCube for Distribution 8
View the PowerCube in PowerPlay 8
Understand the Transformer Interface 9
Dimension Map 9
Data Sources List 10
Measures List 10
Dimensions Pane and Category Viewer 10
About the Sample Data 10
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File 13
Build Your Model 13
Build a Model Using AutoDesign 13
Reorganize the Levels in Your Model 14
Rename Your Dimensions and Levels 14
Add a Description to Your Columns 15
Use Short Names to Provide Alternate Information 15
Generate Categories 16
Refine Your Model 18
Show Counts 18
Create a Manual Level to Improve Your Model Structure 18
Create a Calculated Measure 19
Create a Measure that Counts Categories 20
Add a Description for Your Measure 20
Create PowerCubes for Distribution 20
Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source 23
Build Your Model 23
Configure Your Authentication Source 23
Import an Architect Data Source 23
Define Dimensions, Levels, and Measures 24
Rename Your Dimensions and Levels 26
Add a Time Dimension 26
Generate Categories 27
Refine Your Model 27
Create a Calculated Measure 27
Create a Cube for Distribution 28
Create a Cube 28
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources 29
Build Your Model 29
Import Data Sources 29
Define Dimensions, Levels, and Measures 30
Declare Level Uniqueness 31
Add a Time Dimension Manually 31
Specify a Level Label 32

Discovering Transformer 3
 Generate Categories 32
Refine Your Model 33
Create an Alternate Drill-Down Path 33
Create Special Categories 33
Set up Currency Conversion 35
Create a PowerCube for Distribution 37
Create Regional PowerCubes 38
Add Password Protection for a Cube 39
Appendix A: Product Samples 41
Index 45

4 Cognos Transformer
Welcome

What Is in This Book

Discovering Transformer is intended for new Transformer users. It introduces you to the process
of building and refining models that you can use to create cubes for PowerPlay users.
This book teaches you how to build models based on sample files in .iqd, .asc, and .xls format.
You can access these source files, and complete the model-building tutorials in this book, by
installing PowerPlay Transformer Edition and Access Manager. You don’t need to install
Enterprise Server, PowerPlay Connect, PowerPlay for Excel, or PowerPlay Web.

Other Documentation
PowerPlay comes with a full set of sample models, cubes, and reports, as well as a comprehensive
suite of documentation. The documentation that you receive depends on the edition of
Transformer you installed. An annotated list of the documentation, the Documentation Roadmap,
is available from the Windows Start menu or the Transformer Help menu.
If you are unsure which edition you have, click About PowerPlay Transformer (Help menu).

How to Order Extra Books

You can order extra copies of the printed documentation that is shipped with Transformer. Please
contact your local Cognos office or Cognos Direct to order the various installation guides..You
can also print your own copies of all online books in Acrobat Reader.

Customer Support
For information about customer support locations and programs, see the customer support
section of the online help or visit the Cognos support Web site (http://support.cognos.com).

Discovering Transformer 5
Welcome

6 Cognos Transformer
Chapter 1: Introduction

Transformer is a modeling tool that you use to build multidimensional models from your source
data. These models are distributed as PowerCubes that you can view in PowerPlay for Windows,
PowerPlay for Excel, PowerPlay Web, or Cognos Visualizer.

Understand the Flow of Data

Use Transformer to create structured models from various data sources that you then distribute as
multidimensional PowerCubes.
Access Manager

PowerPlay
for Windows

PowerPlay
Impromptu for Excel

Upfront
PowerCube

Other Data PowerPlay PowerPlay

Sources Transformer Enterprise PowerPlay
Server Web

Third-party PowerPlay
OLAP cubes Connect

You begin by assessing your source data and planning how to organize it to support the types of
business analysis that are important to you. You then build a model that specifies the location of
this data, and the way you want Transformer to restructure it. Finally, you create a PowerCube to
distribute to your PowerPlay Enterprise Server administrator or to your PowerPlay users, who can
then create reports to distribute to other PowerPlay or Upfront users.

Discovering Transformer 7
Chapter 1: Introduction

Work with Source Data

Transformer supports a wide range of local data sources, including
• Impromptu query definition files (.iqd), which can query local or server-based databases
• delimited ASCII files (.asc) and comma-separated variable files (.csv)
• fixed-field text files
• local databases, including Microsoft Access, which can specify SQL queries against local or
server-based databases, Clipper, dBase, FoxPro, and Paradox
• PowerHouse portable subfiles
• spreadsheet crosstabs and databases, including Excel and Lotus 1-2-3

Build a Model
Use the New Model wizard to import your source data into Transformer. Transformer can create
a preliminary model for you by using AutoDesign, or you can create your model manually.
After you build your preliminary model, you can adjust the dimensions and levels so that the
structure matches your planned design. You can then refine your model by adding custom time
dimensions or categories, calculated measures or categories, manual levels, alternate drill-down
paths, currency exchange rate data sources, and special categories.

Create a PowerCube for Distribution

You create a PowerCube based on your Transformer model. If you have one of the PowerPlay
Transformer editions, you can create several PowerCubes from a single model, each one tailored
to a different user group.
If you want your users to be able to drill through to other cubes, or from one component in the
Cognos platform to another, you can set up drill-through targets for the PowerCube. For example,
your PowerPlay users may want to drill between cubes that each contain data for only one sales
territory. They may also want to drill through to the transaction details contained in an
Impromptu report.
If you are responsible for distributing PowerPlay information to a large, decentralized
organization, the PowerPlay Transformer editions make many administrative and production
tasks easier for you.
For more information, see the PowerPlay Administrator's Guide. If you work in a UNIX
client-server environment, you should also consult Transformer for UNIX.

View the PowerCube in PowerPlay

The PowerCubes you create in Transformer can be used in any of the PowerPlay client products,
including PowerPlay for Windows, PowerPlay Web, or PowerPlay for Excel. However, the
illustrations in this book only show your results as they appear in PowerPlay for Windows.
You can use a portable reporting format (.ppx) to share PowerCube-based reports among any of
the client products. For example, your users can author a report in PowerPlay for Windows, route
it to colleagues who modify it in PowerPlay for Excel, then publish it to the Web. Web users can
make additional changes to suit their personal presentations.

PowerPlay for Windows

PowerPlay for Windows offers full exploring and reporting capabilities for both remote and local
cubes.
To learn more about PowerPlay for Windows, take the PowerPlay for Windows Quick Tour and
then see Discovering PowerPlay for Windows.

8 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 1: Introduction

PowerPlay Web
PowerPlay Web is designed for casual Web-based users who require online and printed versions of
static reports, with little customization, and for more experienced users who need an
analyze-then-query client accessible from their Web browser.
To learn more about PowerPlay Web, take the PowerPlay Web Quick Tour and see the PowerPlay
Web online help.

PowerPlay for Excel

PowerPlay for Excel is designed for users who prefer to work with a spreadsheet interface.
To learn more about PowerPlay for Excel, take the PowerPlay for Excel Quick Tour and then see
Discovering PowerPlay for Excel.

Understand the Transformer Interface

When you start Transformer, as many as six windows may open by default. To build a basic
model, you only need to work with three of these windows: the dimension map, the Data Sources
list, and the Measures list.

Dimensions

Manual level
Levels

Data source

Regular
measures

Columns
Calculated
measure

Dimension Map
The dimension map shows the dimensions and levels that have been added to your model.

Dimensions
Dimensions are broad groupings of data that represent major segments of your business
information, such as products or locations. They appear as a line of gray buttons at the top of the
dimension map. Dimensions consist of a hierarchy of categories, organized by level.
For analytical purposes, each dimension may be split into one or more additional drill-down
paths. Drill-down paths are vertically arranged paths that lead from the highest-level categories in
the hierarchy to the lowest. Drill-down paths in the same dimension must converge at some
common level within the model. For example, if the time dimension is divided into fiscal year and
calendar year paths, these converge at the month level.

Discovering Transformer 9
Chapter 1: Introduction

Levels
Levels are positions within the dimensional hierarchy that contain categories at the same order of
detail, with a common set of attributes. Source levels contain categories from a data source
column, such as years, quarters, or months in the Order Date column. Manual levels contain
categories you have added, either for analytical purposes, such as Seasons or Product Colors, or to
bring the category-per-level ratio closer to the recommended guidelines.

Data Sources List

The Data Sources list contains all data sources that you have imported into Transformer. Each
data source contains the columns that you can use to create levels and measures for your model.

Measures List
The Measures list contains all available measures for your model. Measures are numerical data
used to gauge performance within the organization. Measure values are derived from a
transactional data source or calculated in Transformer by using specified formulas. Examples are
Revenue, Cost, Order Quantity, and the calculated measure Gross Margin, which is derived by
using the formula (Revenue-Cost)/Revenue.

Dimensions Pane and Category Viewer

You use the dimensions pane and category viewer to explore and further refine your model.

Dimensions pane

Category viewer

The dimensions pane has two tabs: the Dimension tab and the User Class tab. The Dimension tab
shows all the dimensions in your model while the User Class tab shows all the user classes in your
model.
The category viewer shows the individual categories contained at each level of the currently
selected dimension. For example, TrailChef Cup is a category in the Product level of the Products
dimension.
The category viewer has the standard scrollbars, buttons and controls for navigating, zooming,
resizing text, and expanding or collapsing folders.

About the Sample Data

The Great Outdoors Company is a fictional company that is used for all the examples in this
book. The data set begins in January 2004 and continues until the end of December 2006.
This company sells a wide variety of outdoor equipment and accessories. There are five product
lines: Camping Equipment, Personal Accessories, Golf Equipment, Outdoor Protection, and
Mountaineering Equipment (introduced in the second sample year). Products from these lines
include items such as tents, watches, putters, insect repellent, and climbing tools.

10 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 1: Introduction

The Great Outdoors Company has a large sales staff who sell their products to retailers around
the world. These retailers in turn sell GO products to consumers. Because the Great Outdoors
Company does not sell directly to consumers, retailers are essentially their customers.
Retailers are located in 21 countries around the world. They usually sell a variety of products
from each product line, but do not necessarily sell all products. Some products excel in certain
regions. For example, the Golf Equipment line is the most successful product line in the Asia
Pacific territory.

Discovering Transformer 11
Chapter 1: Introduction

12 Cognos Transformer
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu
Query Definition File

Every cube that you open in PowerPlay is based on a business model. You can build this model in
PowerPlay Transformer by specifying the data sources and then defining the dimensions, levels,
and measures.
You can use the Transformer AutoDesign utility to build an initial model. The AutoDesign utility
analyzes your data source and makes an educated guess about how to organize your dimensions,
levels, and measures. It is a good idea to use AutoDesign when you are first learning to build
models.
This lesson teaches you how to use AutoDesign to build a model based on a source file from
Impromptu (.iqd).
To complete this lesson, you must have PowerPlay Transformer Edition or Personal Transformer
installed. You also need the Sales.iqd sample file (located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Discovering Transformer).

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Build Your Model

To build a model using the sample Impromptu query definition file (.iqd), you must
• import the data source by using the New Model wizard
• reorganize and rename the dimensions, levels, and measures so that the design suits your
needs

Build a Model Using AutoDesign

Use AutoDesign to build a model from the Sales.iqd data source. This file is located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Discovering Transformer.

Try This
1. Start Transformer.
2. From the File menu, click New.
The New Model wizard appears. Click Next.
3. In the Model Name box, type Sales and ensure that the Include Security In This Model check
box is cleared before you click Next.
4. In the Data Source Name box, type GOSales1.
This name appears in the Data Sources window.
5. In the Source Type box, select Impromptu Query Definition and then click Next.
This format is the storage format of your data source.
6. Click Browse to show the Open dialog box.
7. Select the Sales.iqd file and then click Open.
This file is located in Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Discovering Transformer.

Discovering Transformer 13
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

8. Leave the Isolation Level as Default and then click Next.

9. Ensure that Run AutoDesign is selected, and then click Finish.
10. Close the Signons window.
11. From the File menu, click Save.
12. In the Save As Type box, select Exported Model Files (*.mdl format).
13. In the File Name box, type a name for your model such as Sales, or a different name that will
not overwrite the sample, and click Save.
Do not close your model.

Reorganize the Levels in Your Model

Sometimes the AutoDesign tool does not produce the exact results you require. You can
reorganize the levels, dimensions, and measures in your Sales model so that the structure better
suits your needs.

Try This
1. In the Data Sources list, expand the GOSales1 data source to show the available columns.
2. From the Data Sources list, drag the Retailername column to the dimension map and drop it
along the top border to the right of the other dimensions.
Observe that the Retailername level is inserted automatically.
3. From the Data Sources list, drag the Productname column to the dimension map and drop it
below the Producttype level.
4. Drag the Position level below the City level, right-click Position in the top border, click
Properties, and change the name of the dimension to Country.
5. Delete the extra Retailername level in the Country dimension, so that Staff Name becomes the
level below Position, as shown.

6. In the Measures list, delete Productnumber.

Note: The AutoDesign utility added this column to the Measures list because it contains
numerical data; however, it is not a measure and should not appear in the Measures list.
7. Save your model under the same name as you used previously.

Rename Your Dimensions and Levels

The names that appear in your dimension map are the ones that users see in PowerPlay. You can
change the names of the dimensions and levels in your Sales model so that they are more intuitive.

Try This
1. In the dimension map of your sales model, double-click the Order Date dimension.
2. In the Dimension Name box of the property sheet, type Dates and click OK.
The new dimension name appears in the dimension map.

14 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to change the following dimension names:

• Country to Regions
• Productline to Products
• Retailername to Retailers
4. Double-click the following level names and rename them as shown:
• Productline to Product Line
• Producttype to Product Type
• Productname to Product

5. Save your model under the same name, without closing it.

Add a Description to Your Columns

Add a description for your Productline column as an explanation for users of your model or
viewers of the PowerPlay report created from it.

Try This
1. In the Data Sources list of your sales model, double-click Productline.

Examine the Column property sheet. You can specify the column type, data class, and several
other properties on the General tab. Leave the name at the top as it is.
Note: In our sample data, the column is clearly named. If it wasn’t, you could change it here.
The new name would apply only to your Transformer model, and not to the column in your
source data.
2. Click the Description tab.
3. Type "The Great Outdoors Company three-year product line-up."
4. Click OK and save your model under the same name, without closing it.

Use Short Names to Provide Alternate Information

You can choose Productnumber to appear as the short name for the Product level so that
PowerPlay users can choose to see either the product name or its short form (a number) in their
reports.

Discovering Transformer 15
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

Short names can come from any other column in your data source or can be specified for each
category. You can use short names to provide alternate information in PowerPlay or to shorten the
length of labels in PowerPlay reports.

Try This
1. In the dimension map of your sales model, double-click the Product level to open its property
sheet.
2. On the Source tab, click Short Name and then click the ellipsis button (...).

3. Leave the Data Source Type box as Column.

4. In the Name box, select Productnumber and click OK.
5. Click OK to close the Level property sheet and save your model under the same name,
without closing it.

Generate Categories
You can generate categories for your sales model and then use the category viewer to explore the
categories in your dimensions and levels.

Try This
1. From the Run menu, click Generate Categories.
2. When warned that the By Retailername category has too many immediate descendants, click
OK.
You will learn how to correct this in the manual level section.
3. Click the Products dimension and then click Show Diagram (Diagram menu).

16 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

4. Expand Camping Equipment and then TrailChef Water Bag to show the categories at the
Product level.
Tip: To expand a level, click expand (+).
The levels for the Product dimension appear in the category viewer.

5. Double-click TrailChef Cup and review the contents of the property sheet for this category.
Observe the number that appears in the Short Name box. This is the Productnumber that you
previously specified as the short form.

6. Click Cancel to close the Category property sheet.

7. Close the category viewer and save your model under the same name, without closing it.
8. Tip: If you expanded the category viewer, click Default View (View menu) to return to the
default layout of Transformer.

Discovering Transformer 17
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

Refine Your Model

To refine your model so that it better suits your needs, you can
• show counts for your dimensions
• create a manual level to improve the structure of your model
• create a calculated measure
• create a measure that counts categories
• add a description for your measure

Show Counts
Use Show Counts to see how many categories appear at each level of your dimensions. You do not
receive a warning until your ratio of levels to categories exceeds 1:30. However, it is recommended
that you stay below 1:10 so that PowerPlay users see all their data on one report page.
Use Show Counts to see why the Retailername level produced a warning when you generated the
categories for your sales model.

Try This
1. From the Edit menu, click Show Counts.
Transformer reports the number of categories in each dimension. The counts for the Dates
dimension are inflated by the presence of several relative time categories, so look at the
Retailers dimension instead.
The numbers that appear in parenthesis beside each level label represent the total number of
categories in that level. The numbers that appear in parenthesis beside the dimension name
represent the total number of categories, including the root and drill categories.

Dimensions

Levels

Observe that the Retailername level has 109 categories: too many for users to analyze in
PowerPlay. You correct this in the next tutorial.
2. From the Edit menu, click Show Counts again to return to the default dimension map.

Create a Manual Level to Improve Your Model Structure

You can create a manual level to improve the structure of the Retailers dimension. Divide the
Retailername categories into alphabetically grouped divisions to make it easier for your users to
analyze the retailer data in PowerPlay.

Try This
1. Right-click the Retailername level and click Insert Level.
2. In the Level Name box, type Retailer Divisions and then click OK.
3. Click the Retailers dimension and then click the Show Diagram button.

18 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

4. Click the right side of the By Retailername category, drag the crosshair just to the right, and
then release the pointer.
Tip: If you drag the pointer too far to the right, you may create a new category under the
wrong level. To fix this, click Undo (Edit menu).
5. In the Category Label box of the Category property sheet, type A-C and click OK.
Observe that you have created a new category called A-C under the Retailer Divisions level.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to create three more categories called D-I, J-R, and S-Z.
Now you need to populate the Retailer Divisions level by connecting these new categories to the
categories in the Retailername level. Because there are many categories in the Retailername level,
you must sort the categories alphabetically before making the associations

Try This
1. In the level label at the top of the category viewer, double-click Retailername.
2. Click the Order By tab and then click the ellipsis button (...) beside the Order By folder.
3. Leave the Data Source Type box as Column.
4. From the Name box, select Retailername.
5. Click OK to close the Order By Association dialog box and then click OK again to close the
Level property sheet.
Observe that the Retailername categories now appear in ascending alphabetical order.
6. Left-click, drag the pointer to frame the categories that start with the letters A, B, and C, and
release the pointer.
The categories in the box are selected.
7. Click anywhere in the selection and drag the crosshair to the A-C category label.
These categories now belong to A-C.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to connect the other Retailername categories to their respective parents.
9. Close the category viewer and save your sales model under the same name, without closing it.
Tip: If you expanded the category viewer, click Default View (View menu) to return to the
default layout of Transformer.

Create a Calculated Measure

You can create a measure that shows discounts by calculating two of the measures in your
Measures list (Unitprice - Unit Sale Price).

Try This
1. Right-click anywhere in the Measures list and click Insert Measure.
2. In the Measure Name box, type Discount.
3. Click the Type tab, click Calculated, and then click the Calculation button.
4. In the Available Components pane of the expression editor, expand the Measures folder and
double-click Unitprice.
5. In the Available Components pane, double-click the subtraction symbol (-).
6. Expand the Measures folder again and double-click Unit Sale Price.
Your expression definition should be "Unitprice" - "Unit Sale Price".
7. Click OK to close the expression editor and then click OK again to close the Measures
property sheet.
Observe that the new Discount measure appears in the Measures list and is represented by a
calculation icon.
8. Save your model under the same name, without closing it.

Discovering Transformer 19
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

Create a Measure that Counts Categories

You can create a measure that counts retailers who generate revenue for the Great Outdoors
Company. Based on a unique level (Retailername), this count includes all non-missing, non-zero
values, but does not count more than once: if the same retailer buys a product in each of two
months, the quarterly rollup counts that retailer only once, not twice.

Try This
1. Double-click the Retailername level to open its property sheet.
2. Click Unique, click Yes to accept the warning, and then click OK.
Note: A level must be unique before you can use it to create a measure that counts categories.
For information about level uniqueness, see the Transformer online help.
3. Right-click anywhere in the Measures list and click Insert Measure.
4. In the Measure Name box, type Retailer Count.
5. Click the Type tab and then click Category Count.
6. From the Dimensions box, select Retailers.
7. Leave the Level box as Retailername.
8. Click the Rollup tab and then select Quantity from the Activity Measure box.
By selecting Quantity as the Activity Measure, you are limiting the Retailer Count measure to
only those retailers that return a value in the Quantity measure.
9. Click OK.
Observe that the new Retailer Count measure appears in the Measures list.
10. Save your model under the same name, without closing it.

Add a Description for Your Measure

You can add a description for your Retailer Count measure so that PowerPlay users can use
Explain to see the purpose of the measure.

Try This
1. In the Measures list of your sales model, double-click Retailer Count.
2. Click the Description tab and type Retailers that purchased product.
3. Click OK to close the Measures property sheet.
4. Save your model under the same name, without closing it.

Create PowerCubes for Distribution

After you finish refining your sales model in Transformer, you can create a PowerCube to
distribute to your users. Your users can view this PowerCube in PowerPlay for Windows,
PowerPlay for Excel, or PowerPlay Web.

Try This
1. From the Run menu, click Create PowerCubes.
Transformer creates the Sales cube. The default name used for this cube is the name you
specified on the first page of the New Model wizard.
2. Click PowerPlay (Tools menu) to open PowerPlay for Windows with an Explorer report.

20 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

3. In PowerPlay for Windows, click the Dimension Viewer button, expand the Products and
Retailers folders, and explore the Sales cube as follows:
• Click the Short Name button in the toolbar (left margin). The short names for the
categories in the Product level are the product numbers.

Product level using short

name

• Observe that the Retailers dimension contains the manual levels you created: the
alphabetically sorted divisions A-C, D-I, J-R, and S-Z.

Manual level created in

Transformer

• Click the Unit Sale Price tab at the top of the report, click Measures, and confirm that the
calculated measure Discount and the category count measure Retailer Count are both
listed.

Calculated measure
Category count measure

• Click Retailer Count, right-click the Retailer Count tab, and click Explain. Confirm that
the description you entered for the measure in Transformer appears in the Explain
window.

Discovering Transformer 21
Chapter 2: Build a Model from an Impromptu Query Definition File

22 Cognos Transformer
Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data
Source

Every cube that you open in PowerPlay is based on a business model. You can build this model in
Architect or PowerPlay Transformer by specifying the data sources and then defining the
dimensions, levels, and measures.
You can use the Transformer AutoDesign utility to build an initial model, or you can build the
model manually. If you are using an Architect data source, you use the Metadata Explorer to
specify the dimensions, levels, and measures that you need in the cube.
This lesson teaches you how to use the Metadata Explorer to build a model from an Architect
data source (.cem). You also learn how to define the default authentication source for your model.
To complete this lesson, you must have PowerPlay Transformer Edition and Access Manager
installed. You must also install two sample files: GOSecurity.lae (located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\Accman) and ArchitectTutorial3.cem (located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\Architect).

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

Build Your Model

To build a model from an Architect data source, you must
• configure the default authentication source for security
• import the data source by using the New Model wizard
• choose the dimensions, levels, and measures you want by using the Metadata Explorer
You can only import Architect data sources that are packaged for use with Transformer.

Configure Your Authentication Source

All Architect data sources use security that is stored in either a directory server or a local
authentication export file (.lae). Before you can import an Architect data source into Transformer,
you must configure the default security for the data source. The Architect data source for this
tutorial uses the GOSecurity local authentication export file (.lae). By default, it is located in the
folder Cognos\Cern\Samples\Accman.
Ask your Access Manager security administrator how to configure your authentication source to
point to this file, which specifies user classes and data source information needed to complete the
exercises in this chapter.

Import an Architect Data Source

Use the New Model wizard to import the ArchitectTutorial3.cem data source in Transformer.

Try This
1. Start Transformer.
2. From the File menu, click New.
The New Model wizard appears, click Next.

Discovering Transformer 23
Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source

3. In the Model Name box, type Sales and Marketing and then click Next.
By default, user class information is included for models created using Architect as a data
source.
4. In the Data Source Name box, type Architect.
5. In the Data Source Type box, ensure that Architect Model is selected and then click Next.
6. In the Access Manager namespace box, select GOnamespace and click Next.
The security information that you can specify for the model includes
• the authentication source, either a namespace for LDAP-compliant directory servers, or a
local authentication export (.lae) file, as set up using the Access Manager Configuration
tool
• whether cube access is restricted to members of particular user classes (the default for
Architect data sources)
• whether the data source is configured for auto-access, as indicated in the Signons list
7. In the User ID box of the Cognos Common Logon dialog box, type asmith and then click Log
On.
No password is required for this user.
8. In the User Class dialog box, select Creator from the user class box. Click OK.
9. In the Model box, select ArchitectTutorial3.cem, or Browse to the file, located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\Architect, and click Open.
10. In the Package box, ensure Sales is selected and then click Next.
11. Ensure that the Use the wizard to scan the metadata option is selected and click Finish.
This selection means that Transformer launches the Metadata Explorer.
Transformer scans the metadata to create a preliminary model you can edit in the Metadata
Explorer.

Notes:
• Transformer models can have only one Architect data source. When you are using
Transformer and your source is an Architect model, Transformer displays the available Access
Manager configurations and Architect packages. You must select from the choices that are
presented.
• All models based on Architect packages use security, so you will always be prompted to enter
the appropriate administrator logon.
• If you use an Architect package as your data source, any access information associated with
entities or attributes in the Architect model is automatically applied to your Transformer
dimensions, levels, and categories. However, if you make changes in Transformer (for
example, by creating different user class views), these can’t be saved back to the user class
hierarchies in the Architect model.
• In client-server mode, Transformer on UNIX can also access Architect data sources. For
remotely accessed data, once all the required source and signon information is loaded,
Transformer disengages from Architect and synchronization is no longer automatically
maintained. However, cubes can be created on any supported UNIX platform, and
synchronization can be restored manually (from Architect).
• By default, the attribute name is derived from the Architect data source.

Define Dimensions, Levels, and Measures

To choose the levels and measures for your Sales and Marketing model, use the Metadata
Explorer. It shows all available dimensions, levels, and measures in your Architect package.

24 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source

Although you can use the Metadata Explorer to select the levels for your model, you cannot
manipulate these items until you add them to your model.

Try This
1. Continuing from the previous set of steps, from the View menu, click Default View, and then
click Metadata Explorer to open it.
A left pane appears, with Level and Measure tabs. These show the entities, attributes, and
numeric data, including codes and performance indicators, in your Architect data source. This
is the same information that you see in the Data Sources list after you import your data into
Transformer.
2. On the Level tab, expand PRODUCT and click PRODUCT_NUMBER.
The corresponding levels appear in the Candidate Hierarchies pane.
Subject names in the Level tab may not match the names in the Candidate Hierarchies pane.
3. In the Candidate Hierarchies pane under PRODUCT_LINE, click PRODUCT_LINE,
PRODUCT_TYPE, and PRODUCT.
4. In the Common Measures pane, click QUANTITY, UNIT_COST, UNIT_PRICE, and
UNIT_SALE_PRICE.
5. On the Level tab, expand SALES_BRANCH and click SALES_BRANCH_CODE.
6. In the Candidate Hierarchies pane under SALES_TERRITORY, click SALES_TERRITORY,
COUNTRY~1~, and SALES_BRANCH.
7. On the Level tab, expand RETAILER and click RETAILER_CODE.
8. In the Candidate Hierarchies pane under RETAILER_TYPE, click RETAILER_TYPE,
RETAILER, and RETAILER_SITE.
9. Collapse all subject folders on the Level tab and confirm that your Metadata Explorer appears
as follows.

10. Click OK to create the model.

Your dimension map appears, showing the RETAILER_TYPE, SALES_TERRITORY, and
PRODUCT_LINE dimensions.
11. From the File menu, click Save and, in the Save As Type box, select Exported Model Files
(.mdl).
12. In the File Name box, type Sales and Marketing and click Save.
Do not close your model.

Discovering Transformer 25
Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source

Rename Your Dimensions and Levels

The names that appear in your dimension map are the ones that users see in PowerPlay. You can
change the names of the dimensions and levels in your Sales and Marketing model so that they are
more intuitive.

Try This
1. Double-click the PRODUCT_LINE dimension.
2. In the Dimension Name box of the property sheet, type Products and click OK.
The new dimension name appears in the dimension map.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to change the following dimension names:
• RETAILER_TYPE to Retailers
• SALES_TERRITORY to Sales
4. Save your Sales and Marketing model without closing it.

Add a Time Dimension

Use the date wizard to add a time dimension to your model. This time dimension is based on the
ORDER_DATE entity.

Try This
1. From the Tools menu, select Date Wizard.
2. In the Date Wizard, type Years as the new dimension name and then click Next.
3. In the Data Source Type box, select Subject-Attribute.
4. In the list box, expand ORDER_HEADER, click ORDER_DATE, and then click Next.
5. Select the following and click Next > after each choice:
• Yes (Years)
• Calendar Years
• Yes (Quarter-years)
• Yes (Months)
• No (Weeks)
• No (Days)
• First day of one particular year: 20040101 (accept default)
• Yes (generate categories now)
6. In the date range boxes
• for Starting, type 20040101
• for Ending, type 20061231
• click Finish
7. Drag the Years dimension to the far left of the dimension line.
If you place your time dimension first on the dimension line, as shown, it is used by default in
PowerPlay Explorer reports.
8. Right-click in the Architect model in the Data Sources list and click Synchronize Query.
9. From the Tools menu, click Check Model.
10. Confirm that, although there may be warning messages related to the relative time categories,
there are no error messages; click OK.
11. Save your Sales and Marketing model without closing it.

26 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source

Generate Categories
You can generate the categories for your Sales and Marketing model and then explore the
categories in your dimensions and levels by using the category viewer.

Try This
1. In the dimension map of your Sales and Marketing model, click the Products dimension and
then click Show Diagram (Diagram menu).
Observe that the Products dimension does not contain categories at any level.
2. From the Run menu, click Generate Categories.
3. In the category viewer, click the Expand icons to explore the descendant categories for
Products.
4. Expand the diagram window to its maximum size and click Fit in Window (Diagram menu).
5. Close the category viewer and click Default View (View menu) to return to the default layout
of Transformer.
6. From the Tools menu, click Check Model.
7. Confirm that there are no error or warning messages and then click OK.
8. Save your Sales and Marketing model without closing it.

Refine Your Model

When you finish building your model in Transformer, you refine it by creating a calculated
measure.

Create a Calculated Measure

You can create a measure that shows net revenue by calculating two of the measures in your
Measures list (UNIT_PRICE - UNIT_COST).

Try This
1. Right-click anywhere in the Measures list and click Insert Measure.
2. In the Measure name box, type Net Revenue.
3. Click the Type tab, click Calculated, and then click the Calculation button.
4. In the Available Components pane of the Expression Editor, expand the Measures folder and
double-click UNIT_PRICE.
5. In the Available Components pane, double-click the subtraction symbol (-).
6. Expand the Measures folder again and double-click UNIT_COST.
Your expression definition should be "UNIT_PRICE" - "UNIT_COST"
7. Click OK to close the expression editor and then click OK again to close the Measures
property sheet.
Observe that the new Net Revenue measure appears in the Measures list and is represented by
a calculation icon.
8. Drag the new Net Revenue measure to the top of the Measures list.
The measure that appears first in the Measures list is used by default in PowerPlay.
9. Save your Sales and Marketing model without closing it.

Discovering Transformer 27
Chapter 3: Build a Model from an Architect Data Source

Create a Cube for Distribution

After you finish refining your Sales and Marketing model in Transformer, you can create a cube to
distribute to your users. Your users can view this cube in PowerPlay for Windows, PowerPlay for
Excel, or PowerPlay Web.

Create a Cube
Create a cube based on the Sales and Marketing model.

Try This
1. From the Run menu, click Create PowerCubes.
Transformer creates the Sales and Marketing cube. The default name used for this cube is the
model name you specified on the first page of the New Model wizard.
2. Click PowerPlay (Tools menu) to open PowerPlay for Windows with an Explorer report.
3. In PowerPlay for Windows, explore the Sales and Marketing cube and observe the following:
• Years is the first dimension on the dimension line.
• Net Revenue is the default measure used in your report.

28 Cognos Transformer
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data
Sources

Every cube that you open in PowerPlay is based on a business model. You can build this model in
PowerPlay Transformer by specifying the data sources and then defining the dimensions, levels,
and measures.
You can create an initial model by using the AutoDesign utility, or you can build a model
manually. Using AutoDesign saves time but, for more complicated models, you need to know how
to add dimensions manually.
This lesson teaches you how to manually build a model by using delimited ASCII files (.asc) that
provide information about different aspects of the Great Outdoors Company (products, sales
territories, retailers, and transaction details). You learn how to use the columns from these data
sources to define the structure of your model, and how to add a currency conversion capability.
To complete this lesson, you must have PowerPlay Transformer Edition or Personal Transformer
installed. You also need the following sample files:
• Products.asc, Sales.asc, Transactions.asc, and Vendors.asc (located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Discovering Transformer)
• GO Currency.xls, an Excel database file that contains exchange rates (located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Cubes and Reports)

Duration: Approximately 60 minutes

Build Your Model

To build a model from multiple data sources, you must
• import the data sources using the New Model wizard
• choose the dimensions, levels, and measures you want in your model
• relate the data sources by declaring the shared levels unique

Import Data Sources

Before you can define the structure of your model, you must import the following delimited ASCII
files (.asc): Products.asc, Sales.asc, Vendors.asc, and Transactions.asc. These files are located in
Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\Discovering Transformer.

Import Your First Data Source

When you open the New Model wizard to start a model that uses multiple data sources, you must
specify the first data source that you want to use in your model. In this tutorial, start with
Products.asc, the file that contains the key structural data about the business. (If Transformer uses
auto-partitioning optimization, the default, you can import files in any order, without affecting
processing time.)

Discovering Transformer 29
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Try This
1. Start Transformer.
2. From the File menu, click New.
The New Model wizard appears. Click Next.
3. In the Model Name box, type Multiple Sources, ensure that the Include Security in this Model
check box is cleared, and then click Next.
4. In the Data Source Name box, type Products.
This is the name that appears in the Data Sources window.
5. In the Data Source Type box, select Delimited-field Text with Column Titles and then click
Next.
This is the storage format of your data source.
6. Click Browse to show the Open dialog box, select the Products.asc file, and click Open. Click
Next.
7. Clear the Run AutoDesign check box and then click Finish.
Observe the Products data source in the Data Sources list. No dimensions appear in the map
yet.
8. From the File menu, click Save.
9. In the Save As Type box, select Exported Model Files (.mdl format).
10. In the File Name box, type Multiple Sources and click Save.
Do not close your model.

Import Additional Data Sources

You can now import additional data sources into your model. To help you understand the
structure of the data, import Sales.asc next, followed by the retailers data, located in Vendors.asc.
Import the transactional source (Transactions.asc) last.

Try This
1. Right-click anywhere in the Data Sources list and choose Insert Data Source.
The New Data Source wizard appears.
2. In the Data Source Name box, type Sales.
3. In the Source Type box, select Delimited-field Text with Column Titles and then click Next.
This is the storage format of your data source.
4. Click Browse to show the Open dialog box, select the Sales.asc file, and click Open.
5. Click Finish.
Observe the Sales data source in the Data Sources list.
6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 to add the Vendors.asc and Transactions.asc files to your model.
Name these data sources Retailers and Transactions, respectively.
7. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Define Dimensions, Levels, and Measures

Now that you have all the required data sources in your Data Sources list, you can use the
columns in these data sources to define the dimensions, levels, and measures for your model.

30 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Try This
1. In the Data Sources list, expand the Products, Sales, Retailers, and Transactions data sources.
2. From the Products data source, drag PRODUCT_LINE_EN to the dimension line at the top
of the dimension map.
By default, this name is the name of your new dimension, and of the top level.
3. From the Data Sources list, drag and drop the remaining product columns to the dimension
map, placeing one below the other: PRODUCT_TYPE_EN, PRODUCT_NAME_EN, and
PRODUCT_NUMBER.
4. Continue dragging columns into your dimension map until the levels appear as shown in the
illustration.

5. Double-click each dimension name in turn, renaming them to Products, Sales, Retailers, and
Margins respectively. Click OK.
6. In the Data Sources list, expand the Transactions data source, and then drag Revenue, Cost,
and Quantity to the Measures list.
7. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Declare Level Uniqueness

If you explore each of the sources in your Data Sources list, you notice that the Transactions.asc
file contains columns that are duplicated in each of the other data sources. This duplication exists
so that Transformer can relate the transactional information to the structural information.
You must declare these shared levels unique so that Transformer can properly relate the data
between the different data sources.
In the samples used in your Multiple Sources model, each category in each level is unambiguous:
that is, it is associated with a source value that is itself not associated with any other category.
Your own sample data may not be as "perfect". You may need to use calculated columns to
remove the ambiguity (for example, concatenating Smith+LocationA and Smith+LocationB). For
more information about resolving uniqueness problems in your model, see the Transformer online
help.

Try This
1. In the dimension map, double-click the PRODUCT_NUMBER level to open its property
sheet.
2. Click Unique, click Yes at the prompt, and then click OK.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to declare the SALES_STAFF_CODE and RETAILER_SITE_CODE
levels unique as well.
4. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Add a Time Dimension Manually

You can also add a time dimension to your Multiple Sources model.

Discovering Transformer 31
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Try This
1. In your Multiple Sources model, right-click anywhere in the dimension map and click Insert
Dimension.
2. In the Dimension Name box, type Dates.
3. In the Dimension Type box on the General tab, select Time, and then click the Time tab.
4. In the Date Level Creation dialog box, leave the Create Standard Levels check box selected,
select ORDER_DATE as your source column, and then click OK.
5. Still on the Time tab, change the default Earliest Date and Latest Date entries to 01/01/2004
and 12/31/2006 respectively.
6. Leave the remaining settings at their defaults and click OK.
7. Ensure that your new Dates dimension appears on the far left of your dimension map.
This means that the time dimension will appear first, by default, in your PowerPlay Explorer
reports.
8. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Specify a Level Label

You can specify a label name for a specific level in your model. For example, you want the
RETAILER_CODE level to use the RETAILER_NAME label. PowerPlay users see only the
specified label (RETAILER_NAME) and not the label from the source column
(RETAILER_CODE).

Try This
1. In the dimension map of your Multiple Sources model, double-click the RETAILER_CODE
level to open its property sheet.
2. In the Level Name box, type Retailer.
3. On the Source tab, click Label and then click the ellipsis button (...).
4. In the Data Source Type box, ensure that Column is selected.
5. In the Name box, click RETAILER_NAME and click OK.
6. Click OK to close the Level property sheet.
7. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Generate Categories
You can generate categories for your Multiple Sources model and then use the category viewer to
explore the categories in your dimensions and levels. Before generation can proceed, you are
prompted about a uniqueness error, and must declare the COUNTRY_EN levels unique.

Try This
1. From the Run menu, click Generate Categories.
2. Acknowledge the error message about the lack of sufficient context information for the
COUNTRY_EN level by clicking OK.
3. For this tutorial, assume that your sales offices and retailers are in the same country.
Double-click the COUNTRY_EN level in both the Sales and Retailers dimensions, and specify
that each is unique. For instructions, see "Declare Level Uniqueness" (p. 31).
4. From the Diagram menu, click Show Diagram and then explore the categories in each of your
dimensions.
5. Close the category viewer and save your Multiple Sources model without closing it.
Tip: If you expanded the category viewer, click Default View (View menu) to return to the
default layout of Transformer.

32 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Refine Your Model

After you finish building your model in Transformer, you can refine it to better suit your needs.

Create an Alternate Drill-Down Path

To help you analyze retailer information in PowerPlay, you can create an alternate drill-down path
that shows each retailer’s CITY and RETAILER_SITE_CODE only.
Use an alternate drill-down path to drill down to a level in a dimension without passing through
the other preceding levels. You can create an alternate drill-down path to any unique level in a
dimension.

Try This
1. Right-click the RETAILER_SITE_CODE level and click Create Drill-Down.
Observe that an alternate drill-down path appears. Use this path in PowerPlay to drill directly
to CITY and RETAILER_SITE_CODE without passing through the other levels.
2. From the Retailers data source in the Data Sources list, drag CITY to the alternate drill-down
path in the dimension map. (The drop zone appears outlined in gray).

The Retailers dimension now contains an alternate drill-down path: CITY, which appears in
italics on the dimension map, and the convergence level for the two paths,
RETAILER_SITE_CODE.
3. From the Run menu, click Generate Categories.
4. When warned that the By RETAILER_SITE_CODE category has too many immediate
descendants, click OK.
Observe that the new By RETAILER_SITE_CODE drill-down path appears in the category
viewer.
5. Save your Multiple Sources model.

Create Special Categories

Suppose that you want to monitor sales in the key market segments for two of your product lines:
Golf Equipment and Personal Accessories. You create two special categories, Prime Golf Markets
and Prime Accessory Markets. In each, you group the markets you expect to have the best sales. In
Prime Golf Markets, you focus on locations where the climate supports year-round golf. In Prime
Accessory Markets, you include locations that promise good sales in high-end sports accessories.

Try This
1. In the category viewer, click the Sales dimension label, drag the crosshair to the right (just
below the existing categories), and release the pointer.
The Special Category property sheet appears.
2. In the Category Label box, type Prime Golf Markets and click OK.
3. In the category viewer, expand the SALES_TERRITORY_EN, COUNTRY_EN, and
BRANCH folders so you can see the categories in each level.

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Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

4. Click Asia Pacific and drag the crosshair to the Prime Golf Markets label.
Sales results for every representative, branch, and country in the Asia Pacific territory are now
included in your special category.
5. Repeat step 4 to add other sales branches and countries that support year-round play, as
follows:
• Brazil, from Americas
• Mexico, from Americas
• Miami, from Americas/United States
• Los Angeles, from Americas/United States
• Spain, from Southern Europe
• Italy, from Southern Europe
6. Again click the Sales dimension label, drag the crosshair to the right (just below the existing
special category), and release the pointer.
The Special Category property sheet appears.
7. In the Category Label box, type Prime Accessories Markets and click OK.
8. Click Japan (from Asia/Pacific) and drag the crosshair to the Prime Accessories Markets label.
Sales results for every representative and branch in Japan are now included in this special
category.
9. Repeat step 8 to add other sales branches and countries that you identified as best bets for
high-end accessories, as follows:
• Germany, from Central Europe
• Switzerland, from Central Europe
• Los Angeles, from Americas/United States
• Seattle, from Americas/United States

Observe that a category (for example, Los Angeles) can appear in several special categories, as
well as in its original drill-down path.
10. Close the category viewer and save your Multiple Sources model without closing it.

34 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Set up Currency Conversion

Your PowerPlay users want to see the Revenue and Cost figures in their local currencies. You
create a Currency Table in Transformer to provide the exchange rate information, and set up
conversion for each measure.

Import a Currency Exchange Rate Data Source

Your first step in setting up dynamic currency conversion in PowerPlay reports is to add an
exchange rate data source to your existing model.

Try This
1. Right-click anywhere in the Data Sources list and choose Insert Data Source.
The New Data Source wizard appears.
2. In the Data Source Name box, type Currency.
3. In the Source Type box, select Excel Database and then click Next.
4. Click Browse to show the Open dialog box, find and select the GO Currency.xls file in the
Samples\PowerPlay\Cubes and Reports folder, and click Open.
5. Ensure that GO_Currency is selected as the Table or Range and click Finish.
6. In the Data Sources list, expand the Transactions and Currency folders and confirm that the
names of the date columns differ. The former is named ORDER_DATE, the latter,
CONVERSION_DATE.
Note: If the Currency date column has the same name as another date column in the model, you
may encounter problems when generating. categories and creating PowerCubes.
7. Right-click the CONVERSION_DATE column, click Properties, and in the Data Class box
(General tab), select Date.
8. Click the Time tab and, in the Date Input Format box, select MDY.
9. In the Degree of Detail box, select Month and click OK.
10. From the Run menu, click Generate Categories, acknowledge the warning, and save your
Multiple Sources model without closing it.

Create a Base Currency Table

Your next step is to set up a Currency Table in Transformer.

Try This
1. From the File menu, click Currency Table.
Observe that the Base Table box is empty except for the default, which matches your locale in
Regional Settings (Control Panel).
2. Select the Use an External Currency Data Source check box.
3. In the Base Table Columns box, click Rate and then click the ellipsis button (...) to open the
Rate Association dialog box.
4. In the Data Source Type box, select Column and click the More >>> button.
5. In the Columns dialog box, select CONVERSION_TO_LOCAL and click OK.
6. Click OK to close the Association <New> window.
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 to associate Label, Country Code, and Date with CURRENCY_NAME,
ISO_THREE_LEVEL_CODE, and CONVERSION_DATE, respectively.

Discovering Transformer 35
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

8. Click the Load Table button.

Note: If your <Base default> country is one of the countries in the currency conversion table,
you will be warned that some currency data rows were rejected because they matched the
default currency of the table being loaded. Click OK to acknowledge and continue.
Observe that the monthly conversion rates from the Currency data source (Excel database)
are loaded into the Base Table box.
9. Right-click British Pounds (GBR) and click Properties to open the Currency Record for the
United Kingdom.
10. Note that the Decimals box is editable, whereas the Entry Data in the EMU box is not
(historic data).
Note: If you change a default setting, specifying 2 decimal places rather than 0, for example,
you must click OK to save and close this window, and then click Load Table again.
Acknowledge the prompt by clicking OK.

11. Click OK to close the Currency Table.

Note: If you have legacy data that requires conversion to or from the currencies of countries in the
European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), select the Use Euro Triangulation check box
and then either
• manually type in the euro exchange rates on the date of EMU entry
• add another data source providing conversion rates against the euro
For more information about setting up conversion to and from national currencies tied to the
euro, see the Transformer online help.

Specify the Measures that Support Currency Conversion

You need to specify which measures will support currency conversion in PowerPlay reports: in our
example, REVENUE and COST, but not QUANTITY. You can also specify the format of the
converted measure in Transformer, or leave it for your PowerPlay users to adjust on a
report-by-report basis.

Try This
1. Right-click REVENUE in the Measures list and click Properties.
2. Ensure that the Allow Currency Conversion check box (General tab) is selected.
3. Click the Format tab, make any required changes, and then click OK to save and close the
REVENUE property sheet.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the measure COST to support its conversion.
5. Save your Multiple Sources model in Exported Model files format.

36 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

Create a PowerCube for Distribution

After you finish refining your Multiple Sources model in Transformer, you can create a
PowerCube to distribute to your users. Your users can view this PowerCube in PowerPlay for
Windows, PowerPlay for Excel, or PowerPlay Web.
If you are using PowerPlay Transformer Edition, you can also create regional PowerCubes based
on the Multiple Sources model.

Try This
1. From the Run menu, click Create PowerCubes.
2. Click PowerPlay (Tools menu) to open PowerPlay for Windows with an Explorer report.
3. Explore the dimensions in the cube and observe the following:
• The RETAILER_CODE level uses RETAILER_NAME for its label; for example, Beach
Beds Pty Ltd. appears under the Australia - Department Store folder.
• The By RETAILER_SITE_CODE alternate drill-down path contains only the CITY and
RETAILER_SITE_CODE levels.

CITY level
RETAILER_SITE_CODE level

• The two Prime Markets categories gather the sales data from the special locations that
you specified in Transformer.

Repeated prime locations

4. From the Explore menu, click Convert Currency to open the Currency Conversion dialog
box.

Discovering Transformer 37
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

5. Select United Kingdom as the currency to convert to.

Optionally, click the Format button, change the default formatting options for REVENUE,
and click OK to save.

6. Click OK in the Currency Conversion dialog box and explore your report. For example, drill
down on Margins in the year to the Q1 months level in the second Sample year (2005 in the
product, or 2000 in this illustration).
Observe that all REVENUE values are now preceded by a pound sign rather than a dollar
sign.

7. Close PowerPlay for Windows and return to your Multiple Sources model in Transformer.

Create Regional PowerCubes

You can create PowerCubes based on each Sales Territory in your model. Each of the cubes in this
group shows all data for its territory and only summary data for other territories. If you set up
drill-through cubes, your PowerPlay users can drill through to the detailed information on the
other territories.
You can only create cube groups by using Transformer for UNIX or Windows, not Personal
Transformer.

Try This
1. Right-click the PowerCubes list and click Insert PowerCube.
2. In the PowerCube Name box, type Territories.
3. Click the Cube Group tab and select Sales from the Dimension box.
4. Because you want to create cubes for each of the territories in the Sales dimension, leave
SALES_TERRITORY_EN in the Level box.
5. In the Lowest Detail of Categories in the Level box, select STAFF_NAME.
When you choose the lowest level in the dimension (STAFF_NAME), your PowerPlay users
can see all levels of information for the territory represented in the cube group.

38 Cognos Transformer
 Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

6. In the Summarize All External Categories in the Level box, select SALES_TERRITORY_EN.
This limits the data for the other territories to only the summary level.
7. Click OK.
8. In the PowerCubes list, expand the Territories folder.

Observe that a new cube appears for each of the Sales Territories.

Add Password Protection for a Cube

You can add security to a cube by specifying a password.
You can only specify passwords by using Transformer for UNIX or Windows, not Personal
Transformer.

Try This
1. Double-click the Central Europe cube to open its property sheet.
2. In the Password box on the Output tab, type Europe and then click OK.
3. Re-enter the password, then click OK to close the property sheet.
4. From the Run menu, click Create PowerCubes. Acknowledge the error message about the
orphan category (Denmark).
Transformer creates the cubes for each of the five territories.
5. Click the Central Europe cube and then click PowerPlay (Tools menu) to open PowerPlay for
Windows with an Explorer report.
6. When prompted to enter a password that is valid for the cube, type Europe and then click Log
On.
7. In PowerPlay for Windows, explore the Sales dimension of the Central Europe territory.
Observe that it contains all levels of information for the Central Europe territory, but only
summary information for all other territories.

Discovering Transformer 39
Chapter 4: Build a Model Using Multiple Data Sources

40 Cognos Transformer
Appendix A: Product Samples

This appendix describes the sample data sources, models, and cubes that you can install with
Transformer.
The following tables show the samples that are installed with PowerPlay Transformer (all
editions).
You can find this sample in Cognos\Cern\Samples\Accman.

File Name Description

GOsecurity.lae Local authentication export file (.lae) used for
namespace security (LDAP-compliant
servers).

You can find these samples in Cognos\Cern\Samples\Db.

File Name Description

GOSales.mdb Microsoft Access database file (.mdb) used to
create samples for Transformer.
Contains sales data for the Great Outdoors
Sales Company.

GOSalesDW.mdb Microsoft Access database file (.mdb) used to

create samples for Transformer.
Contains data warehouse sales information
for the Great Outdoors Sales Company.

GOVendors.mdb Microsoft Access database file (.mdb) used to

create samples for Transformer.
Contains retailer data for the Great Outdoors
Sales Company.

MarketResearch.mdb Microsoft Access database file (.mdb) used to

create samples for Transformer.
Contains market research data for the Great
Outdoors Sales Company.

You can find these samples in Cognos\Cern\Samples\Powerplay\

Cubes and Reports.

File Name Description

Great Outdoors Sample Exported model file (.mdl).
Company.mdl

GO Market Sample Exported model file (.mdl).

Research.mdl

Discovering Transformer 41
Appendix A: Product Samples

File Name Description

Great Outdoors Sample sales cube (.mdc). Uses the source files
Company.mdc GO Orders.csv, GO Product Line.asc, GO
Sales Staff.asc, and GO Vendors.xls.

GO Market Sample market research cube (.mdc). Uses the

Research.mdc additional .iqd source GO Market Research.

GO Currency.xls An Excel database source containing monthly

currency conversion rate data for non-euro
countries; used in the Chapter 3 tutorial.

You can find these samples in Cognos\Cern\Samples\PowerPlay\

Discovering Transformer.

File Name Description

Allocat3.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in
Transformer online help.
Shows multiple allocations.

Americas.mdc Regional cube (.mdc) created from Multiple

Sources.mdl.

Asia Pacific.mdc Regional cube (.mdc) created from Multiple

Sources.mdl.

Bigstaff.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in

Transformer online help.
Shows manually created regional sublevels.

Bigstaff.xls Excel database (.xls) used in Transformer

online help.
Used as a source for Bigstaff.mdl; used to
shows how to manually create sublevels.

Central Europe.mdc Regional cube (.mdc) created from Multiple

Sources.mdl.

Go_sales.asc Delimited ASCII file (.asc) used in

Transformer online help.
Contains sales data for the Great Outdoors
Company.

Go_sales.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in

Transformer online help.
Includes one data source, no margins, no
calculated measures, no external measures
and no currency.

Go_sls2.asc Delimited ASCII file (.asc) used in

Transformer online help.
Contains sales data for the Great Outdoors
Sales Company, including margin ranges.

42 Cognos Transformer
 Appendix A: Product Samples

File Name Description

Multiple Sources.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) created in
Discovering Transformer.

Multiple Sources.mdc PowerCube (.mdc) created in Discovering

Transformer.

Northern Europe.mdc Regional cube (.mdc) created from Multiple

Sources.mdl.

Outcreat.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in

Transformer online help.
Shows a lunar year.

Outfisc.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in

Transformer online help.
Shows a fiscal year.

Prodplan.asc Delimited ASCII file (.asc) used in

Transformer online help.
Used with Go_sales.asc to illustrate simple
revenue forecasting and allocation.

Products.asc One of four delimited ASCII files (.asc)

required for Discovering Transformer.
Contains product-related data for the Great
Outdoors Sales Company.

Sales.asc One of four delimited ASCII files (.asc)

required for Discovering Transformer.
Contains data on the sales of the Great
Outdoors Sales Company.

Sales.iqd Impromptu query definition file (.iqd)

required for Discovering Transformer.
Contains data for the Great Outdoors Sales
Company.

Sales.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) created in

Discovering Transformer.

Sales.mdc Cube (.mdc) created in Discovering

Transformer.

Sales2.mdl Exported model file (.mdl) used in

Transformer online help.
Shows margin ranges as an exception
dimension.

Southern Europe.mdc Regional cube (.mdc) created from Multiple

Sources.mdl.

Discovering Transformer 43
Appendix A: Product Samples

File Name Description

Transactions.asc One of four delimited ASCII files (.asc)
required for Discovering Transformer.
Contains transactional data for the Great
Outdoors Sales Company.

Vendors.asc One of four delimited ASCII files (.asc)

required for Discovering Transformer.
Contains data on the retailers in the Great
Outdoors Sales Company.

44 Cognos Transformer
Index

A category count
measures, 20
adding
a currency exchange rate data source, 35 category viewer, 10
alternate drill-down paths, 33 Central Europe.mdc, 42
business value to your model, 13 character set
default, 13, 30
calculated measures, 19
data sources, 30 check model, 26, 27
date dimensions, 31 columns, 9
descriptions to columns, 15 adding descriptions, 15
descriptions to measures, 20 configuring
default authentication source, 23
manual levels, 18
measures that count categories, 20 convergence level
in alternate drill-down paths, 9
special categories, 33
converting
time dimensions, 31
currencies, 35
Allocat3.mdl, 42
currencies tied to the euro, 35
alternate drill-down paths
adding, 33 specified measures to different currencies, 36
copyright, 2
creating, 33
creating
Americas.mdc, 42
alternate drill-down paths, 33
Architect
building Transformer models, 23 cube groups, 38
cubes, 28
data source, 23
manual levels, 18
New Model wizard, 23
PowerCubes, 8, 20, 37, 38
ASCII
data source, 29 regional cubes, 38
special categories, 33
Asia Pacific.mdc, 42
time dimensions, 31
authentication
configuring default source, 23 cube groups, 38
cubes
AutoDesign, 29
passwords, 39
currencies
B setting up conversion, 35
Bigstaff.mdl, 42 setting up measures for conversion, 36
Bigstaff.xls, 42 customer support
building Web site address, 5
PowerCubes, 8
building models, 8 D
manually, 29
using ASCII files (.asc), 29 data sources, 13, 30
adding, 30
using AutoDesign, 13
adding in support of currency conversion, 35
using Impromptu Query Definition files, 13
Architect, 23
ASCII, 29
C file type, 13, 30
calculated Impromptu Query Definition, 13
measures, 10, 19, 27 supported, 8
categories transactional, 10
generating, 32 Data Sources list, 9, 10
special, 33

Discovering Transformer 45
Index

date dimensions M
adding manually, 31
manual levels
creating manually, 31
adding, 18
deleting
creating, 18
dimensions, 14
manually
delimited field, 13, 30 adding levels, 18
dimension line, 9
building models, 29
dimension map, 9
MarketResearch.mdb, 41
dimensions
measures
definition, 9
adding descriptions, 20
deleting, 14
calculated, 10, 19, 27
renaming, 14, 26
definition, 10
dimensions pane, 10
that count categories, 20
document
Measures list, 9, 10
version, 2
Metadata Explorer
drill-down paths choosing levels and measures, 24
convergence level, 9
models
definition, 9 building, 8, 23
building new, 13, 29
E multiple
euro currencies data source models, 29
setting up conversion, 35 Multiple Sources.mdc, 42
expression editor, 27 Multiple Sources.mdl, 42

F N
field delimiter Northern Europe.mdc, 42
comma, 13, 30
O
G Outcreat.mdl, 42
generating Outfisc.mdl, 42
categories, 16, 27, 32
GO Market Research.mdc, 41 P
GO Market Research.mdl, 41
passwords
Go_sales.asc, 42
specifying, 39
Go_sales.mdl, 42
PowerCubes
Go_sls2.asc, 42
building, 8
GOSales.mdb, 41
creating, 8, 20, 37, 38
GOSalesDW.mdb, 41
creating cube groups, 38
GOSecurity.lae, 41
regional cubes, 38
GOVendors.mdb, 41
viewing in PowerPlay, 8
Great Outdoors Company.mdc, 41
Prodplan.asc, 42
Great Outdoors Company.mdl, 41
product
version, 2
I Products.asc, 29, 42
Impromptu Query Definition
data source, 13 R
renaming
L dimensions and levels, 14, 26
labels Roadmap
specifying, 32 other documentation, 5
levels, 9
definition, 9 S
manual, 9
Sales.asc, 29, 42
renaming, 14, 26 Sales.iqd, 13, 42
source, 9

46 Cognos Transformer
 Index

Sales.mdc, 42
Sales.mdl, 42
Sales2.mdl, 42
sample data, 10
sample files, 41
setting up
currency conversion, 35
currency conversion for a measure, 36
short names
specifying, 15
Show Counts button, 18
showing
category counts, 18
Southern Europe.mdc, 42
special categories
adding, 33
creating, 33
specifying
level labels, 32
measures for currency conversion, 36
short names, 15

T
time dimensions
creating, 31
transactional data sources
measure values, 10
Transactions.asc, 29, 42

U
uniqueness, 31
UNIX environment
client/server documentation, 8
using
AutoDesign, 29
multiple data sources, 29
New Model wizard, 13, 29
short names, 15

V
Vendors.asc, 29, 42
version
product, 2

W
Web site address
for customer support information, 5
wizard
New Model, 23

Discovering Transformer 47
Index

48 Cognos Transformer