The document outlines an IBM Cognos 8 OLAP modeling webinar led by Albert Valdez from Senturus, covering best practices, techniques for creating models, and enhancing data analysis through multidimensional modeling. It discusses the value of OLAP for transforming corporate data into actionable insights, offering training options and emphasizing upcoming sessions. Additionally, it highlights the enhancements in Cognos 10, such as improved integration and query performance.

1. IBM Cognos 8
OLAP Modeling with Transformer
November 9, 2010
Albert Valdez, III
Director of Education Services, Senturus, Inc.
Helping Companies Learn From the Past,
Manage the Present and Shape the Future

2. This slide deck is part of a recorded webinar.
To view the FREE recording of this entire
presentation and download the slide deck, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this—and many other recorded webinars-- under the ―IBM Cognos
Business Intelligence”

3. Today’s Agenda
• Welcome and Introduction
• Cognos 8 Transformer OLAP Modeling Demonstrations
– Best practices for using Cognos 8 Transformer to create OLAP
(multidimensional) models and generate PowerCubes
– How to synchronize data sources with the model when source data changes
– Customize the model using Sub-Dimensions and Special Categories
– Create custom relative time categories
– Identify and resolve conflicts between data sources and discuss a unique move
– Set measure properties and compare rollup options, including time-state rollups
– Apply basic security and see how Cube Groups can facilitate simple data
security
– Upcoming live hands-on training sessions
• OLAP Enhancements in Cognos 10
• Overview of Cognos Training Options
• Q&A and Wrap-up

4. Today’s Format
• Demonstration will begin shortly
• Please submit questions via the GoToWebinar
Question pane in the GoToWebinar control panel
• We will address questions LIVE at the conclusion of
the presentation, so if you do not get an immediate
response, please HOLD ON!
• We will try to answer EVERY question via email if we
do not get a chance to respond while you are
attending the Webinar

5. Welcome and Introduction
• Who am I?
– Albert Valdez, Director of Education Services at Senturus
– 10 years as a Technical Trainer, focused on Business Intelligence and
Performance Management
– 5 years as a Senior Education Specialist at Cognos, Inc.
– Lifetime CTT+ Certification from CompTIA
– IBM Cognos Certified
– Last 5+ Years as a Senior Consultant, Solutions Architect, Education
Director
• Who is Senturus?
– Currently IBM Premier Solutions Partner
– Cognos Platinum Partner 2002-2008
– Full Service Solutions provider:
• Data Warehouse
• Program Management
• Performance Management
• Platform-Independent

6. The Value of OLAP
• Multidimensional analysis helps organizations extract
maximum value from their corporate data
• It transforms volumes of data into information about the
business, allowing users to analyze information in a
business context —comparisons of things such as:
– product or channel performance, in light of other important factors like
regions, customers, and time
– With a multidimensional view, users can quickly gain insight into
business performance and trends

7. The Value of OLAP
• Multidimensional analysis helps companies improve
their performance by:
– Providing visibility into large volumes of corporate data
– Presenting complex data in a business way so it is easy to understand
– Helping people stay on top of changing business conditions—market
shifts, mergers and acquisitions—and providing trending analysis
– Reducing the burden on IT by providing self-service access to
corporate information
– Delivering a scalable, efficient technology that is quickly refreshed with
current data

8. The Value of OLAP
• The delivery of information within a dimensional framework
that users understand means they can conduct their own
analysis quickly and easily
• Organizations can also extend the analysis reach and share
findings company-wide with effective reporting that helps
them know sooner, understand faster, and react more quickly
than the competition
• PowerCubes provide users with a data source that is
optimized for ad-hoc analysis (slice and dice), providing
answers quickly (< 1 second, ideally), even when analyzing
hundreds of millions of rows of transactional details

9. Reference BI Architecture
Cognos Connection
Presentation Layer
Report Analysis Query Metric Event
Studio Studio Studio Studio Studio
Cognos Cognos MS
OLAP Cubes (optional) Hyperion
PowerPlay TM1 SSAS
Essbase
Metadata Layer Cognos Framework Manager
Data Warehouse Microsoft
SQL Server Oracle MySQL IBM DB2
or Data Mart
ETL Layer (optional) Cognos Data Manager (or 3rd party tools)
Source Data ERP External Excel In-House
Systems Sources Spreadsheets Systems

10. Best practices for using Cognos 8 Transformer to
create OLAP (multidimensional) models and
generate PowerCubes
• Optimize your data sources
– Use Cognos 8 Packages, or
– Create custom reports with Query or Report Studio to define
necessary filters and calculations
– Use flat files to minimize cube build times
• Use multiple data source to separate transactional from dimensional data
• Customize your dimensional model
– Leverage Transformer’s robust modeling capabilities
– Use Alternate Drill-Paths, Sub-Dimensions, Manual Levels, and
Special Categories to more closely address user requirements
• Create custom PowerCubes
– A single Transformer Model can support many diverse user groups
using Dimension Views, Custom Power Cubes, and Cube Groups

11. Cognos 8 OLAP Modeling with Transformer
Demonstration
Demo 1 – Cognos 8 OLAP Modeling Best Practices and how to
synchronize the Transformer Model when data sources change.
Purpose: View a demonstration of how OLAP modelers can make simple
modifications to the Transformer model to adapt to structural changes in source
data.
To view a free recoding of this demo, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this recording under the IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
section. It is entitled as Best Practices in OLAP Modeling with Cognos
Transformer.

12. Cognos 8 OLAP Modeling with Transformer
Demonstration
Demo 2 – Customize the Transformer model using a Sub-
Dimension, and custom relative time categories.
Purpose: Some of Transformer’s greatest strengths are in its support of
dimensional customization, especially in the Time Dimension.
To view a free recoding of this demo, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this recording under the IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
section. It is entitled as Best Practices in OLAP Modeling with Cognos
Transformer.

13. Cognos 8 OLAP Modeling with Transformer
Demonstration
Demo 3 – Resolve conflicts when using multiple data sources in a
Transformer model.
Purpose: It is a best practice to leverage multiple data sources in Transformer
models. When doing so, we need to provide the model sufficient information to
resolve potential conflicts between our source data and our model. Understand
uniqueness and the impact of unique moves.
To view a free recoding of this demo, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this recording under the IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
section. It is entitled as Best Practices in OLAP Modeling with Cognos
Transformer.

14. Cognos 8 OLAP Modeling with Transformer
Demonstration
Demo 4 – Set measure properties and compare rollup options.
Apply basic cube security and see how to use Cube Groups and
compare to custom user class views.
Purpose: Review basic measure rollup settings, time-state rollups, and basic
cube security as well as Cube Groups.
To view a free recoding of this demo, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this recording under the IBM Cognos Business Intelligence
section. It is entitled as Best Practices in OLAP Modeling with Cognos
Transformer.

15. Cognos Training Options
• IBM Public Classroom Training
• Training from a Certified Partner, On-site or Public
• Custom On-site Training
• Small group Mentoring/Knowledge Transfer
• Remote/On-line Training
• Computer Based Training
• Upcoming Senturus Public Training Events…

16. OLAP Enhancements in Cognos 10
• Tighter integration with additional OLAP Sources,
such as TM1, allowing for collaborative planning and
forecasting
• Broader adoption of 64-bit in-memory OLAP, such
TM1 and IBM Real-Time Monitoring
• Much improved query performance against OLAP
sources:
– 80% improvement on TM1
– 20% improvement on PowerCubes
– 55% improvement on SAP BW
– 70% improvement on Oracle Essbase

17. Cognos Training Options
• Upcoming Senturus Public Training Events, Hosted
by Yours Truly:
– Tuesday-Wednesday, December 7-8 on-line:
• OLAP Modeling with Cognos 8 Transformer
– Friday, January 7, 2011, on-line:
• Dimensional Authoring with Cognos 8 Report Studio
– TBD, January, 2011, on-line:
• Advanced Report Authoring with Cognos 8 Report Studio
– Registration information will be sent along with the
Webinar Follow-up, or visit
http://www.senturus.com/events.php

18. About Senturus Training
• What does Senturus Training offer?
• Why not just go to the IBM/Cognos public classes?
– On-site is more cost-effective when there are more than 4
people to train
– Courses are delivered at your location, on your schedule
– Attendance is limited to your group, minimizing distractions,
and allowing our instructors to focus on your group’s
pertinent concerns
– Course content and format can be structured specifically to
your audience
• As an IBM Partner, we can offer discounts on IBM
Public training starting at 10%
• We are your Training Partner!

19. What does Senturus Training offer:
• Standard On-site Classroom delivery
– Based on Great Outdoors sample data
– Can be delivered anywhere, anytime
– Compressed format (fewer days)
– $2,950 per day list price (up to 12 students) *Price goes up Jan. 1*
• Customized On-site Classroom delivery
– Based on client’s data
– Requires longer lead times so we can prepare materials
– Higher impact, more relevant, closes learning gap much faster
– $2,950 per day of delivery and course prep *Price goes up Jan. 1*
• Small Group Mentoring
– We work on your data, in your environment
– Our experts facilitate the learning process while resolving actual
issues and working toward a concrete deliverable
– Small group size allows for personalized knowledge transfer at the
appropriate pace
– Rates start at $225 per hour

20. Want more???
• Senturus is offering a unique opportunity to attend
complete, live, hands-on training sessions remotely
• Formal classroom setting with virtual workstations for
each student
• Remote attendance available – attend from anywhere, all
you need is an Internet-connected PC (dual displays and
PC headset recommended)
• Valuable hard-copy course handouts with step by step
instructions
• $595 per day, per student

21. This slide deck is part of a recorded webinar.
To view the FREE recording of this entire
presentation and download the slide deck, go to
www.senturus.com/recorded-webinars.php
You will find this—and many other recorded webinars-- under the ―IBM Cognos
Business Intelligence”

22. Contact Senturus
Senturus, Inc
www.senturus.com
sales@senturus.com
888-601-6010