UPR PATSI Training

Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

October 2005 Exeter Team: Jason Shaffner

This document provides an outline of a presentation and is incomplete without the accompanying oral commentary and discussion.
Agenda

1 Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

Overview of the tool and its integration with Oracle, including technical set-up

2 Oracle Discoverer: Creating a Workbook

Create a new workbook based on end-user requirements.

3 Oracle Discoverer: Publishing a Workbook

Publish workbooks for functional end users

4 Oracle Discoverer: Preview of Advanced Features

5 Questions & Answers

2
 About Oracle Discoverer
 Simple, powerful tool for creating reports
 Does not require programming experience or knowledge
– But technical knowledge can help...
 Wizard-like user interface
 Quickly build and modify simple to complex reports
 Abstracted (simplified) data model allows quick learning even by functional users

 Seamless integration with Oracle E-Business Suite

 Enforces application security
– OSS data security
– Multi-Org / Operating Unit permissions
 View reports within the standard user interface, without running concurrent
programs or checking the concurrent manager

 Ad hoc reporting
 Access up-to-the minute data from the Oracle tables/views
 Parameters and cross-tabs allow users to request the data they want to see
 Flexibility for users to manipulate display, export data in multiple formats
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 About Oracle Discoverer (cont...)
 When we say “Discoverer” we are referring to...
 Discoverer Administrator
– Client-server application
– Define the abstracted data architecture
– Define permissions to access this data
 Discoverer Desktop
– Client-server application
– Most functionality is now available in Discoverer Plus
 Discoverer Plus
– Jinitiator thin client application
– Create new workbooks, edit existing workbooks, advanced functionality
 Discoverer Viewer
– OAF / HTML user interface
– Access workbooks user has permission to
– Change parameters, export data, drill-down into data

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 Defining the Data Architecture
 Discoverer is based on a simplified data model known as the End
User Layer (EUL)
 Business Groups
– Establish permissions for users to report on a subset of tables
 Friendly table names (“Folders”)
– Example: Student Applications instead of IGS_AD_STU_APPL_INST
 Friendly column names (“Items”)
– Example: SSN instead of GovernmentID
 Pre-defined relationships between tables (“joins”)
– User cannot create a report between tables that cannot logically be linked

 Exeter and UPR will work together to defined this data model
 Build custom views where pre-defined Oracle views are not provided
 Provide friendly names that are relevant and unambiguous
 Jim, Jason, and Mark are working on a strategy for developing the OSS Business
Area(s) – Any volunteers to help out here???
 In purchasing Financials Intelligence, Procurement Intelligence, and Human
Resources Intelligence, there are already friendly views for these families

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 Discoverer vs. Other Reporting Tools
 Discoverer is one of several reporting tools to be used in PATSI
which will be used together to meet all UPR reporting requirements
 SQL*Plus
– Simple reports, easily written in PL/SQL
– Formatting is a low priority
– Unofficial or offical reports (output to Text)
 Oracle Reports
– Complex reports with sophisticated PL/SQL
– Precise placement of elements is important
– Best for official reports (output to PDF)
 Discoverer
– Mid-level complexity
– Friendly user interface, but not appropriate for official or statutory reports or documents
to be sent to third parties
– User interface requires limited expertise, excellent tool for executive reporting
– Integrated charts and graphs
– Drill-down capabilities
– No technical expertise required to develop or modify a report

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Agenda

1 Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

Overview of the tool and its integration with Oracle, including technical set-up

2 Oracle Discoverer: Creating a Workbook

Create a new workbook based on end-user requirements.

3 Oracle Discoverer: Publishing a Workbook

Publish workbooks for functional end users

4 Oracle Discoverer: Preview of Advanced Features

5 Questions & Answers

8
 Creating a workbooks: Before you start
 Confirm the requirements for the reports
 What data appears in the report?
– Column names, tables, required totals/counts, etc.
– Include information on formatting (fonts, sizes, colors)
 In what format should the report appear?
– Table / Cross-Tab
– Graphs and/or Charts
 What is the selection logic?
– Mandatory conditions: user cannot override
– Parameters: conditions the user establishes at runtime
– Cross-Tab Page Items: filter items appearing at the top of a cross-tab report; allows a
single report to show various data to the user (more later)
 Which users should be able to access this report?
– User / responsibility permissions

 Confirm requirements against data architecture and permissions

 Developer must have permission to the appropriate business group containging
the requested data
 Requested data must be defined in the EUL as Folders/Items (Views/Columns)
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Discoverer Walkthrough – Create a New Workbook

Launch Discoverer Plus

(can also use Desktop)
Choose to create a new workbook
Open an existing workbook will show
all workbooks shared with the user or
any of his responsibilities

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Select Report Items

 Choose Business Area

(only those assigned to
the role are available)

 Browse the Folders in the

Business Area
 Expand Folders to view
the items
 Items have built-in
aggregation functions
(COUNT, SUM, AVG)
 Drag-and-Drop items into
the Selected area
 System will not allow you
to place items if no join
can be made

 Configure data for the reports

 When complete, click Next. You can return to edit these values at any time.

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Determine Layout Type

 Multiple layout options

 Cross-tab is a multi-demensional report, can have compound axes
 Table is a simple report of the data—columns are merely labels, are not
determined by the actual data, no compound axes
 Page Items
– Key data can be used to filter the data in the table
– Pull-down list of the available values for the Page Item field
 Layouts can be manipulated after they are created
 Discoverer makes it easy to create copies of worksheet to test a given report in
multiple formats

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Item / Header Formatting

 Apply formatting to
headers, including fonts,
font sizes, bold-facing,
colors

 Format data including

data types, date format,
decimal places

 Edit Heading Values:

 Example: Change label
for “Person Number
COUNT” to “Num
Solicitudes”

 Complete formatting for the data and headers

 When complete, click Next. You can return to edit these values at any time.

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Conditions

 Create unlimited
conditions for the report

 All items in all folders

used in your report are
available for conditions,
not ONLY the ones
displayed in the report

 Advanced conditions
allows for Boolean
operators (AND, OR)

 Configure all required conditions for the report

 When complete, click Next. You can return to edit these values at any time.
 NOTE: An end-user viewing this report from Discoverer Viewer will not be able to modify the conditions or see what
they are. This should be considered in the naming convention and any end-user documentation

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Parameters

 Selected Item this

parameter maps to

 Provide user-friendly
prompt for the
Parameter

 Select a default value

 Configure required parameters for the report

 Sometimes a parameter may be best included as a Page Item – consider the various possibilities carefully during
design to simplify user reporting
 Parameters can be limited to specific lists of values (LOVs) through advanced Discoverer functionality

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Preview Report

 Preview the report in Discoverer Plus

 Toolbar options allow designer to quickly manipulate the report before publishing.

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Agenda

1 Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

Overview of the tool and its integration with Oracle, including technical set-up

2 Oracle Discoverer: Creating a Workbook

Create a new workbook based on end-user requirements.

3 Oracle Discoverer: Publishing a Workbook

Publish workbooks for functional end users

4 Oracle Discoverer: Preview of Advanced Features

5 Questions & Answers

17
 Discoverer Walkthrough – Sharing the Workbook

 Two ways to share

workbooks with users
 Assign to responsibilities
 Assign to users
 Both are shown in the list of
Available “users”

 To view the report, user

must have link to launch
Discoverer Viewer

 Workbooks can be
integrated as menu
items if necessary

 Navigation: File > Manage Workbooks > Sharing

 Data security (IGS) and operating unit security (Multi-Org) must be modified
through the normal channels

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Access the Workbook (Option 1)

 Can register the report

directly into the menu for
responsibilities

 Quick, direct access

from the menu

 Menu Integration
 Discoverer workbooks can be defined as functions that are subsequently integrated
into E-Business Suite menus

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 Discoverer Walkthrough – Access the Workbook (Option 2)

 All permitted workbooks

are shown in one simple
display

 Filter capability for users

with access to many
workbooks

 Discoverer Viewer
 Most functional users will use Discoverer Viewer to view their assigned Discoverer workbooks; this interface is
similar to the self-service interface used for faculty, students, requisitioners, and some administrative functions

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Discoverer Walkthrough – Execute Query (Part 1)

 A given workbook may

contain multiple tabs
which may be varied
views of the same data
or entirely different
reports grouped together

 User initiates the query

to execute in real-time
against the database.
(Exception: Scheduled
workbooks which run
automatically and are
not requeried at runtime)

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Discoverer Walkthrough – Execute Query (Part 2)

 Estimated query time is

displayed for the
selected workbook

 Slow-performing
workbooks will often be
scheduled to run behind
the scenes

 Query time governors

can be set at multiple
levels to prevent long-
running queries

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Discoverer Walkthrough – View Report (Part 1)
 Rerun Query
 Refresh Data in the report
 Crosstab Layout
 Change which columns
appear on which axix in a
cross-tab report
 Presentation Options
 User options for display of
the report
 Printer Friendly Version
 Simplified HTML view of just
the report output
 Export Data
 Export report data to various
formats (Excel, delimited,
text, etc.)

 Current workbook /
worksheet is shown to
remind user which
worksheet he is viewing

 Quickly switch between

worksheets in a single
workbook without
requerying

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Discoverer Walkthrough – View Report (Part 2)

 Page Items allow the user to

choose a filter for the data in
the report

 A single report can have

multiple Page Item filters

 Choose any combination to

refresh results without
requerying
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Discoverer Walkthrough – View Report (Part 3)

 Compare to previous
slides

 Cross-tab display allows

for dynamic generation
of both rows and
columns

 Recommend long lists of

values as Page Item or
Parameter

 Subtotals, totals, and

other calculations can
be integrated directly
into the Discoverer
workbook and specially
formatted

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Agenda

1 Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

Overview of the tool and its integration with Oracle, including technical set-up

2 Oracle Discoverer: Creating a Workbook

Create a new workbook based on end-user requirements.

3 Oracle Discoverer: Publishing a Workbook

Publish workbooks for functional end users

4 Oracle Discoverer: Preview of Advanced Features

5 Questions & Answers

26
 Discoverer Advanced Features

 Discoverer can be used for a wide range of reports

 Simple lists can be created and published in minutes
 Complex reports will use more advanced features of Discoverer

 Advanced Functionality
 Graph / Chart features
– Create graphs of various types against the data returned by the query
– Example: bar charts, pie charts, bubble diagrams
– Especially useful for executive / management reports
 Parameter LOVs
– Define lists of values for parameters to better control user input
 Calculations
– Define complex calculations for the data in the report without having to write SQL
– Syntax similar to Excel / VBA
– All Oracle 9i functions are exposed
– Examples can be found in the user guide
 Drill-down capability
– Start with high-level view, drill-down into details

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Advanced Discoverer Preview – Create Graph (Part 1)

 Very similar graph

wizard to the one found
in Microsoft Excel

 Choose various graph

types and subtypes
 Horizontal Bar
 Vertical Bar
 Line
 Pie

 Wizard walks through

steps of defining data
and axis labels, legends,
titles, etc.

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Advanced Discoverer Preview – Create Graph (Part 2)

 Preview report in Discoverer Plus

 Displayed beside the data or in separate window
 Modify properties until graph comes out right

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 Advanced Discoverer Preview – Create Graph (Part 3)

 Published Graph
 Graphs are published with the worksheets they are created against
 Graph refreshes with changes to Page Items, Parameters, etc.

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Agenda

1 Introduction to Oracle Discoverer

Overview of the tool and its integration with Oracle, including technical set-up

2 Oracle Discoverer: Creating a Workbook

Create a new workbook based on end-user requirements.

3 Oracle Discoverer: Publishing a Workbook

Publish workbooks for functional end users

4 Oracle Discoverer: Preview of Advanced Features

5 Questions & Answers

31
 More Information

 Discoverer User (creating workbooks)

 Oracle User Guide is more reader friendly than most
– Realistic examples for all functions
– Screenshots of sample reports and Orace Discoverer
 Oracle 9iAS Discoverer Plus User’s Guide
– Available from project website
– http://otn.oracle.com/downloads/discoverer

 Discoverer Administration
 Oracle Discoverer Administration Edition Administration Guide
 http://otn.oracle.com/downloads/discoverer

 NOTE: The Administration tasks will be limited to a very select group of users
(probably the DBAs), but as the system is implemented, each module will work to
determine the EUL / Business Group / Folder / Item requirements. Therefore, the
appropriate users should understand the underlying concepts rather than the
actual step-by-step procedure for configuring Discoverer.

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Questions & Answers

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