The document discusses designing effective Business Objects universes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the target audience and how the universe will be used. Key aspects of universe design include using logical joins, indexing frequently used objects, implementing views and aggregate awareness to improve query efficiency, and testing performance. The goal is to create a user-friendly structure that efficiently retrieves the necessary data.

1. Designing the Universe
Evolution in Report Creationism
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Last Revised: 3/5/2010

2. Designing the Universe
In the Beginning there was
only SQL Code. Programmers
built Custom interfaces and
reports as User Requests were
received.
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3. Designing the Universe
Business Users Waited for
their information…..
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4. Designing the Universe
And Waited …..
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5. Designing the Universe
And Waited …..
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6. Designing the Universe
Until they received their
reports only to find what they
requested was not really what
they wanted….
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7. Designing the Universe
The Reporting world was a
very Dark place….
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8. Designing the Universe
But onto this world a software
was born and it brought light
into this dark place. It would
allow the creation of a user
friendly interface that all users
could use and access their
data. It was called….
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9. Designing the Universe
A UNIVERSE !!!!!
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10. Designing the Universe
Good Programmers Paid
homage to the new software
and began developing
universes…. They ascended
into the good place and
became DESIGNERS…..
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11. Designing the Universe
Bad Programmers feared the
tool for it demonstrated their
lack of ability, they descended
into the dark fiery place and
became…..
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12. Designing the Universe
MANAGERS !!!!!
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13. Designing the Universe
Webster’s Dictionary Definition
the whole body of things and phenomena
observed or postulated
a set that contains all elements relevant to a
particular discussion or problem
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14. Designing the Universe
Here is a Test :
Why do some designers create
universes using the first
definition and not the last??
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15. Designing the Universe
Possible Answers
A. Because they are clueless
B. Because they were forced to
C. Because Universe means
everything Right???
D. All of the Above
E. Due to the lack of knowledge of
the specifics, it would be unwise to
answer at this time… The PC answer
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16. Designing the Universe
A more Refined Definition
Well-built Universes Should…
Provide information for the Targeted
Audience
Be User Friendly
Be Easy on the eyes
Make information easy to find
Build Efficient SQL
Returns Results with minimal delay
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17. Designing the Universe
Who is your Targeted Audience
IT Professionals building canned reports
Powers Users interacting with Canned
reports, making “1-off” reports
Business Users accessing information in
True Ad-hoc fashion
Does it matter ??? yes, Yes, YES!!!
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18. Designing the Universe
Why does it Matter
Class and Object Naming Conventions
Don’t be lazy, Add the Descriptions
Organization of Classes and Objects
Overall Size and Scope of the Universe
How Many Classes
How Many Objects
In the perfect world, 1 universe could fit
the needs of all, but we don’t live in a
perfect world
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19. Designing the Universe
How is the Universe to Used?
Interactive Canned reports
Scheduled Canned reports
OLAP or Data Mining Reports (Drilling)
Ad-Hoc or Sandbox reports
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20. Designing the Universe
Interactive Canned Reports
Look and Feel targeted toward IT staff or
Power Users creating these reports
Creation of effective LOV’s
Better enable users to Select valid parameter
values
Creation of Dynamic Predefined
Conditions
Eases creation of parameters for Canned
Reports
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21. Designing the Universe
Effective LOV’s
Add Something More than just the
Single column
If a Code, Add the Description
Use Hierarchies or Cascading LOV’s
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22. Designing the Universe
Dynamic Predefined Conditions
Conditions with Prompts rather than
hard coded Values
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23. Designing the Universe
Scheduled Canned Reports
Look and Feel targeted toward IT staff or
Power Users creating these reports
Creation of System Date Based Objects
Better enable users to Schedule based on
Time Periods (ie. Today, Yesterday, Last
Year)
Creation of Static Predefined Conditions
Expedites data restriction creation
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24. Designing the Universe
Date Based Objects
Specifically Created for date Based
Conditions
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25. Designing the Universe
Static Predefined Conditions
No Prompts…
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26. Designing the Universe
OLAP Reports
Look and Feel targeted toward IT staff or
Power Users creating these reports
Creation of effective Hierarchies
Default or Custom hierarchies
Effective Natural or Logical Drill paths
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27. Designing the Universe
Effective Hierarchies
Default or Custom
Natural or Logical Paths
1 to Many Relationships
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28. Designing the Universe
Ad-hoc Reports
Look and Feel targeted toward Business
Users creating these reports
Creation of effective and efficient LOV’s
Creation of Predefined Conditions
Creation of System Date Based Objects
Documents could be created for
Interactive or Scheduled
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29. Designing the Universe
Being User Friendly
Classes and Objects Naming
conventions come from Users not IT
Classes and Objects are not
overwhelming in number or depth
Users not looking at 100’s of Classes, 1000’s
of objects (Easy on the eyes)
Users Not having to Click from Subclass to
Subclass to find objects (easy to find)
Classes and Objects in an Order that
allows for effective user interaction
Put things where they want them
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30. Designing the Universe
Building Efficient SQL
What Type of Data Structure are we
using? Is there a best Scenario?
WINNER!
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31. Designing the Universe
Building Efficient SQL
How do we know?
Do we have queries that run long, but return
few rows?
Do we have queries that time out?
Use DB explains or Third Party Tools
(Toad)
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32. Designing the Universe
Building Efficient SQL
Are Tables joined correctly? PK-FK?
Are Objects Used in most Conditions
Indexed?
Can we implement Shortcut Joins to
avoid joining to tables not being used in
result ?
Can we use Materialized Views or
Derived Tables?
Can we implement Aggregate
Awareness?
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33. Designing the Universe
Are tables joined Correctly
Use Keys Functionality In Designer
Keys
underlined in
Tables
Primary Keys
Solid, Foreign
Dashed
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34. Designing the Universe
Are tables joined Correctly
Use DB Explains or Third Party Tools to
View How Database optimizes Queries
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35. Designing the Universe
Are Objects Indexed
Use DB Explains or Third Party Tools to
View How Database optimizes Queries
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36. Designing the Universe
Shortcut Joins
Removes Unnecessary joins
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37. Designing the Universe
Views or Derived Tables
Revise data for Specific report Needs
Materialized at DB Level or Derived in
the Universe
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38. Designing the Universe
Aggregate Awareness
Process That Incorporates Higher
Level Aggregation (Summary Tables)
into Universe
Speeds up Queries That Contain
Statistics Reported at Higher Levels
(i.e. Year)
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39. Designing the Universe
Summary Tables
Store Data at Higher Level Than
Detail (Fact) Tables
Increase Processing Efficiency
Fewer Rows Retrieved
Few If Any Calculations Required
Few or No Joins
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40. Designing the Universe
Apply Aggregate Awareness
 Insert Summary Tables into Universe
 Start with 1 Level above Fact Table
 Only have to Add to Beginning of Select Statement
 Add Joins, Set Cardinality (If Needed)
 Define or Redefine Contexts
 Redefine or Create Objects Using
@Aggregate_Aware
 Define Incompatible/Compatible Objects
Using Aggregate Navigation
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41. Designing the Universe
Adding Summary Tables
Summary Stand Alone Tables
Summary Tables Joined into Universe
Structure
Summary Summary
Tables Table Joined
Standalone to Structure
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42. Designing the Universe
Defining Contexts
What Are Contexts?
Lists of Joins Identifying Paths Through
Universe
Alternative SQL Routes Through Loop
Identifies Tables that can be used in a
Single SQL Query
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43. Designing the Universe
Defining Contexts
Select Joins to Define Context
Edit to Redefine Current Context
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44. Designing the Universe
@Aggregate_Aware
Can Be Used with Aggregates
(Measures) and Dimensions
Selects Information from Most
Aggregated to Least Aggregated
(Summary to Detailed)
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45. Designing the Universe
@Aggregate_Aware
Edit the Object to Redefine
Summary Tables
Added to
Beginning of
Select
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46. Designing the Universe
Aggregate Navigation
Define Incompatibles (ONCE)
Select Objects that are compatible by
UNCHECKING them
Summary Tables
Select Summary Added to
Table Beginning of
Select
Click Button
Once
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47. Designing the Universe
Aggregate Testing
Creating Query and Viewing SQL
Select Objects to
test with
Summary Table
being used in
SQL
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48. Designing the Universe
Other Tips
Reuse SQL Code by using @Select
and @Where functionality
Create Custom Objects for reuse or
for Customized LOV’s
Create Special Classes with Custom
Code Objects and Then Hide the
class from User View
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49. Designing the Universe
Summary
Due your Homework
Be flexible with your designs
Know your Targeted Audience
Keep a Strong relationship with DBA
Prototype and get User Buyoff
Implement Aggregate Awareness
where possible
test, Test and TEST SOME MORE
Lastly…..
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50. Designing the Universe
Summary
Save (and export) your
Universe…… Now Go forth
and create your own
universe….
© 2010 – Creative Technology and Training Solutions, LLC 1 - 50

51. Designing the Universe
Contact Information:
Michael Ward
(586) 677-8300
MichaelWard@cttsbi.com
BusinessObjects™ 3.1 Training Classes:
Desktop Intelligence™ 3.1 Basic Reporting (2 Days)
Desktop Intelligence™ 3.1 Intermediate Reporting (1 Day)
Desktop Intelligence™ 3.1 Advanced Reporting (1 Day)
Desktop Intelligence™ 3.1 Advanced Crosstabs & Functions (1/2 Day)
Desktop Intelligence™ 3.1 Foundations (1 Day)
WebIntelligence™ 3.1 Intro To InfoView (1 Day)
WebIntelligence™ 3.1 Basic Reporting (1 Day)
WebIntelligence™ 3.1 Intermediate Reporting (1 Day)
WebIntelligence™ 3.1 Advanced Reporting (1 Day)
WebIntelligence™ 3.1 Rich Client (1 Day)
BusinessObjects™ 3.1 Designer (2 Days)
BusinessObjects™ 3.1 Scheduler (2 Hours)
BuisnessObjects™ 3.1 Administration (2 Days)
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52. Designing the Universe
Desktop Intelligence WebIntelligence
3.1 Reporting DI 3.1 3.1 Reporting
Foundations
DI 3.1 1 Day
Basic Reporting
2 Days
DI 3.1 BO 3.1 Webi 3.1
Interm Reporting Designer Basic Reporting
1 Day 2 Days 1 Day
BO 3.1 Webi 3.1
DI 3.1
Administration Intermediate
Adv Reporting
Reporting
1 Day 2 Days
1 Day
DI 3.1 Webi 3.1
Adv Crosstabs BO 3.1 Advanced
1/2 Day Rich Client Reporting
1 Day 1 Day
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