BI Publisher Overview

Muhammad Rafi Aamiri Madani on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher is a reporting and publishing application that enables you to extract data from multiple data sources, create a template to lay out the data in a report, and publish the report to numerous output formats. BI Publisher also enables you to schedule reports and deliver the reports to any delivery channel required by your business. Administering BI Publisher requires setting up and maintaining the following system components:

•BI0020Publishersecurity• Data source connections• Integrations with other Oracle products• Report delivery options• Runtime configuration settings• BI Publisher Scheduler configurations• System maintenance options

IntegrationOracle BI Publisher enables you to integrate with the following products:

• Oracle BI Presentation Services - This integration enables you to use Oracle BI Answers requests as data sources for your reports.

• Oracle BI Discoverer - This integration enables you to use Oracle BI Discoverer Worksheets as data sources for your reports.

• Hyperion Workspace and Shared Services - This integration enables you to access BI Publisher from within the Oracle Enterprise Performance

Management Workspace.

• Oracle Smart Space Client - This integration enables you to set up a link to the Oracle Smart Space download page. This will enable all BI Publisher users to easily access the Oracle Smart Space client download page from their BI

Publisher session.

• Oracle E-Business Suite – This integration can be done by uploading a DBC file to recognize your Oracle E-Business Suite users.

• Oracle BI Server – This can be integrated by setting up the BI Publisher roles in your BI Server Administration tool then configure BI Publisher to

integrate with it.

Integrating with Oracle E-Business Suite1. In the Oracle E-Business Suite, log in as a System Administrator and create the following responsibilities to correspond to the BI Publisher

functional roles:

• XMLP_ADMIN – this is the administrator role for the BI Publisher server.• XMLP_DEVELOPER – allows users to build reports in the system.

• XMLP_SCHEDULER – allows users to schedule reports.• XMLP_ANALYZER_EXCEL – allows users to use the Excel analysis feature.

• XMLP_ANALYZER_ONLINE – allows users to use the online analysis feature.• XMLP_TEMPLATE_DESIGNER - allows users to connect to the BI Publisherserver from the Template Builder and to upload and download templates.

2. Add the new BI Publisher responsibilities to the appropriate Users.

3. Log in to BI Publisher Enterprise. From the Admin tab, select Security Configuration.

4. In the Security Model section of the page, select Oracle E-Business Suite from the list.

5. Load your dbc file from the E-Business Suite instance. This is typically located under the $FND_SECURE directory. If you do not have access to this file, contact your E-Business Suite system administrator. This file specifies

how BI Publisher should access the E-Business Suite instance.

6. It is recommended that you create a local super user for the system to allow you to access the Administrator pages once the changes take effect. Select the Enable Local Superuser check box and enter a username and password for the user under the Local Superuser section of the Security

Configuration tab.

7. Restart the BI Publisher server for the security changes to take effect.Once you restart the system, all your E-Business Suite responsibilities will be

visible as roles in the BI Publisher security center. Add folders to the E-Business Suite roles.

Integrating with Oracle BI Server SecurityThis is done by defining BI Publisher functional roles within the Oracle BI

Server Administration tool, assign users to these groups, and then specify Oracle BI Security as your security model in the BI Publisher Admin interface.

1. In the BI Server Administration tool, create the following groups to correspond to the BI Publisher functional roles:

• XMLP_ADMIN – this is the administrator role for the BI Publisher server.• XMLP_DEVELOPER – allows users to build reports in the system.

• XMLP_SCHEDULER – allows users to schedule reports.• XMLP_ANALYZER_EXCEL – allows users to use the Excel analysis feature.

• XMLP_ANALYZER_ONLINE – allows users to use the online analysis feature.• XMLP_TEMPLATE_DESIGNER - allows users to connect to the BI Publisherserver from the Template Builder and to upload and download templates.

2. Add the appropriate users to the BI Publisher groups in the BI Server Administration tool.

3. In the BI Publisher Enterprise application, log in with Administration privileges. From the Admin tab select Security Configuration.

4. In the Security Model section of the page, select Oracle BI Server from the list. Provide the following connection information for the BI Server:

• JDBC Connection String - example: jdbc:oraclebi://host:port/• Administrator Username and Administrator Password

• Database Driver Class - example: oracle.bi.jdbc.AnaJdbcDriver

5. It is recommended that you create a local super user for the system to allow you to access the Administrator pages once the changes take effect. Select the Enable Local Superuser check box and enter a username and password for the user under the Local Superuser section of the Security

Configuration tab.

6. Restart the BI Publisher server for the security changes to take effect.

Logging into Business Intelligence Publisher 1. Navigate to the URL provided by your system administrator. The URL is of the format http://hostname:port/xmlpserver/ 2. Select the language you prefer for the user interface. 3. Enter your credentials to log in to BI Publisher. 4. Select Accessibility Mode if you wish to render the Reports home page in an accessible tree structure.

5. Select Sign In.

Oracle Applications with a focus on HRMS

Saturday, 1 March 2014

OBIEE vs. BI Publisher vs. Polaris Reporting Workbench I was recently asked - how can you explain to a user about the difference between OBIEE, BI Publisher and Polaris Reporting Workbench to a business user in simple terms. More specifically, how would you assess the business situation of a client and suggest one of the three reporting tools mentioned below.

I asked a few people around about their opinion, did some research (a.k.a. Google Search) and tried to put down some key features which I hope will highlight the key differences between what these products can offer.

Read on ... and I will be happy to hear your feedback via comments:

Feature OBIEE BI Publisher

In brief? Dynamic and interactive ad-hoc reporting capabilities; dashboard type reporting.

Meant for operational reporting, not analytical reporting. Mainly for creation of pixel perfect operational reports (where (say) the space between each line has to be specific, the colors, the fond and layouts among all the fields have to be arranged in specific ways.)

Audience Upper management and middle management

Line Managers and operational staff

Main Features

1. Hierarchy Drilling2. Graphical Reporting (Charts, Pivots, Gauges, etc)

3. Ad Hoc Analysis4. Actionable framework

1. Pixel perfect reports (e.g. Payment Summary, Invoice, etc.)

2. Scheduled Report Generation

3. Once the underlying data extraction logic is ready, the output can be produced in a variety of formats - .pdf, excel, word, etc.

4. Document bursting available

User Interactivity

Interactivity underpins OBIEE. Allows users to dynamically change queries on the dashboard as well as interacting with other areas on the dashboard through action links.

There is no concept of real user interactivity

Real-time information

Time-delayed, depending on refresh frequency. Not suited where real-time reports are needed

Real-time (if used as part of EBS)

Integration with EBS

Can be designed to pull data from a variety of sources, including EBS

BI Publisher is a part of OBIEE as well as EBS

Benefits 1. Once the underlying data model is designed, the rich user interface makes this a very able tool for end users to present data

2. Reduces time to produce reports, enabling more time to analyse the results3. Provides “Actionable Insight” i.e. it Highlights where action is required4. Enterprise grade reporting tool, which can consume data from various sources and enable a Single Version of the Truth across the enterprise

Format pixel perfect output in specific ways, provide support for multiple outputs, allows output bursting. However, it does not have the ability to drill down.

Technology The framework for OBIEE comes from the erstwhile best-of-breed Siebel Analytics product.

BI Publisher was originally a different application, which is now part of OBIEE. The best way to put it is, BI Publisher is another technology that has been integrated with OBIEE, so now the two are both parts of Oracle Business Intelligence. BI Publisher is also available in EBS.

Implementation Tips

A full-fledged OBIEE implementation requires careful thought and planning and cross department co-ordination. Unless there is clearly defined reporting outcome, undertaking a full-fledged OBIEE implementation project rarely yields the business benefits to justify the investment.

In such cases, an incremental approach is recommended.

1. Run a small POC2. Identify the benefits to your organisation, but don’t ‘boil the ocean’ – Keep work packages small enough to get regular delivery3. Use OBIEE experienced Business Analysts4. Work with the end users in an ‘Agile / RAD’ way

In short, OBIEE implementation is a full scale project.

Unlike OBIEE, which imposes a Kimball methodology in modeling its central model, BI Publisher will let you use any old SQL as the basis for a “data model.” In the hands of non-technical users, this is a recipe for disaster in terms of maintenance costs and overall durability of those reports over time.

So then the question:  Which component should I use for my work?

OBIEE BI Publisher Reporting Workbench

Q. Send a daily report in a fixed format to senior management, updated with the latest data?

Schedule report and send by email

Schedule report and send by email

Q. Give teams a set of standard reports that highlight issues on KPI’s

Create a standard set of reports (using Answers) and place these on Team dashboards.

Publish a dashboard using a standard set of reports.

Q. Create Pixel perfect documents?

Use BI Publisher (using EBS) to produce reports

XML output allows creation of such reports

Q. Improve Data Quality?

1. Expose as much data as possible in the dashboards. Do not hide ‘odd’ data.2. Make sure that all senior management reports come from the OBIEE system.(This will also aid user adoption)

Q. Run a daily Invoice run

1. Use BI Publisher on the latest financial data

Q. Store Reports for Audit Purposes

1. Use Delivers to email a copy of a report or dashboard to a storage account

2. Use Briefing Books to store data3. Save a report in PDF or HTML format and save in a share drive

                                    

Define Delivery Channel to schedule report output to be send via email in a variety of formats

Q: Show Trending information

No No

Integrating Oracle eBS Responsibility Profiles and Oracle BI 11g Application Roles

22/May/2013 by Daan Bakboord 1 Comment

I have been blogging earlier about the integration between Oracle eBS R12 and Oracle BI 11g as well as inheriting the Oracle eBS Security in Oracle BI. Instead of making a Oracle BI Application Role for each Oracle eBS Responsibility you would like to use in Oracle BI, make use of an Oracle eBS Profile Option. You could define an Oracle eBS Profile Option (e.g. XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE – Oracle BI Security Profile) and apply this to an Oracle eBS Responsibility. This makes it easier to maintain the Security Inheritance. When you add a new Responsibility to Oracle eBS, you do not have add this Responsibility to Oracle BI. Just make sure the Oracle eBS Responsibility gets the Oracle eBS Profile Option applied or define the Oracle BI Security Profile on Site Level as a default.

The Oracle BI Security Configuration for Oracle BI basically looks like this;

 

So instead of matching the Oracle eBS Responsibility to a Oracle BI Application Role, match an Oracle eBS Profile Option (assigned to an Oracle eBS Responsibility or on Site Level) to a Oracle BI Application Role.

You have to follow a few steps in Oracle eBS.

Lookup Type

Navigate to Application Developer – Application, Lookups, Common to add a lookup type with the different values for the Oracle BI Security Profile.

You can check the values via the following query:

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select t.lookup_type

 , t.meaning

 , a.application_name

 , t.description

 from applsys.fnd_lookup_types_tl t

 , applsys.fnd_lookup_types b

 , applsys.fnd_application_tl a

 where b.lookup_type = t.lookup_type

 and b.security_group_id = t.security_group_id

 and b.view_application_id = t.view_application_id

 and a.application_id = b.application_id

 and b.lookup_type = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and t.language = '&LANGUAGE'

 and a.language = '&LANGUAGE'

;

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select flv.lookup_code

, flv.meaning

, flv.description

from applsys.fnd_lookup_values flv

where lookup_type = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

and flv.language = '&LANGUAGE'

and trunc(sysdate) >= trunc(flv.start_date_active)

and trunc(sysdate) < nvl(trunc(flv.end_date_active), trunc(sysdate) +1)

;

Oracle BI Security Profile

Navigate to Application Developer – Profile to add a Oracle BI Security Profile

You can check the values via the following query:

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select fpo.profile_option_name

, a.application_name

, fpotl.user_profile_option_name

, fpotl.description

from applsys.fnd_profile_options fpo

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options_tl fpotl

 , applsys.fnd_application_tl a

where fpotl.profile_option_name = fpo.profile_option_name

 and a.application_id = fpo.application_id

 and a.language = fpotl.language

 and fpo.profile_option_name = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and fpotl.language = '&LANGUAGE'

;

Add the following code as SQL Validation

******

SQL=”SELECT MEANING \”BI Security Profile\”, LOOKUP_CODEinto :visible_option_value,:profile_option_valuefrom applsys.fnd_lookup_values flwhere fl.lookup_type = ‘Enter Lookup Type here’and fl.language = ‘Enter Language here’and trunc(sysdate) >= trunc(fl.start_date_active)and trunc(sysdate) <nvl(trunc(fl.end_date_active), trunc(sysdate) + 1)”COLUMN=”\”BI Security Profile\”(10)”

******

Assign Oracle BI Security Profile to Oracle eBS Responsibility

Navigate to System Administrator – Profile, System to assign the Oracle BI Security Profile to the Oracle eBS Responsibility

You can check the values via the following query:

Site Level (Default)

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select fpov.profile_option_value bi_type_gebruiker_site_level

 from apps.fnd_profile_options_vl fpovl

 , applsys.fnd_profile_option_values fpov

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options fpo

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options_tl fpotl

 where fpov.profile_option_id = fpovl.profile_option_id

 and fpo.profile_option_id = fpov.profile_option_id

 and fpotl.profile_option_name = fpo.profile_option_name

 and fpov.level_id = 10001 -- Site

 and fpotl.user_profile_option_name = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and fpotl.language = '&LANGUAGE'

;

Responsibility Level (Specific)

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select fr.responsibility_id

 , fr.responsibility_name

 , fpov.profile_option_value bi_type_gebruiker_resp_level

 from apps.fnd_responsibility_vl fr

 , applsys.fnd_profile_option_values fpov

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options fpo

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options_tl fpotl

 where fpov.level_value = fr.responsibility_id

 and fpo.profile_option_id = fpov.profile_option_id

 and fpotl.profile_option_name = fpo.profile_option_name

 and fpov.level_id = 10003 -- Responsibility

 and fpotl.user_profile_option_name = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and fpotl.language = '&LANGUAGE'

The remainder of the setup in the Oracle Enterprise Manager and the actual match via an Initialization Block is described here. The following query could be used to retrieve the Oracle eBS Profile Option and assign it to the ROLES-session variable

Oracle BI Initialization Block: GetApplicationRoles

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select NVL ( rl.bi_security_profile_resp_level

 , sl.bi_security_profile_site_level ) bi_type_gebruiker

 from ( select fpov.profile_option_id

 , fpotl.language

 , fpov.profile_option_value

 bi_type_gebruiker_resp_level

 from applsys.fnd_responsibility fr

 , applsys.fnd_profile_option_values fpov

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options fpo

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options_tl fpotl

 where fpov.level_value = fr.responsibility_id

 and fpo.profile_option_id = fpov.profile_option_id

 and fpotl.profile_option_name = fpo.profile_option_name

 and fpov.level_id = 10003

 and fpo.profile_option_name = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and fpotl.language = '&LANGUAGE'

 and fr.responsibility_id = fnd_global.resp_id

 and fr.application_id = fnd_global.resp_appl_id

 ) rl

 , ( select fpov.profile_option_id

 , fpotl.language

 , fpov.profile_option_value

 bi_type_gebruiker_site_level

 from applsys.fnd_profile_option_values fpov

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options fpo

 , applsys.fnd_profile_options_tl fpotl

 where fpo.profile_option_id = fpov.profile_option_id

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 and fpotl.profile_option_name = fpo.profile_option_name

 and fpov.level_id = 10001

 and fpo.profile_option_name = '&XXBI_SECURITY_PROFILE'

 and fpotl.language = '&LANGUAGE' ) sl

 where sl.language = rl.language(+)

 and sl.profile_option_id = rl.profile_option_id(+)

Feel free to comment.