What is OBIEE and its full form?
OBIEE stands for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition. It is a comprehensive suite of business intelligence tools developed by Oracle, used for reporting, ad-hoc query analysis, dashboards, and OLAP. It helps professionals in developing business strategies and making data-driven decisions.
What is OBIEE used for?
OBIEE is used for data analysis, dashboard reporting, scorecards, and providing interactive user interfaces. It enables users to gain insights into business performance and take informed decisions based on real-time reports and analytics.
What is RPD in OBIEE?
RPD refers to the repository file in OBIEE that contains metadata about business models, physical data sources, and presentation layers. It supports security, caching, and data modeling and can be edited using the BI Administration Tool. The RPD file is encrypted and password-protected.
Does OBIEE support snowflake schema?
Yes, OBIEE supports snowflake schema. This type of schema involves normalized dimension tables connected to a central fact table. OBIEE allows logical modeling of such schemas to meet specific analytical requirements.
What are the key configuration files in OBIEE?
The key configuration files in OBIEE include:
- NQSConfig.ini
- instanceconfig.xml
- odbc.ini
- NQSCluster.ini
- logconfig.xml
- bi-environment.xml
What is iBOT in OBIEE?
iBOT (Intelligent Bursting and Output Tool) is used for automating the delivery of reports based on predefined conditions and schedules. It can send alerts and analytic content via dashboards or email based on event triggers.
Cognos vs OBIEE: Which is better?
| Feature | OBIEE | IBM Cognos |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Complex | User-friendly with many features |
| Access Control | No read/write control | Read-only connection possible |
| Repository | File-based and easy access to data sources | Not fully documented |
| Repository Management | Supports only one repository at a time | Supports multiple repositories |
Based on usability and flexibility, IBM Cognos is often considered better in enterprise environments.
What is the connection pool in OBIEE?
A connection pool in OBIEE defines the connection between the Oracle BI Server and a data source. It resides in the Physical layer, and each database must have at least one connection pool. Separate connection pools can be created for initialization blocks.
How to create dashboard prompts in OBIEE?
To create a dashboard prompt in OBIEE:
- Go to New → Dashboard Prompt
- Select the appropriate subject area
- Configure the required prompt fields
- Save and apply to your dashboard.
How to add variance to union reports in OBIEE?
To add variance to union reports in OBIEE, create a column with a custom formula that subtracts one measure from another. You may need to use the CASE WHEN or arithmetic operators in the formula editor.
How does Visual Analyzer work in OBIEE?
Visual Analyzer allows users to visually explore and analyze data using drag-and-drop functionality. It enables creating visualizations, performing trend analysis, and sharing insights through interactive dashboards.
What is a presentation variable in OBIEE?
A presentation variable is used in prompts to capture user input dynamically. It enables filtering, conditional formatting, and dynamic column references based on user-selected values in dashboards.
How to use a presentation variable in OBIEE?
Presentation variables are used in formulas and filters. Example usage: @{variable_name}{default_value}. They are helpful in customizing reports based on user interaction.
How to send a cross-domain request to OBIEE?
Cross-domain requests can be handled using proxy configurations or secure token-based APIs. iBOTs and web services can also facilitate data sharing across domains, but browser security restrictions need to be handled appropriately.
What are the default application roles in OBIEE 12c?
- BIConsumer: Access existing dashboards and reports
- BIAuthor: Create new reports and dashboards
- BIAdministrator: Manage system privileges and monitor BI Server
- BIAnalyst: Modify reports but not dashboards
How to use Query Repository Tool?
The Query Repository Tool is used to search and analyze metadata objects in the OBIEE repository. It helps find objects, understand dependencies, and optimize the RPD design.
How to edit graph prompt selections in OBIEE?
Graph prompt selections can be edited by modifying the dashboard prompt and reapplying it to the relevant analysis. Use the prompt editor to change values and reassign them.
How to unarchive in OBIEE 11g?
- Open Catalog Manager in offline mode
- Select the folder where you want to unarchive
- Go to File → Unarchive
- Browse and select the archive file
- Click OK to complete the unarchiving process
How to create time dimension hierarchy in OBIEE standalone?
- Open the RPD file in BI Administration Tool (offline mode)
- Create a logical dimension
- Create logical levels (e.g., Year → Quarter → Month)
- Assign columns to respective levels
- Set logical keys for each level
What are the different types of variables in OBIEE?
OBIEE supports three main types of variables: Repository variables, Session variables, and Presentation variables. Repository variables are static or dynamically refreshed and stored in the RPD. Session variables are initialized during user login and can be system-defined or user-defined. Presentation variables are created using dashboard prompts and allow dynamic user input at runtime.
What is the difference between Logical Table and Physical Table in OBIEE?
Physical tables exist in the database and are defined in the Physical layer. Logical tables are abstracted business views of the data defined in the Business Model and Mapping (BMM) layer. Logical tables can contain multiple logical table sources (LTS) that map to physical tables.
How does OBIEE handle data-level security?
OBIEE enforces data-level security using session variables and filters. Row-level filters can be defined on logical tables in the RPD based on the user’s group or role. Session variables help dynamically apply security filters during login initialization.
What is the purpose of the BI Server Cache in OBIEE?
The BI Server Cache stores the results of executed queries to improve performance. If a similar query is requested again, OBIEE can retrieve results from the cache instead of querying the database. Cache can be manually purged or managed through event polling and cache seeding.
What are initialization blocks in OBIEE and how are they used?
Initialization blocks are used to initialize session variables during user login. They contain SQL statements that run to assign values to session variables. These are often used for personalization, security, or other dynamic settings.
What are the steps to migrate OBIEE RPD and web catalog from one environment to another?
- Copy the RPD file and update the NQSConfig.INI to point to the new RPD.
- Use Catalog Manager to archive and unarchive web catalog folders.
- Move configuration files like instanceconfig.xml if needed.
- Restart BI Services and test reports and dashboards.
What is Delivers in OBIEE?
Delivers is the scheduling component in OBIEE, previously known as iBots. It enables scheduled or conditional delivery of reports and alerts to users via email or dashboard. It supports event-driven publishing based on triggers and user-defined criteria.
What are usage tracking and its benefits in OBIEE?
Usage tracking monitors how reports and dashboards are used in OBIEE. It helps administrators identify performance bottlenecks, most accessed reports, and user behavior. The data is stored in a separate database schema and can be analyzed using BI tools.
How can you create a report with multiple subject areas in OBIEE?
To use multiple subject areas in a single report, you can:
- Ensure both subject areas share common logical tables or columns.
- Use direct database joins if possible.
- Create a combined subject area in the RPD by modeling shared sources.
OBIEE doesn't natively support combining subject areas in Answers unless designed in RPD accordingly.
What is the role of Oracle BI Presentation Services?
Oracle BI Presentation Services render the front-end user interface for OBIEE. It processes user requests, applies access controls, and fetches data from the BI Server. It displays dashboards, charts, tables, and other interactive elements for end-users.