Direct Links to various OBIEE User and Administration Presentation functions

These are some direct links to various OBIEE User and Administration functions.  These can be useful to know for efficiency and at times can also be useful for debugging security.

To go directly to “Home Page”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?bieehome

To go directly to “Dashboard”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?Dashboard

To go directly to “Manage Privileges”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?PrivilegeAdmin

To go directly to “Manage Catalog Groups”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?ManageGroups

To go directly to “Manage Sessions”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?Sessions

To go directly to “Manage Agent Sessions”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?ManageIBotSessions

To go directly to “Issue SQL”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?IssueRawSQL&Done=%2fanalytics%2fsaw.dll%3fAdmin

To go directly to “Manage Map Data”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?ManageMapData

To go directly to “Manage BI Publisher”
http://servername:9704/analytics/saw.dll?bipublisherEntry&Done=%2fanalytics%2fsaw.dll%3fAdmin&Action=admin

Components of Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (OBIA)

The Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (OBIA) is made up of a number of components that are brought together to create a great prebuilt BI solution.  The components can be categorized into 4 major components.

1. Prebuilt reports and dashboard content + Embedded dashboard/report building tool
This prebuilt content is contained in the Oracle BI Presentation Services Catalog, and some of the content is built on the Oracle BI Repository metadata.
The tools include Dashboard Editor and Answers.

2. Prebuilt metadata content (Oracle BI Server Repository) + Administration Tool       
This metadata content is contained in the Oracle Business Intelligence Applications repository file (EnterpriseBusinessAnalytics.rpd).
This content is built and administered using the BI Administration Tool, and is built from the metadata in the OBAW.

3. Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse
The prebuilt data warehouse that holds data extracted, transformed, and loaded from the transactional sources.  The OBAW contains best-practice star-schemas and conforming dimensions.

4. Prebuilt ETL processes and tools
Prebuilt Informatica content + Embedded Informatica ETL Tool + Prebuilt DAC metadata repository files + Embedded DAC Tool
Informatica is a third-party application that performs the extract, transform, and load operations for the Data Warehouse.  The Informatica content includes Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) repository objects, such as mappings, sessions, and workflows, and is contained in the Informatica repository file (Oracle_BI_DW_Base.rep).
The DAC is a tool that is used for setup, configuration, administration, and monitoring of data warehouse processes.  The DAC content includes repository objects such as tables, subject areas, execution plans, and tasks, and is contained in XML files.
These tools and processes together extract data from sources, such as Oracle EBS or PeopleSoft, and load the data into the OBAW.

Informatica Transformations Frequently used in OBIA

These are some of the Informatica transformations that are frequently used in Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (OBIA).  The OBIA SDE and SIL mappings used to load the Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse (OBAW) are built using these and other transformations.

1. Source Qualifier
The Source Qualifier transformation is used to bring data from one or more tables from the same source into the mapping.  If being used for more than one table, then a join condition needs to be defined between the tables.  The typical naming convention for a Source Qualifier transformation is SQ_* or sq_*.

2. Joiner
The Joiner transformation is used to join tables in different data sources.  The typical naming convention for a Joiner transformation is JNR_* or jnr_*.

3. Expression
The Expression transformation is used to perform simple row-based calculations or derivations.  The typical naming convention for an Expression transformation is EXP_* or exp_*.

4. Filter
The Filter transformation is similar to a where clause in SQL – it adds a conditional filter to the data passing through the mapping.  The typical naming convention for a Filter transformation is FIL_* or fil_*.

5. Aggregator
The Aggregator transformation is used to perform aggregate calculations on the data passing through the mapping, for example, performing a sum or max.  The typical naming convention for an Aggregator transformation is AGG_* or agg_*.

6. Lookup
The Lookup transformation is used to lookup values based on another known/submitted value, and pass the looked up value into the mapping.  There are 2 types of Lookups – connected and unconnected.  The typical naming convention for a Lookup transformation is LKP_* or lkp_*.

7. Update Strategy
The Update Strategy transformation is used to determine and perform the appropriate course of action for data in the mapping.  Based on the determined state of the data, the transformation is used to insert, update, delete or reject records.  The typical naming convention for an Update Strategy transformation is UPD_* or upd_*.

Informatica Command-line Programs

Informatica Command-line Programs

Frequently used Informatica Programs are:

• pmcmd – used to manage workflows, such as starting, stopping and scheduling
• pmrep – used to perform PowerCenter Repository administration tasks, such as update repository information and perform repository functions
• infacmd – used to administer Informatica application services
• infasetup – used to administer Informatica domain and nodes
• pmpasswd – used to encrypt passwords for use in parameter files or environment variables

Command-line and Interactive Execution
All 5 programs (pmcmd, pmrep, infacmd, infasetup, and pmpasswd) can be executed in Command-line mode.
Three of them (pmcmd, pmrep and infacmd) can be executed in Interactive mode.
Program Locations
All programs except infasetup are located in [InformaticaInstallDirectory]/server/bin.  infasetup is located in [InformaticaInstallDirectory]/server.
Summary
Below is a table that summarizes the features/usage of each of these programs into one location: