New features in version 10.2.0 FM Model

On November 21, 2014, IBM Cognos 10.2.2 was released. It contains all the fixes from the fix packs since 2012 as well as some interesting enhancements. The new features align along four themes:

1. Data Visualization
2. Mobility
3. OLAP
4. Self-Service

Data Visualization

• Six new RAVE visualizations: 5 charts (Polar Area, Chord, Tornado, Combination, Marimekko) plus Dynamic Map.
• More control over the visualizations through an expanded properties list in Report Studio.
• Visualizations can be converted from one type to another in Report Studio.

Mobility

Active Reports are a key component to providing a Cognos mobile solution so a couple of key enhancements have been delivered in this area:

• In Report Studio, there is now a preview mode for Active Reports to enhance developer productivity. The report rendering can be emulated on different screen sizes.
• Active Reports can be delivered in HTML format, easing distribution and making Active Reports available across almost all mobile platforms.

OLAP – Dynamic Cubes 

Several new features make Dynamic Cubes a compelling migration path for PowerPlay cubes.

• Metadata can be imported from Framework Manager models.
• Custom relative time categories can be created.
• A hardware sizing utility is included to ensure that the server has enough resources to support the dynamic cubes.
• In memory aggregates can be defined manually. There is also an option for autonomic optimization so that the cubes become somewhat self-optimizing.
• Near real time update of data: new fact data is loaded into the cube from the source automatically and without restarting the cube.

Self-Service

• Two new filter enhancements in the Cognos Workspace: a master filter, to fitler related widgets, and a custom filter button.
• Report styles can be administered centrally, making it easier to maintain a consistent ‘look and feel’ across reports, even with user created reports.
• Workspace Advanced and Report Studio can be customized using user profiles, to restrict or to expand functionality for specific groups of users. This lets the user experience be tailored to the skill sets and specific self-service needs of different users.
• My Data Sets – this is an improved external data set feature. A greater volume of data can uploaded, the data is persistent and it can be shared with other users. Unfortunately, it only works with DB2.

Other notable new features:

• Tabbed html reports can be created in Report Studio.
• For Excel 2007 output, the Excel tabs can be dynamically named.
• A theme designer tool (also supported for 10.2.1 and 10.2.1.1) for customizing the Cognos user interface.
• A handful of Framework Manager enhancements:
  • bridge query subjects to deal with many to many relationships
  • filter join optimization
  • parameter map refresh
  • summary query subjects
• For multi tenancy environments, delegated tenant administration and sharing content across tenants.
• Report export restrictions

Conformance updates and deprecations

As usual, the supported software environments have been updated and some items have been deprecated.

Interesting to note here:

• This is the last version of Analysis Studio and Query Studio
• Tomcat has been replaced with Websphere Liberty Profile
• Apache Derby is no longer supported as the content store database
• The quick setup uses DB2 10.5 Advanced Workgroup Server Edition for the content store

New features in 10.2

Listed below are new features since the last release.

New vendor-specific functions

Functions that are specific to Vectorwise now display in the expression editor in the Vendor Specific Functions folder.
Two new properties, Transaction Access Mode and Transaction Statement Mode, are available to specify whether a data source is accessed in read-only or read/write mode for a query subject that is based on a stored procedure. This was already possible when using Event Studio, now also in all other studios.

Changed features in 10.2

Listed below are changes to features since the last release. Links to directly-related topics are included.

Changing the language of the product user interface

For Framework Manager, you can specify the language of the product user interface.

By default, the Framework Manager product locale is set to the system locale. You can override this by manually adding a preference entry to the bmt.ini file. For example,

>Section name = BMTUI

>Preference Name="ForceProductLocale">en-ca

Replace the "en-ca" string with any valid product locale code. The product locale specifies which language, regional settings, or both are used for parts of the product interface, such as menu commands.

Specifying query mode for a project

When you create a new project in IBM® Cognos® Framework Manager, the new project now uses dynamic query mode by default.

• Context sensitive join selection: Controls the computation of join paths for a query in a star schema grouping that does not contain a fact. 
• Local cache policy: Controls the level of queries for which reusable cursors are created.
• Cursor mode: Controls how long the resources required by a query are retained before they are released.
• Master-detail optimization: Controls whether detail query caching occurs for a relational master-detail query.

Durable models supported for DMR data sources

Durable model processes are now supported for dimensional modeling of relational data sources (DMR).

New features in 10.1.1

Listed below are new features since the last release.

Validating model objects

In this release, you have increased flexibility regarding validation of model objects. A new Validate button has been added for items such as query items, relationships, and dimensions. This can assist your modeling effort as you can validate in place when you create or modify an individual definition. The Validate button and the Validate Objectcommand on the Tools menu perform the same function.

In the previous release, the Validate Automatically option of the Tools menu was set for automatic validation. In this release, the default setting is no automatic validation.

If Validate Automatically option is enabled, the OK button rechecks validation and saves the object in one action.

New vendor-specific functions

Functions that are specific to Aster Data now display in the expression editor in the Vendor Specific Functions folder.

Changed features in 10.1.1

Listed below are changes to features since the last release. Links to directly-related topics are included.

Specifying query mode for a project

When you create a new project in IBM® Cognos® Framework Manager, you can now specify which Query Mode the project will use. On the New Project dialog, there is a check box that allows you to specify dynamic query mode. By default, a new project uses compatible query mode.

You can also change from one mode to another within the project. On the Properties pane for the project, you can modify the Query Mode property.

For more information, see the IBM CognosDynamic Query Guide.

Controlling dynamic query mode using governors

IBM Cognos Framework Manager provides a new set of governors to control certain dynamic query mode functionality.

For more information, see the IBM CognosDynamic Query Guide.

Importing relational metadata to Framework Manager

The Import relational metadata capability in IBM Cognos Administration specifies that a group has the ability to import relational metadata into an IBM Cognos Framework Manager project using dynamic query mode.

By default, the System Administrator, Directory Administrator and Report Administrators groups belong to theImport relational metadata capability.

To perform relational imports to a dynamic query mode project, other groups must to be manually added to the capability. For example, if you create an IBM Cognos Framework Manager Users group and add your IBM Cognos Framework Manager users to that group, you also need to add the group to the Import relational metadatacapability. The users must have traverse and execute permissions.

Renaming of menu items

Two menu items have been renamed; their functionality remains the same. The Auto Evaluate command on theProject menu is now called Validate Automatically. The Evaluate Object on the Tools menu is now calledValidate Object.

New features in 10.1.0

Listed below are new features since the last release. Links to directly-related topics are included.

Model Design Accelerator

The Model Design Accelerator is a graphical utility designed to guide both novice and experienced modelers through a simplified modeling process. Novice modelers will have the capability of easily building powerful models without extensive experience and training. Experienced modelers can accelerate the modeling process so that the overall time to build a model is reduced. For more information, see Model Design Accelerator

Durable models

When you create an IBM Cognos Framework Manager model using the durable model capability, you can rename the query items in your model without breaking references to the changed names in existing reports. For more information, see Durable models.

Dynamic query mode

In IBM Cognos Framework Manager, you can specify that a package based on a supported data source can use the new dynamic query mode, which is an enhanced Java-based query execution mode. This mode offers improved query performance and functionality, security-aware caching, and native data interfaces to leverage 64-bit technology. For more information about supported data sources, see the IBM Cognos Dynamic Query Guide.

Use dynamic query mode by setting the Use Dynamic Query Mode switch on the Options page of the Publish Wizard. For more information, see Publishing packages.

More Information about Dynamic Query Mode

For more information about dynamic query mode, see the documents listed in the following table.

Table 1. Where to find information about dynamic query mode

What are you looking for?	Where to find the information
An overview of the dynamic query mode, its benefits, and considerations when using it.	IBM Cognos Business Intelligence Dynamic Query Guide
Detailed information about techniques and product behaviors of the dynamic query mode.	IBM Cognos 10 Dynamic Query Cookbook in the Proven Practices section of the IBM Cognos Customer Center(http://www.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/customercenter/).
Information about enabling connectivity for data sources supported by the dynamic query mode.	IBM Cognos Business Intelligence Installation and Configuration Guide
Information about query service administration, including caching and query service properties.	IBM Cognos Business Intelligence Administration and Security Guide
Information about publishing packages for the dynamic query mode.	IBM Cognos Framework Manager User Guide
Information about testing reports in the dynamic query mode prior to upgrade.	IBM Cognos Lifecycle Manager User Guide
Information about using the IBM Cognos Software Development Kit to administer query service properties and develop client applications to use dynamic query mode.	IBM Cognos Software Development Kit Developer Guide

Creating packages for SAP BW data sources

You can create packages for SAP BW cubes and queries directly in IBM Cognos Connection. This does not change the Framework Manager functionality for creating and publishing SAP BW packages. Regardless of where the packages are created, they are identical and can be used in the same way by the IBM Cognos studios.

For more information, see the section about packages in the Administration and Security Guide.

Using SAP BW time-dependent hierarchies

Time-dependant hierarchies now automatically reflect hierarchy or structure changes. When a structure is imported into Framework Manager, each SAP BW time hierarchy is depicted as an individual level. Report Studio users can use these structures to report on and compare levels that are valid for a specific time period.

Function description improvements

The functions that you can use to create calculations now include improved descriptions and more examples. The descriptions and examples display in the Framework Manager user interface and in this user guide.

New vendor-specific functions

Functions that are specific to Postgres, Vertica, Netezza®, Paraccel, MySQL, and Greenplum now display in the expression editor in the Vendor Specific Functions folder.

Removed features in 10.1.0

The functionality listed below has been removed from version 10.1.

Repository control

Native support for CVS and Microsoft Visual SourceSafe repositories was removed from this release. If you use this feature, and still require project versioning functionality, read the section External repository control. This section explains how to maintain project versioning outside the modeling application, and is applicable for use with all version control systems.

Conformed dimensions on SAP BW data sources

Support for conformed dimensions generated by IBM Cognos Framework Manager for SAP BW data sources has been removed from this release.