003 Universe Designer

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BusinessObjects Universe Designer Training


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What is a Universe

A universe is a semantic layer that maps the datastructure found in databases (tables, columns, etc) in

business terms.

A universe can represent any specific business area,

process, or department. For example, a universe can

relate to a department in a company such as

marketing or accounting.


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Business Objects Designer


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A typical universe layout...

Classes

Objects

Universe Pane Structure Pane


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Class

A class is a logical grouping of objects within a

universe. In general, the name of a class reflects abusiness concept that conveys the category or type ofobjects.

A class can be further divided into subclasses.

As a designer, you are free to define hierarchies ofclasses and subclasses into a model that best reflectsthe business concepts of your company.


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Objects

An object is the most refined component in a universe. It

maps to data or a derivation of data in the database.

Types of objects -

Dimension Objects -

Focus of analysis in a query. Maps to one or more columns in a database that are key to a

query.

Measure Objects -

Aggregate functions that map to statistics in a database.

Map to fact attributes of a star schema.

Detail Objects -

Descriptive data about the dimensions.

Always attached to a dimension.


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User Requirements

Detailed analysis of the information needs of the users.

Data Analysis

Detailed data analysis of the database breaking it down

into functional areas that users can relate to.

Design

Information from first 2 phases must be amalgamated to

create the conceptual design of the Universe, its objects

and other components.

Five stages in universe development process



Development and distribution

Create using the Designer module.

Test using the User module.

Distribute to the users via the repository.

Maintenance

Designer is responsible for updating and maintaining

Universe and keeping it up to date with any changes inthe User Requirements.

Five stages in universe development process



Define the Parameters

Insert Tables

Make the Joins

Resolve the Loops

Create Classes and Objects

Set up Hierarchies

Creation of the Universe



Select File, Parameters

To begin creating a new universe:

Select File, New

To access the Universe Parameters dialog box for an

existing universe:

or

Click on

Creating a Universe



Setting up Parameters : Definition Tab

A universe is identified with a user name and a connection

to the database

A detailed description can also be added



What Is a Connection?

Definition:

A connection is a link from the universe to the

target database.

The link is achieved using middleware (for example ODBC).

An existing connection may be used or a new connection

created for a universe.

There are three different types of connections.


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Different Types of Connection

Personal

Can only be used on the client

Shared

Can be used by more than one user to send queries to the

target database from a shared server

Secured

This connection is used when you wish to distribute the

completed universe to the user population via the repository


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Creating a New Connection

3. Identify the driver to be

used to access the target

database

2. Choose the middleware

1. Click on New.


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Setting up Universe Parameters

Definition Tab:name,description

and connection to the database Summary Tab: author and

statistics about the universe

Strategies Tab: internal or

personal wizards to makecreating a universe easier

Controls Tab: manages access

and control of resources

SQL Tab: queries and SQLparameters

Links Tab: enables dynamic

links with other universes


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Setting up Parameters : Summary Tab

The Summary tab displays general information about the

universe


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Setting up Parameters : Strategies Tab

Provides automatedstrategies for:

Creating objects

Setting joins

The Table browserlisting


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A strategy is a script that reads structural information

from a database or a flat file.

DESIGNER uses strategies as an aid for creating thecomponents of the universe - objects, tables and

joins.

In DESIGNER, strategies are of 2 types Built-in Strategies

External Strategies

Universe Strategies


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Built-in Strategies

Built-in strategies are pre-decided strategies that are

available with any installation of Business Objects.

DESIGNER uses the following built-in strategies forcreating the components of universes:

the Objects Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how todefine classes and objects automatically from the databasestables and columns.

the Joins Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how todefine joins automatically from the databases tables andcolumns.

the Table Browser strategy, which tells DESIGNER how toread the table and column structures from the databases datadictionary.


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Built-in Strategies

To enable automatic creation, the following must be checked


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External Strategies

External Strategies enable designers to specify their

own strategy for creating the universe components.

External strategy files are declared in the STG sectionof .PRM files and are specific to RDBMSes.

Use of external strategies

To insert Objects - Insert --> Candidate Objects

To insert Joins - Tools --> Detect Joins

To insert Tables - Insert --> Tables


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Setting up Parameters : Controls Tab

These allow you to limit thesize of results and restrict the

time allowed for executingqueries

The Supervisor can

change these

parameters for

specific groups or

users


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Setting up Parameters : SQL Tab

SQL parameters are

used to define the

limits of the SQL that

may be generated by

the universe.

The Supervisor can

change these

parameters for specific

groups and users.


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Setting up Parameters : Links Tab

Enables dynamiclinks with other

universes


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Configures certainSQL parameters

common to most

RDBMS to optimize

the SQL generated.

Setting up Parameters : Links Tab


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Choose File, Save or click

Saving a Universe

Save the universe using a maximum of eight characterswith up to three characters as an extension

This makes it possible to distribute the universe across

different kinds of computers

By default the universe is saved in the folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\\Application

Data\Business Objects\Business Objects 11.5\universes


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Adding Tables

Use the Table browser:

Double-click on the background of the

Structure

27

Click on

Choose Insert, Tables from the menu

The Table browser displays all the tables

and views of the database

You can select multiple tables using the

Shift key or Ctrl key


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Customizing Table Insertion

Select Tools, Options then click on the Database tab

From here you can select

and deselect options

related to table insertion

You can set internalstrategies

to:

automatically extract joins

detect cardinalities

create objects when

inserting tables


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Creating classes

Manual Creation

Use Insert > class from the menu. An Edit Properties

box appears. Enter class description.

OR

Use to create a class


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Automatic creationSelect a table in the structure pane.

Drag it to the universe pane.

A class is created in the universe pane with the same name as the

table name.

Objects are also created automatically in the class corresponding

to the fields in the table.

Creating classes


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Aliases

In SQL an alias is an

alternative name for a table.

The purpose of aliases is to

resolve structural issues in a

database arising from SQL

limitations. In DESIGNER,

an alias is just a pointer to

another table

Aliases


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Creating objects

Manual Creation

Select the class where object is to be created. Use Insert--> Object from the menu. An Edit Properties

box appears. Enter object details.

Automatic creation Select a column from a table in the structure pane.

Drag it to the universe pane.

An object is created under the nearest class to the point

where you drop the column.

Default object name is column name with underscores

replaced with spaces.


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Aggregateprojection

Applicable only

to measures.

Defines how themeasure will be

aggregated

when projected

from a micro-

cube.

Object Properties


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Advanced

Security

User rights on

Objects

Date Formats

Object Properties


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Joins


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Joins

WHAT THEY ARERelationship between 2 or more tables that help

restrict the result set of a query run against those

tables.

WHY USE

They limit the occurrence of a Cartesian product, a

situation in which all possible combinations

between each row of each table are retrieved.


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Types of Joins

Equi-Join

Table 1.Column A = Table 2.Column B

Resulting data set limited to values common in Column A &B.

Outer-JoinTable 1 OUTER JOIN Table 2 on Column A = Column B

Resulting data set limited to ALL the values in Table 1 andONLY matching values in Table 2 based on Column A and

Column B.

Theta-Join

Table 1.Column A BETWEEN .. AND

Links tables based on a relationship other than equalitybetween 2 columns.


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Integrity Check

Integrity check allows

the checking of Universe

structure, Loops ,

Contexts , Cardinality

and Parsing Check on

Joins , Conditions and

Objects .


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Create a universe called VACATION

Create a new connection

Use ODBC Driver.

Connection Name Vacation-Connection

Use CLUB datasource

Connection type should be Personal

Remove the limits of 5000 rows and 10 minutes for

query time execution.

Exercise 1


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Identify the windows in the interface...

Class and the Object or

Universe Window

Structure Window

Table Window


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Exercise 2

The universe Vacation should have two Classes Customer

& Sales Details.Customer must have 2 objects Customer-Id & Customer-

Name (Full Name)

Sales Details must have two objects Invoice Date &

Invoice-Id.

Customer (class) must have 2 detailed objects namely

Phone number & Address giving additional info. about

Customer Name.

Create an appropriate join between Customer and Sales

tables.

Save your work in the default location.

O f O


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Observe the Properties for an Object

Definition Tab

Properties Tab

Advanced Tab

For the object Customer Name -

E i 2A


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Exercise 2A

Query 1 -

Create a query which gives details about Customer Names

and their Invoice ID

Run the query

Query 2

Find Out the number of customers for which the invoices

have not been created from Vacation Universe.

E i 2B


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Exercise 2B

Customer class has 2 detail objects namely Phone

number & Address giving additional info. about

Customer Name.

Add another detail object called Age Range which

specifies age range for the customer.

Hint :- Use Age Range table ;Use Theta join between

age ; max ; min

E i 2C


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Exercise 2C

In the Vacation Universe create third class called

Sales Measures.

In this class create a measure object called revenue.

Save the universe and test in user module.

Notice the variation in Group By clause.

Hint :- Revenue = (days) x (nb of guest) x (price)

Use Service & Invoice line table

E i 2D


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Exercise 2D

Create dimension objects City , Region & Country in Class

Customer

In the user module create a data provider using Customer

Name, Country & Sales Revenue.

Using Slice and Dice Panel remove Customer name fromthe query.

See the changes in Sales Revenue.

In Designer Module set Function = None

Repeat all the above steps


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Restricting Data

Types of Restrictions


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Types of Restrictions

Hard Coded / Direct Restrictions

Indirect Restrictions

Flexible Conditioning of the Data

Multiple Prompt

Hard coded Restriction


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Hard-coded Restriction

Adding a WHERE condition to an object allows you to give

a more precise definition:

How Data is Restricted


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How Data is Restricted

The Where clause in an SQL statement restricts the

number of rows returned in the result set:

WHERE

... join definitions ...

WHERE

... join definitions ...

AND Country=United Kingdom

Indirect Restriction


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Indirect Restriction

Achieved using conditional objects

In the User Module , user has the option to apply the

restriction.

Obviously , more flexible than previous type of

restriction.

Once a conditional objects are included, restriction

becomes hard-coded for the query.


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Flexible / @Prompt type Restriction


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Flexible / @Prompt type Restriction

Offers maximum flexibility

Limitation of Indirect type of restriction is overcome by

having flexibility in selecting the where clause.

Achieved using @Prompt Command.

@Prompt Command Syntax


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@Prompt Command Syntax

Message in the Prompt Any Message

Data Type A or N or D

List Of Values

Hard Coded List of Values {Japan, USA,France}

Values of existing Objects

Number of Choices Mono ; Multi

Type of Choice Free ; Constrained

Multiple Prompt Conditioning


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Multiple Prompt Conditioning

Extension of @Prompt Conditioning

More than one where clause can be prompted.

If the same Message text is used in the next prompt,the user is prompted only once and the same value is

substituted for the next prompt too.

For instance, consider the following where clause -

WHERE column A = @prompt(Enter

value,...)AND column B = @prompt(Enter value,..)

This will result in the user being prompted only onceand the same value will be substituted for column B as well.

Exercise 3


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Exercise 3

Add a dimension object called Customer

Name(French) to class Customer. The new object

should show only French Customers.

Save the Universe.

Test in User Module.

Exercise 4


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Exercise 4

Add a condition object called French Only to class

Customer.

Set the conditions for the new object.

Save the Universe.

Check things in User Module.

Exercise 5


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Exercise 5

Add another condition Object City-user-prompt to

class Customer.

Set the conditions for the new object using @Prompt

Command

Save the Universe

Check things in User Module


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List of Values

What is a List of Values?


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What is a List of Values?

A LoV is used on the operand side of a condition in the

query panel of the User module

This is only available if set by the designer

A list of the distinct values from the column or columns to

which the object refers

Creating a List of Values


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Creating a List of Values

A LoV is created within the Properties tab of an object

By default,

Associate a List and

Allow Users to edit

are checked:

It is important to

uncheck this box forobjects that dont

need a List

Controlling How Lists are Refreshed


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g

Normally, the first time a LoV is used in a User loginsession, the system fires a query at the target database.

The results of this query are used to populate the list, and

are stored in the .lov file.

Thereafter, the .lov file from this query is used each time

the List is required.

Controlling How Lists are Refreshed


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g

Not normally used -uncheck this box

Check this box forfrequently changing lists

Check this box for lists that

never change

Modifying the Content of a List of Values


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y g

You can limit the values returned by applying a conditionto the LoV

You can simplify the process of choosing a value for Users

by creating a hierarchy for the LoV

You can supply a personal data file containing the values

for the list, instead of using the results of the query

Applying a Condition to a List of Values


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pp y g

Click Edit in the Properties box:

Apply the condition in the Query

Panel:

Creating a Hierarchy for a List of Values


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g y

Click Edit in the Properties box:

Place the hierarchy objects (which

must be sorted) to the right of the

LoV object in the Query Panel:

Creating a Hierarchy for a List of Values


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The resulting Hierarchical View of the LoV makes it easier

to select the required value:

Country:

Town:

Showroom:

Basing a LoV on a Personal File


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Select Tools, Lists of Valuesfrom the Menu bar:

Select the object:

Select Personal Data:

Basing a LoV on a Personal File


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Click OK to acknowledge the message:

Specify the file that contains the values for the list and

click OK

Exercise 6


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Exercise 6

Edit the LOV for object City. The list should display

only cities for the US as the country of origin.

Edit the LOV for object City and create a hierarchical

LOV consisting of Country, Region and City.

Edit the LOV for City and base it upon a personal file

\Universe\City_LOV.txt


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Hierarchies

Hierarchies


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Hierarchies

An ordered set of related dimensions.

For example, A hierarchy called Geography may consistof Country, Region and City.

Necessary to drill up / down to see less or moredetails.

Designer uses the class structure as the defaulthierarchy.

Custom Hierarchies can be built using Tools >

Hierarchies. A Hierarchy editor pops up. Use this to

create new hierarchies.Some classic examples for hierarchies -

Products - Category > Brand > Product

Time - Year > Quarter > Month > Week > Day

What is a Hierarchy?


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U.K.

North South

Liverpool Manchester Newcastle London Southampton Bristol

Level in Hierarchy Data Returned

An ordered set of related dimensions.For example, A hierarchy called Geography may consist of

Country, Region and City.


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The key to creating Default Hierarchies


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The designer must ensure, wherever possible, that

Dimension Objects are organized from the most general to

the most specific within the Class

What is a Custom Hierarchy?


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A Custom Hierarchy combines Objects from Default

Hierarchies to build a Custom Analysis Path

Default Hierarchies

Custom Hierarchy

Creating Custom Hierarchies


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Add Objects from Default Hierarchies to build a new

Custom Hierarchy

(or Tools,

Hierarchies)

Automatic Time Hierarchy


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A time hierarchycan be built

automatically for date

objects.

Exercise 7


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Exercise 7

Make a copy of the Island resorts marketing universe

(Beach.unv) called TEST.unv Create a custom hierarchy in this universe that

consists of Customer, Service Line, Service.

Test this out in the User Module.

For the VACATION universe, create a Automatic TimeHierarchy on the object called Invoice Date in theclass Sales Details.

Save the Universe and test this out in the UserModule.


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Loops

What is a loop?


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Multiple paths between the tables selected in queries.

Loops can be resolved by..


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ALIASES

Alias - Same as the namesake in SQL.

Exact duplicate of the original table.

A different name tricks the SQL query to accept that you

are using 2 different tables.

CONTEXTS

Rule which helps BO decide which of the 2 paths to choose

in a loop.

BO prompts the user to indicate the correct perspective(relevant path) for the query.

When to Alias


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A loop with a singlelookup table should beresolved by an alias

A lookup table can be

identified by its

cardinality

N N

N

N

N

1 1

1

1

1

A lookup table only hasthe one end of joins

attached to itAlias needed here

How to Alias


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Designer routines

detect loops and

candidates for aliases

Break the loop by

creating an alias of thelookup table for each

side of the loop

Do not remove the

original table

Resolving Loops using Contexts


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Customers

Sales SalLines

Loans LoansLines

Country

There are two possible routes to

link Clients with Models:

Working with sales

Working with rentals

Detecting and Creating Contexts


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Detect Contexts detects and proposesa list of contexts to create

Loop Detection routine: suggests candidatesfor both aliases and contexts

Insert Contexts inserts a contextmanually

Exercise 8


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Add following table to the Vacation Universe

Service_line

Resort

Use Alias to Solve the loop

Complete the universe Designing

Save the universe as Vct-Als

Test the new universe in the User Module

Exercise 8

Exercise 9


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Add following table to the Vacation Universe

Service_line

Reservation

Reservation_Lines

Resort

Solve the loop

Complete the universe Designing

Save the universe as Vct-Con

Test the new universe in the User Module

Exercise 9


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OLAP Universes

OLAPUniverses


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OLAP universes are generated from OLAP cube or

Query.

OLAP data sources supported are:

BW SAP

Microsoft Analysis Services

Essbase

OLAP universes are created by selecting an OLAP

connection to a QueryCube or InfoCube. The universecreation process is automatic once the connection is

selected.

OLAP Universes


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Creating a OLAP connection.

Select Tools > Connections.

Select Add.

Expand the node for your target OLAP datasource.

Expand the middleware node.

Select the data access driver.

Select logon options and click Next.

Expand cube nodes to display the cubes and query cubes

available.

Select Advanced options and click Next.

Click Next.

Click Finish to complete the connection creation.

OLAP Universes


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Generating a OLAP universe

Click the New Universe icon.

Select a connection from the Connections drop down list

box.(It should be an OLAP connection.

Click OK.

Note:Since it is a OLAP connection, the

universe is automatically generated.


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Universe Maintenance

Reasons for Universe Maintenance


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New tables added to database

Tables deleted, changed or renamed in database

Users request new classes or objects

Note:Your primary concern when you introduce a new

version of a universe should be what effect it will

have on existing end user reports

Changes to the Target Database


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No Impact:

Adding new columns Adding new tables

Severe Impact:

Renaming/moving database Changing existing column

and table names Deleting tables and columns

The implications of modifying the underlying database forBusinessObjects universes varies in severity:

Detecting Changes to the Universe


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Choose View, Refresh Structure

Changed tables are highlighted inthe Structure

A message on the screenindicates that tables have been

deleted

The Effect of Changing Objects


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No Impact

Redefining Object SQL

Renaming an Object Copying to different Class Moving in same Class or to

a different Class Adding new Objects

Impact

Deleting an existing

Object Deleting and then

recreating an object withexactly the samedefinition

Changes to existing Objects in a Universe can have an

impact on existing Documents created from the Universe:

Linking Universes


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Linking can mean reduced maintenance.

Universe A

Universe A

Universe B


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Kernel Approach


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Human Resources

+

Motors2000

+

Kernel

Kernel

Kernel

Staff

Master Approach


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Master Human Resources

Motors2000

HRand

Motors2000

-

-Master

Master


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The Derived Universe


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The linked universe structure and objects cannot be

edited in the derived universe The linked universe should be treated as though they

were new tables inserted in the derived universe. The

same procedure should be applied

Including Universes


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Including a Universe COPIES structure and objects to the

derived universe:

Universe A

Universe B

Everything

from

Universe A

Universe B

Universe A

Included Universes


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Included universes become part of the new universe


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Thank You