Obiee interview questions and answers for experienced

1. What is OBIee ?

ANS: OBIee is a business intelligence tool allowing to procuce reportings, mainly through a web
interface.
It is a tool owned by Oracle that have been purchased in 2005 to Siebel (Siebel previously
bought the tool to NQuire, which explains NQ prefixes for configuration files) becoming
Oracle Business Intelligence 10g. 11g version has been released in 2010.

2. Architecture : what are the main components of Oracle Business Intelligence ?

ANS: OBIee (from the 11g version) runs on a J2EE application server named
Weblogic,controllable by 2 interfaces : Enterprise Manager and Weblogic Console.
There are 2 main services :

Presentation services (corresponding to Answers and Dashboards modules to create and consult
reports and dashboards)
Oracle BI Server (corresponding to the repository rpd containing sources mappings and business
rules)

The BI Publisher module, independent in previous versions, is now fully integrated in OBIee.
It corresponds to the features Published reportings, under New -> Analysis menu.

3. What kind of sources can be connected to OBIee ?

ANS: OBIee can be plugged on Relational Databases, Cubes or Flat files, with the following
constraints :

The sources must be modeled as star schemas or snowflakes schemas in order to have an
efficient and safe behavior.
In case of multiple sources directly in OBIee used together, be aware that OBIee will conduct the
needed joins itself, and OBIee is not a database.

4. Is it possible to create a report based on two subject areas (example : Sales and Supply chain)
?

ANS: Theoretically, yes. In practice, the two subject area must come from the same business
model in the repository, which is quite useless. Then, we can consider the two following
alternatives :
Create an analysis with combine request: one subrequest by subject area. Note that its tricky
to implement for standard users.
Set up a transverse subject area, that will gather tables from both business topics.
5.How to get real physical SQL sent by OBIee to the database

ANS: First of all, check the value of your session variable LOGLEVEL.
5 is fine.
Then, go into Administration -> Manage sessions.
Find your query (at the bottom of the list), and click on View log.
If you hit the cache, you will see cache hit on query. Otherwise, you will see the physical SQL
below the logical SQL.

6.How to configure an OBIee environment ?

ANS: In OBIee 11g, main configuration items are managed in Enterprise Manager (web
interface).
However, some configurations are still located in configuration files, like NQSConfig.ini,
NQSCluster.ini, odbc.ini, and instanceconfig.xml.

7.In a troubleshooting perspective, how can I see log files ?

ANS: Old method in 10g version consisted in opening log files on the server.
Now, in 11g, log information is consultable in Enterprise Manager.

8. What is query repository tool?

ANS: It is utility of Seibel/OBIEE Admin tool

Allows you to examine the repository metadata tool
For example: search for objects based on name, type.
Examine relationship between metadata objects like which column in the presentation layer maps
to which table in physical layer

9. What is JDK and why do we need it?

ANS: Java Development Kit (JDK), A software package that contains the minimal set of tools
needed to write, compile, debug, and run Java applets.

Oracle doesnt recommend Opaque Views because of performance considerations, so why/when

do we use them?
An opaque view is a physical layer table that consists of select statement. an opaque view should
be used only if there is no other solution.

Can you migrate the presentation layer to a different server?

No we have to migrate the whole web & RPD files

10. How do you identify what are the dimension tables and how do you decide them during the
Business/Data modeling?
ANS: Dimension tables contain descriptions that data analysts use as they query the database.
For example, the Store table contains store names and addresses; the Product table contains
product packaging information; and the Period table contains month, quarter, and year values.
Every table contains a primary key that consists of one or more columns; each row in a table is
uniquely identified by its primary-key value or values

11. Why do we have multiple LTS in BMM layer? What is the purpose?

ANS: To improve the performance and query response time.

12. What is the full form of RPD?

ANS: There is no full form for RPD as such, it is just a repository file (Rapidfile Database)

13.How do i disable cache for only 2 particular tables?

ANS: In the physical layer, right click on the table there we will have the option which says
cacheable

14.How do you split a table in the RPD given the condition?

ANS: (The condition given was Broker and customer in the same table) Split Broker and
customer.
We need to make an alias table in the physical layer.

15. What type of protocol did you use in SAS?

ANS: TCP/IP

16. What is logging level? Where can you set logging levels?

ANS: You can enable logging level for individual users; you cannot configure a logging level for
a group.Set the logging level based on the amount of logging you want to do. In normal
operations, logging is generally disabled (the logging level is set to 0). If you decide to enable
logging, choose a logging level of 1 or 2. These two levels are designed for use by Siebel
Analytics Server administrators.
Set Logging Level:
1. In the Administration Tool, select Manage > Security.
2. The Security Manager dialog box appears.
3. Double-click the users user ID.
4. The User dialog box appears.
5. Set the logging level by clicking the Up or Down arrows next to the Logging Level field

17. What is variable in OBIEE?

ANS: You can use variables in a repository to streamline administrative tasks and modify
metadata content dynamically to adjust to a changing data environment. The Administration
Tool includes a Variable Manager for defining variables

18.What is system variable and non-system variable?

ANS: System variables:

System variables are session variables that the Siebel Analytics Server and Siebel Analytics Web
use for specific purposes. System variables have reserved names, which cannot be used for other
kinds of variables (such as static or dynamic repository variables, or for non-system session
variables). When using these variables in the Web, preface their names with NQ_SESSION. For
example, to filter a column on the value of the variable LOGLEVEL set the filter to the Variable
NQ_SESSION.LOGLEVEL.

Non-system variables:
A common use for non-system session variables is setting user filters. For example, you could
define a non-system variable called SalesRegion that would be initialized to the name of the
users sales region. You could then set a security filter for all members of a group that would
allow them to see only data pertinent to their region.
When using these variables in the Web, preface their names with NQ_SESSION. For example,
to filter a column on the value of the variable SalesRegion set the filter to the Variable
NQ_SESSION.SalesRegion.

19. What are different types of variables? Explain each.

ANS: There are two classes of variables:

1. Repository variables
2. Session variables

Repository variables:
A repository variable has a single value at any point in time. There are two types of repository
variables:
Static: This value persists, and does not change until a Siebel Analytics Server administrator
decides to change it.
Dynamic: The values are refreshed by data returned from queries. When defining a dynamic
repository variable, you will create an initialization block or use a preexisting one that contains a
SQL query. You will also set up a schedule that the Siebel Analytics Server will follow to
execute the query and periodically refresh the value of the variable.

Session Variables:
Session variables are created and assigned a value when each user logs on. There are two types
of session variables:
1.system
2.non-system.
20. What is the cache management? Name all of them and their uses. For Event polling table do
you need the table in your physical layer?

ANS: Monitoring and managing the cashe is cache management.There are three ways to do that.
Disable caching for the system.(NSQconfig INI file), Cache persistence time for specified
physical tables and Setting event polling table.
Disable caching for the system.(INI NQ config file :
You can disable caching for the whole system by setting the ENABLE parameter to NO in the
NQSConfig.INI file and restarting the Siebel Analytics Server. Disabling caching stops all new
cache entries and stops any new queries from using the existing cache. Disabling caching allows
you to enable it at a later time without losing any entries already stored in the cache.

Cache persistence time for specified physical tables:

You can specify a cacheable attribute for each physical table; that is, if queries involving the
specified table can be added to the cache to answer future queries. To enable caching for a
particular physical table, select the table in the Physical layer of the Administration Tool and
select the option Make table cacheable in the General tab of the Physical Table properties dialog
box. You can also use the Cache Persistence Time settings to specify how long the entries for
this table should persist in the query cache. This is useful for OLTP data sources and other data
sources that are updated frequently, potentially down to every few seconds.

Setting event polling table:

Siebel Analytics Server event polling tables store information about updates in the underlying
databases. An application (such as an application that loads data into a data mart) could be
configured to add rows to an event polling table each time a database table is updated. The
Analytics server polls this table at set intervals and invalidates any cache entries corresponding
to the updated tables.
For event polling table ,It is a standalone table and doesnt require to be joined with other tables
in the physical layer.

21. What is Authentication? How many types of authentication.

ANS: Authentication is the process, by which a system verifies, through the use of a user ID and
password, that a user has the necessary permissions and authorizations to log in and access data.
The Siebel Analytics Server authenticates each connection request it receives.
Operating system authentication
External table authentication
Database authentication
LDAP authentication

22.What is object level security?

ANS: There are two types of object level security:

1. Report Level
2. Web Level
Repository level: In presentation layer we can set Repository level security by giving permission
or deny permission to users/groups to see particular table or column.
Web level: this provides security for objects stored in the OBIEE web catalog, such as
dashboards, dashboards pages, folder, and reports you can only view the objects for which you
are authorized. For example, a mid-level manager may not be granted access to a dashboard
containing summary information for an entire department.

23.What is data level security?

ANS: This controls the type an amount of data that you can see in a report. When multiple users
run the same report the results that are returned to each depend on their access rights and roles in
the organization. For example a sales vice president sees results for all regions, while a sales
representative for a particular region sees only data for that region.

24. What is the difference between Data Level Security and Object Level Security?

ANS: Data level security controls the type and amount of data that you can see in reports. Object
level security provides security for objects stored in the OBIEE web catalog, like dashboards,
dashboards pages, folder, and reports.

25. How is security set up in OBIEE? How many methods of security can be set up in
OBIEE?
Lets start with Authentication and Authorization.

ANS: Authentication is process of confirming whether the user is a valid user or not. Is he part of
this company? Is he an employee of our external suppliers?
Authorization is process of giving access to different pieces of the OBIEE. One user UserA
can access dashboards, can create iBots, can schedule reports and can do administrative tasks.
Another user UserB can see only part of what UserA has access to and UserB has access
to some other tabs of the dashboard that UserA does not.
This layer of separating who can access what is done as part of Authorization.

26. How does OBIEE handle Authentication?

Its very flexible and can be integrated to one of your existing technologies like LDAP, Oracle
EBS, AD, and Oracle Database. So, do the same username have to exist in OBIEE security layer
as part of RPD development? Yes, by default, OBIEE stores list of usernames and passwords and
checks incoming credentials against it.
Heard about External Table Authentication? Where does this come into play?
Instead of storing usernames and passwords directly in the RPD, these are stored in the database
for better management purposes. This also helps in RPD migration and deployment across
multiple environments.

27. How is Authorization handled in OBIEE?

ANS: Authorization is done as part of security in Presentation Services.

28.Does OBIEE have two layers of security?

ANS: Yes, first at the RPD level and second at the presentation services level.

29. Do you have to have the same username established at both RPD and presentation services
levels for this to work?

ANS: Not necessarily based on my knowledge.. I will let others comment on this

30.What kind of privileges can be granted from presentation services level?

ANS: Access to iBots, certain tabs in the dashboard, delivers, alerts, schedule reports etc etc..

31.Why OBIEE security is different compared to other BI tools?

ANS: Because its very flexible and can integrate into any existing security architecture an
organization has built and reduces the need for one more layer of administration..
Did Oracle OBIEE do a good job of communicating and convincing the user community
regarding the security architecture?
Probably not I understand the complexity behind this and the mere flexibility of the tool
makes this even difficult.

32.What is the default location of a repository file?

[InstalledDirectory]OracleBIserverRepository

33. How many repository files can be loaded to a BI Server simultaneously?

ANS: Assume its a single server with single instance of BI Server running just to keep things
easy
Im not sure about the limit of number of repositories loaded at same time but to make one rpd
online we need one saw server so for multiple rpds to be online we need as many saw servers.
If you have more than 3 repository files mentioned in your NQSConfig.ini file as default, which
one gets loaded to the memory when the BI Server is started?

Ex:
Star = SamplerRepository1.RPD, DEFAULT;
Star = SamplerRepository2.RPD, DEFAULT;
Star = SamplerRepository3.RPD, DEFAULT;

If we dont specify comment the last repository will be loaded online, so in this case
SamplerRepository3.rpd will be loaded.

34. Whats XMLA and where is it used for in OBIEE context

ANS: The Provider Services tool that comes with Essbase is used to provide the interface, with
Oracle BI Server talking to Essbase through its XMLA interface. (Need to find the answer still)
XML for Analysis (abbreviated as XMLA) is an industry standard for data access in analytical
systems, such as OLAP and Data Mining. XMLA is based on other industry standards such as
XML, SOAP and HTTP.

35. Can you change the location of your RPD file in your OBIEE Configuration? If Yes, Where
would you mention the new location of this RPD file for Bi Server?

ANS: Read the NQSConfig file Repository Section. You will easily find the answer. The
answer for this is It cant be changed.

The repository location can be changed, this must be done when clustering the BI Server. The
parameters in the NQSCONFIG.INI file are
REPOSITORY_PUBLISHING_DIRECTORY =
REQUIRE_PUBLISHING_DIRECTORY = YES;

36.What kind of joins would you perform in the physical layer of the repository file when
opened with Administration tool?

ANS: We cannot have outer joins in Physicla layer. We can outer joins in BMM layer. In BMM
layer complex join can be full inner join or full outer join or whatever your criteria was,but in
physical layer physical join is always an inner join.

37.What are the minimum services needed to load a repository file onto memory and view a
dashboard which has reports that have been refreshed on a scheduled basis?

ANS: Oracle BI Java Host, Oracle BI Presentation Server, and Oracle BI Server
Obiee interview questions on dashboards

1.Can you use an OLTP backend database for creating a dashboard?

ANS: Technically you can use OBIEE with OLTP as well. However real world scenarios
pertaining to OLTP makes it difficult for OBIEE to create Star schema from OLTP. Also OBIEE
is an engine to perform analytics queries, while in most cases queries generated against OLTP
schemas are operational in nature. Better option is to use BI publisher and do away with OBIEE
when querying against OLTP.

Bottom line, you can use OLTP with OBIEE but performance will be an issue (not advisable).
*
OBIEE works with any database if you force to do. If you want to follow best practices, its
recommended to use with OLAP systems. After all OBIEE is analytics reporting tool and OLAP
databases were designed for reporting requirements. So its always advised use the OLAP to get
better performance and better analytics from OBIEE.

2.How many tables are needed in minimum to pass through the Consistency Checking in Logical
Layer (Business Mapping and Modeling Layer) of the repository?

ANS: TWO TABLES

3.Can you create new views in the database using OBIEE Administration tool? Can you explain
the procedure for doing this?

ANS: The view SQL Syntax is standard ANSI SQL. From what I understand, you have a table
named Table 1 which has four columns, Attr1, Attr2, Measure 1, Measure 2. You
want to create a new measure named Attribute 3 (Id recommend not having spaces in your
column and table names FYI).

4.What is a complex join in OBIEE and why, where is it used?

ANS: A complex join is a metadata of sql join statement in the repository.

*
The complex join in the BM is it will dynamically select which Logical table sources to join
together from the Logical tables.

If you use a FK business model join, you are forcing which fields OBI can use and therefore
which LTSs it can use. The joining is not physical tableto physical table, but really LTS to LTS.
Whatever physical joins are underneath it will use (as long as they are there).But the concept is
LTS-to-LTS, not the individual tables inside.
The problem with the FK join is that you are tying
OBIs hands and limiting its choices. If you made a FK join on MONTH_KEY
for example, if you selected a Day field on your report, OBI would try to
find a LTS souce that
1) has day on it and
2) has a field that maps to MONTH_KEY

5.How do you create outer joins in physical layer?

ANS: We cannot

6. What does Consistency Checking perform; what are the minimum criteria to pass consistency
checking for a given repository?

ANS: Consistency check is a utility in the Administration Tool that checks if a repository has
met certain requirements. Repositories and the business models within them must pass the
consistency check before you can make business models available for queries. When a repository
or business model is inconsistent, a detailed message alerts you to the nature of the
inconsistency.
The Consistency Check Manager displays three types of messages:
Error messages indicate errors that need to be fixed to make the repository consistent.
Warning messages indicate conditions that may or may not be errors, depending upon the intent
of the Oracle BI Server administrator. For example, if the Administrator user has an empty
password this should be addressed, but is not a requirement for a consistent repository.
Best Practices messages provide information about conditions but do not indicate an
inconsistency. For example, if there are physical tables with no keys defined, a best practice
message is displayed. Defining keys for physical tables is best practice, but is not a requirement
for a consistent repository.
For each message the Consistency Check Manager identifies the message type, the object type,
the object, and provides a detailed description of the message. There are options to display only
selected message types, display results using qualified names, check all objects in the repository,
and copy the results to another file.
Minimum criteria
Checking Global Consistency checks for errors in the entire repository. Some of the more
common checks are done in the Business Model and Mapping layer and Presentation layer. Since
these layers are not defined yet, bypass this check until the other layers in the repository are
built. You learn more about consistency check later in this tutorial.

8.Does OBIEE store physical sql ? How is physical sql generated in OBIEE environments?

ANS: YES.
HOW: The physical SQL is the SQL that send the BI Server to the data sources in order to
retrieve data. This SQL is generated by the query compiler during the query processing of the
logical sql created by a client tool generally through an answer (Advanced Tab)

Are there any occasions where physical sql is not generated when running against a backend
database like Oracle, SQL Server or any other relational database?

Depends on Logging level. (Elaborate it later)

9.What is the best default logging level for production users?

ANS: The login level is a parameter which control the number of information that you will
retrieve in the log file from nothing (level 0 OBIEE No Log Found) to a lot of information
(level 5).
You can enable logging level for individual users; you cannot configure a logging level for a
group.
The session variable LOGLEVEL overrides a users logging level. For example, if the Oracle BI
Administrator has a logging level defined as 4 and LOGLEVEL is defined as default 0 (zero) in
the repository, the Oracle BI Administrators logging level will be 0.
In normal operations:
Users have a logging level set to 0
Administrators have a logging level set to 2

10.What is the previous name of OBIEE and in which version you are currently working for?

ANS: Siebel Analytics, Currently working with OBIEE 11.1.1.6.0

11.Define repository in terms of Siebel Analytics?

ANS: Repository stores the Meta data information. Siebel repository is a file system, extension
of the repository file. rpd. which called as META DATA REPOSITORY
With Siebel Analytics Server, all the rules needed for security, data modeling, aggregate
navigation, caching, and connectivity is stored in metadata repositories.
Each metadata repository can store multiple business models. Siebel Analytics Server can access
multiple repositories.

12.What is the end to end life cycle of Siebel Analytics?

ANS: Siebel Analytics life cycle

1. Gather Business Requirements
2. Identify source systems
3. Design ETL to load to a DW if source data doesnt exist.
4. Build a repository
5. Build dashboard or use answers for reporting.
6. Define security (LDAP or External table)
7. Based on performance, decide on aggregations and/or caching mechanism.
8. Testing and QA.

13.How does OBIEE Architecture works? Explain the three layers. How do you import sources?

ANS: There are five parts of Siebel Architecture.

1. Clients
2. Oracle BI Presentation Server
3. Oracle BI Server
4. Application Server (OC4J)
5. Data Source

Metadata that represents the analytical Model is created using OBIEE Administration tool.
Repository divided into three layers
1. Physical Represents the data Sources
2. Business models the Data sources into Facts and Dimension
3. Presentation Specifies the users view of the model, rendered in Oracle BI answer

14. If you have 3 facts and 4 dimension and you need to join would you recommend joining fact
with fact? If no than what is the option? Why you wont join fact to fact?

ANS: In the BMM layer, create one logical table (fact) and add the 3 fact table as logical table
source (LTS)

15.What is connection pool and how many connection pools did you have in your last project?

ANS: Connection pool is needed for every physical database.It contains information about the
connection to the database, not the database itself.It Can use either shared user accounts or can
use pass-through accounts -Use: USER and PASSWORD for pass through.We can have multiple
connection pools for each group to avoid waiting.

Purpose of Alias Tables

An Alias table (Alias) is a physical table with the type of Alias. It is a reference to a logical table
source, and inherits all its column definitions and some properties from the logical table source.
A logical table source shows how the logical objects are mapped to the physical layer and can be
mapped to physical tables, stored procedures, and select statements. An alias table can be a
reference to any of these logical table source types.
Alias Tables can be an important part of designing a physical layer. The following is a list of the
main reasons to create an alias table:

To reuse an existing table more than once in your physical layer (without having to import it
several times)

To set up multiple alias tables, each with different keys, names, or joins
To help you design sophisticated star or snowflake structures in the business model layer. Alias
tables are critical in the process of converting ER Schemas to Dimensional Schema.

16. How do you define the relationship between facts and dimensions in BMM layer?

ANS: Using complex join, we can define relationship between facts and dimensions in BMM
layer.

17.What is time series wizard? When and how do you use it?
ANS: We can do comparison for certain measures ( revenue, sales etc.. ) for current year vs.
previous year, we can do for month or week and day also.Identify the time periods need to be
compared and then period table keys to the previous time period.The period table needs to
contain a column that will contain Year Ago information.The fact tables needs to have year
ago totals.To use the Time series wizard, After creating your business model right click the
business model and click on Time Series Wizard.The Time Series Wizard prompts you to
create names for the comparison measures that it adds to the business model.The Time Series
Wizard prompts you to select the period table used for the comparison measuresSelect the
column in the period table that provides the key to the comparison period. This column would be
the column containing Year Ago information in the period table.Select the measures you want
to compare and then Select the calculations you want to generate. For ex: Measure: Total Dollars
and calculations are Change and Percent change.
Once the Time series wizard is run the output will be:
a) Aliases for the fact tables (in the physical layer)
b) Joins between period table and alias fact tables
c) Comparison measures
d) Logical table sources
In the General tab of the Logical table source etc., you can find Generated by Time Series
Wizard in the description section
Then you can add these comparison measures to the presentation layer for your reports.
Ex: Total sales of current Quarter vs. Previous Quarter vs. same quarter year ago

18.Did you create any new logical column in BMM layer, how?

ANS: Yes. We can create new logical column in BMM layer.

Example: Right click on fact table -new logical column-give name for new logical column like
Total Revenue.Now in fact table source, we have one option column mapping, in that we can do
all calculation for that new column.

19. Can you use physical join in BMM layer?

ANS: Yes, we can use physical join in BMM layer. When there is SCD type 2 we need complex
join in BMM layer.

20. Can you use outer join in BMM layer?

ANS: Yes we can. When we are doing complex join in BMM layer, there is one option type,
outer join is there.

21. What are other ways of improving summary query reports other than Aggregate Navigation
and Cache Management?

ANS:
Indexes
Join algorithm
Mat/view query rewrite
Web proper report design its optimal by making sure that it is not getting any addition column or
rows

22.What is Level based metrics?

ANS: Level-based metrics means, having a measure pinned at a certain level of the dimension.
For Example, if you have a measure called Dollars, you can create a Level Based Measure
called Yearly Dollars which (you guessed it) is Dollars for a Year. This measure will always
return the value for the year even if you drill down to a lower level like quarter, month etc. To
create a level based measure, create a new logical column based on the original measure (like
Dollars in the example above). Drag and drop the new logical column to the appropriate level in
the Dimension hierarchy (in the above example you will drag and drop it to Year in Time Dim
A LBM is a metric that is defined for a specific level or intersection of levels.
Monthly Total Sales or Quarterly Sales are the examples.
You can compare monthly sales with quarterly sales. You can compare customer orders this
quarter to orders this year
Odi interview questions and answers

1. What is Oracle Data Integrator (ODI)?

ANS: Oracle acquired SUNOPSIS with its ETL tool called Sunopsis Data Integrator and
renamed to Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) is an E-LT (Extract, Load and Transform) tool used
for high-speed data movement between disparate systems.

The latest version, Oracle Data Integrator Enterprise Edition (ODI-EE 12c) brings together
Oracle Data Integrator and Oracle Warehouse Builder as separate components of a single
product with a single licence.

2.Explain what is ODI?why is it different from the other ETL tools.

ANS: ODI stands for Oracle Data Integrator. It is different from another ETL tool in a way that it
uses E-LT approach as opposed to ETL approach. This approach eliminates the need of the
exclusive Transformation Server between the Source and Target Data server. The power of the
target data server can be used to transform the data. i.e. The target data server acts as staging area
in addition to its role of target database.

while loading the data in the target database (from staging area) the transformation logic is
implemented. Also, the use of appropriate CKM (Check Knowldege Module) can be made while
doing this to implement data quality requirement.

3.What is E-LT? Or What is the difference between ODI and other ETL Tools?

ANS: E-LT is an innovative approach to extracting, loading and Transforming data. Typically
ETL application vendors have relied on costly heavyweight , mid-tier server to perform the
transformations required when moving large volumes of data around the enterprise.

ODI delivers unique next-generation, Extract Load and Transform (E-LT) technology that
improves performance and reduces data integration costs, even across heterogeneous systems by
pushing the processing required down to the typically large and powerful database servers
already in place within the enterprise.

4.Components of Oracle Data Integrator?

ANS: Oracle Data Integrator comprises of:

- Oracle Data Integrator + Topology Manager + Designer + Operator + Agent
- Oracle Data Quality for Data Integrator
- Oracle Data Profiling

5.What are the types of Variables?

ANS:
1) Global
2) Project
A variable is an object that stores a single value. This value can be a string, a number or a date.
The value is stored in Oracle Data Integrator, and can be updated at run-time.
The value of a variable can be updated from the result of a query executed on a logical schema.
For example, it can retrieve the current date and time from a database.
A variable can be created as a global variable or in a project. Global variables can be used in all
projects, while project variables can only be used within the project in which they are defined.

6.Where we can use variables?

ANS: Variables can be used in all Oracle Data Integrator expressions:

Mapping,
Filters,
Joins,
Constraints,

7. What is Work Repository?

ANS: Each work repository is attached to a master repository, therefore, information about the
physical connection to a work repository is stored in the master repository it is attached to.
Defining a connection to a work repository consists of defining a connection to a master
repository, then selecting one of the work repositories attached to this master repository.

8.What is Master Repository ?

ANS: The Master Repository is a data structure containing information on the topology of a
companys IT resources, on security and on version management of projects and data models.
This repository is stored on a relational database accessible in client/server mode from the
different modules.Generally, only one master repository is necessary.However, in exceptional
circumstances, it may be necessary to create several master repositories in one of the following
cases:
Project construction over several sites not linked by a high-speed network (off-site
development, for example).
Necessity to clearly separate the interfaces operating environments (development, test,
production), including on the database containing the master repository. This may be the case if
these environments are on several sites.

9. What is a Procedure?

ANS: A Procedure is a reusable component that allows you to group actions that do not fit in the
Interface framework. (That is load a target datastore from one or more sources).
A Procedure is a sequence of commands launched on logical schemas. It has a group of
associated options. These options parameterize whether or not a command should be executed as
well as the code of the commands.
10.What is Model?

ANS: An Oracle Model is a set of datastores corresponding to views and tables contained in an
Oracle Schema. A model is always based on a Logical Schema. In a given Context, the Logical
Schema corresponds to a Physical Schema. The Data Schema of this Physical Schema contains
the Oracle models tables and views.

11. What is a Package ?

ANS: The package is the biggest execution unit in Oracle Data Integrator. A package is made of
a sequence of steps organized in an execution diagram.

12.What is User Parameters?

ANS: Oracle Data Integrator saves user parameters such as default directories, windows
positions,etc.
User parameters are saved in the userpref.xml file in /bin.

13.What is a Project?

ANS: A project is a group of objects developed using Oracle Data Integrator.

14.What is Folder?

ANS: Certain objects in a project are organized into folders and sub-folders.

15.What is an Interface?

ANS: An interface consists of a set of rules that define the loading of a Datastore or a temporary
target structure from one or more source Datastores.

16.What is Sequence?

ANS: A sequence is an variable automatically incremented when used. Between two uses the
value is persistent.
The sequences are usable like variable in interfaces, procedures, steps,
A sequence can also be defined outside a project (global scope), in order to be used in all
projects.

17.What is User Functions ?

ANS: User functions enable to define customized functions or functions aliases, for which you
will define technology-dependant implementations. They are usable in the interfaces and
procedures.

18.What is Marker?
ANS: Elements of a project may be flagged in order to reflect the methodology or organization
of the developments.
Flags are defined using the markers. These markers are organized into groups, and can be
applied to most objects in a project.

19.What is Scenario?

ANS: When a package, interface, procedure or variable component is finished, it is compiled in a

scenario. A scenario is the execution unit for production, that can be scheduled.

20.What is Context?

ANS: A context is a set of resources allowing the operation or simulation of one or more data
processing applications. Contexts allow the same jobs (Reverse, Data Quality Control, Package,
etc) to be executed on different databases and/or schemas.
In Oracle Data Integrator, a context allows logical objects (logical agents, logical schemas) to be
linked with physical objects (physical agents, physical schemas).

1.What is Memos?

ANS: A memo is an unlimited amount of text attached to virtually any object, visible on its
Memo tab. When an object has a memo attached

2.What is Sequences?

ANS: A sequence is a variable that increments itself each time it is used. Between two uses, the
value can be stored in the repository or managed within an external RDBMS table.
Oracle Data Integrator supports two types of sequences:
Standard sequences, whose last value is stored in the Repository.
Specific sequences , whose last value is stored in an RDBMS table cell. Oracle Data Integrator
undertakes to read the value, to lock the row (for concurrent updates) and to update the row after
the last increment.

3.What is Session?

ANS: A session is an execution (of a scenario, an interface, a package or a procedure, )

undertaken by an execution agent. A session is made up of steps which are made up of tasks.

4.What is Session Tasks?

ANS: The task is the smallest execution unit. It corresponds to a procedure command in a KM, a
procedure, assignment of a variable, etc

5.What are Knowledge Modules?

ANS: Knowledge Modules form the basis of plug-ins that allow ODI to generate the relevant
execution code , across technologies , to perform tasks in one of six areas, the six types of
knowledge module consist of:

Reverse-engineering knowledge modules are used for reading the table and other object metadata
from source databases
Journalizing knowledge modules record the new and changed data within either a single table or
view or a consistent set of tables or views
Loading knowledge modules are used for efficient extraction of data from source databases for
loading into a staging area (database-specific bulk unload utilities can be used where available)
Check knowledge modules are used for detecting errors in source data
Integration knowledge modules are used for efficiently transforming data from staging area to
the target tables, generating the optimized native SQL for the given database
Service knowledge modules provide the ability to expose data as Web services

ODI ships with many knowledge modules out of the box, these are also extendable, they can
modified within the ODI Designer module.
Does my ODI infrastructure require an Oracle database?No, the ODI modular repositories
(Master + and one of multiple Work repositories) can be installed on any database engine that
supports ANSI ISO 89 syntax such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase AS Enterprise,
IBM DB2 UDB, IBM DB2/40.

6.Does ODI support web services?

ANS: Yes, ODI is SOA enabled and its web services can be used in 3 ways:

The Oracle Data Integrator Public Web Service, that lets you execute a scenario (a published
package) from a web service call
Data Services, which provide a web service over an ODI data store (i.e. a table, view or other
data source registered in ODI)
The ODIInvokeWebService tool that you can add to a package to request a response from a web
service

7.what is the ODI Console?

ANS: ODI console is a web based navigator to access the Designer, Operator and Topology
components through browser.

suppose I having 6 interfaces and running the interface 3 rd one failed how to run remaining
interfaces?
If you are running Sequential load it will stop the other interfaces. so goto operator and right
click on filed interface and click on restart. If you are running all the interfaces are parallel only
one interface will fail and other interfaces will finish.

8.what is load plans and types of load plans?

ANS: Load plan is a process to run or execute multiple scenarios as a Sequential or parallel or
conditional based execution of your scenarios. And same we can call three types of load plans ,
Sequential, parallel and Condition based load plans.

9.what is profile in ODI?

ANS: profile is a set of objective wise privileges. we can assign this profiles to the users. Users
will get the privileges from profile

10. How to write the sub-queries in ODI?

ANS: Using Yellow interface and sub queries option we can create sub queries in ODI. or
Using VIEW we can go for sub queries Or Using ODI Procedure we can call direct database
queries
in ODI.

11.How to remove the duplicate in ODI?

ANS: Use DISTINCT in IKM level. it will remove the duplicate rows while loading into target.

12. Suppose having unique and duplicate but i want to load unique record one table and
duplicates one table?

ANS: Create two interfaces or once procedure and use two queries one for Unique values and
one for duplicate values.

13.how to implement data validations?

ANS: Use Filters & Mapping Area AND Data Quality related to constraints use CKM
Flowcontrol.

14.How to handle exceptions?

ANS: Exceptions In packages advanced tab and load plan exception tab we can handle
exceptions.

15.In the package one interface got failed how to know which interface got failed if we no access
to operator?

ANS: Make it mail alert or check into SNP_SESS_LOg tables for session log details.

16. How to implement the logic in procedures if the source side data deleted that will reflect the
target side table?

ANS: User this query on Command on target Delete from Target_table where not exists (Select
X From Source_table Where Source_table.ID=Target_table.ID).
If the Source have total 15 records with 2 records are updated and 3 records are newly inserted at
the target side we have to load the newly changed and inserted records
Use IKM Incremental Update Knowledge Module for Both Insert n Update operations.

17.Can we implement package in package?

ANS: Yes, we can call one package into other package.

13.How to load the data with one flat file and one RDBMS table using joins?

ANS: Drag and drop both File and table into source area and join as in Staging area.
If the source and target are oracle technology tell me the process to achieve this
requirement(interfaces, KMS, Models)
Use LKM-SQL to SQL or LKM-SQL to Oracle , IKM Oracle Incremental update or Control
append.
what we specify the in XML data server and parameters for to connect to xml file?
File name with location :F and Schema :S this two parameters

14. How to reverse engineer views(how to load the data from views)?

ANS: In Models Go to Reverse engineering tab and select Reverse engineering object as
VIEW.

15.What systems can ODI extract and load data into?

ANS: ODI brings true heterogeneous connectivity out-of-the-box, it can connect natively to
Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, MySQL, LDAP, DB2, PostgreSQL, Netezza.

It can also connect to any data source supporting JDBC, its possible even to use the Oracle BI
Server as a data source using the jdbc driver that ships with BI Publisher

16. what is load plans and types of load plans?

ANS: Load plan is a process to run or execute multiple scenarios as a Sequential or parallel or
conditional based execution of your scenarios. And same we can call three types of load plans ,
Sequential, parallel and Condition based load plans.
2. what is profile in odi?
ANS) profile is a set of objective wise privileges. we can assign this profiles to the users. Users
will get the privileges from profile. Please refer http://oditraining.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/odi-
security-manager-all-profiles.html

17. what is the odi console?

ANS: ODI console is a web based navigator to access the Designer, Operator and Topology
components through browser.
18.how to write the sub queries in odi?

ANS: Using Yellow interface and sub queries option we can create sub queries in odi.
or Using VIEW we can go for sub queries Or Using ODI Procedure we can call direct DB
queries
in ODI.

19.suppose i having 6 interfaces and running the interface 3 rd one failed how to run remaining
interfaces?

ANS: if you are running Sequential load it will stop the other interfaces. so goto operator and
right click on filed interface and click on restart. If you are running all the interfaces are parallel
only one interface will fail and other interfaces will finish.

20. how to remove the duplicate in odi?

ANS: Use DISTINCT in IKM level. it will remove the duplicate rows while loading into target.

21. suppose having unique and duplicate but i want to load unique record one table and
duplicates one table?

ANS: Create two interfaces or once procedure and use two queries one for Unique values and
one for duplicate values.

22. how to write the procedures in odi?

ANS: Procedure is a step by step any technology code operations .

1) What are the Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (BI Apps)?
2) What software components do I need to buy to run the BI Apps?
3) What Application content is available for the BI Apps?
4) Which systems can BI Apps source its data from?
5) I have customised my source system; can I extend the BI Apps for these customisations?
6) How do I deploy the BI Apps?
7) Can I have the same security as my transactional system?
8) Does a BI Apps implementation take as long as a traditional Datawarehouse
implementation?=
9) What is the DAC?
10) Where can I get some more information about the content of the BI Applications?
11) How is BI Apps made aware of my source system configurations?
12) Does my warehouse have to be an Oracle database?
13) Can I view my data indifferent currencies?
14) I am a multi-country organisation and would like to have the ability to display the BI Apps
in the local language, is this possible?

ANSWERS

1) What are the Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (BI Apps)?

It is a complete, end-to-end BI environment covering the BI platform and pre-packaged analytic

applications.

The platform includes a server and end user tools such as dashboards, query and analysis,
enterprise reporting, disconnected access to the data -- all supported by a unified, model-centric
server architecture.

On top of this platform, we have a set of analytic applications consuming the operational data
sources and delivering greater insight to larger user communities across the organization via
dashboards, query and analysis, and alerts.

2) What technology components do I need to buy to run the BI Apps?

- A database to host the Datawarehouse

- Oracle BI Suite EE Plus or Oracle BI Suite SE1 (OBIEE)
- ETL component options to OBIEE, either Oracle Data Integrator* or Informatica
- Application content per application

*Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) is currently only available for certain release against a specific
release of a source system. Future plans are to have ODI fully available.

3) What Application content is available for the BI Apps?

ERP Analytics

- Oracle Financial Analytics

- Oracle Procurement and Spend Analytics
- Oracle Human Resources Analytics
- Oracle Supply Chain and Order Management Analytics
- Oracle Spend Classification Analytics
- Oracle Project Analytics

CRM Analytics

- Oracle Sales Analytics

- Oracle Service Analytics
- Oracle Marketing Analytics
- Oracle Contact Center Analytics
- Oracle Loyalty Analytics
- Oracle Price Analytics

Industry Applications

- Oracle US Federal Financial Analytics

4) Which systems can BI Apps source its data from?

Oracle provides pre-built adapters for Oracle eBusiness Suite, Peoplesoft, JD Edwards, SAP
and Siebel. In additional to these pre-built adapters Oracle provides the Universal adapters that
enable any other source system to be a source for the Datawarehouse.

5) I have customised my source system; can I extend the BI Apps for these customisations?

Oracle has designed the BI Apps to be extendable, from the source system mappings, the
warehouse model, the BI Modelling layer to the Presentation objects. Oracle provides a
methodology for extensions in the supplied guides.

One of the most common extensions is the inclusion of descriptive flexfields for eBusiness suite
sources.
6) How do I deploy the BI Apps?

The BI Apps can be deployed as follows

- Standalone mode
- Integrated with Portal via JSR-168/WSRP
- Embedded with the transaction system within a dashboard view
- Embedded with the transaction system contextually within a transactional view

7) Can I have the same security as my transactional system?

The BI Apps can be integrated with the source system to enable a smooth transition for users
maintaining the users security context as they move from the transactional system to BI Apps
and back into the transactional system.

8) Does a BI Apps implementation take as long as a traditional Datawarehouse

implementation?

A traditional Datawarehouse implementation will typically take in the region of 18 months + to

deliver, because much of the time consuming effort has already been developed. A BI Apps
project will usually have release cycles every 100 days or so. A minimal configuration
implementation can have a development system up and running in a few weeks.

9) What is the DAC?

DAC stands for Data Warehouse Application Console. It is an essential component of Oracle BI
application architecture.

DAC serves the following purposes:

- DAC is a metadata driven administration and deployment tool for ETL and data warehouse
objects
- It is used by warehouse developers and the ETL Administrator
- Manages Application Configuration
- Manages the execution of warehouse loads
- Provides a monitoring facility

10) Where can I get some more information about the content of the BI Applications?

The following links on the Oracle support site are a good starting point:

Content Guide:
https://support.oracle.com/oip/faces/secure/km/DocumentDisplay.jspx?id=832690.1

Oracle Business Intelligence Applications Metrics Reference Guide Release 7.9.6

https://metalink3.oracle.com/od/faces/secure/km/DocumentDisplay.jspx?id=846917.1

Oracle Business Intelligence Applications ETL Data Lineage Guide Release 7.9.6,7.9.6.1
(Doc ID 829385.1)
https://support.oracle.com/oip/faces/secure/km/DocumentDisplay.jspx?id=829385.1

11) How is BI Apps made aware of my source system configurations?

During the configuration of the BI Apps configurations are entered as parameters in the DAC
and by completing CSV files that define your source system configs. These CSVs are then
picked up during the ETL run and used to populate the warehouse.

12) Does my warehouse have to be an Oracle database?

No, the BI Apps are certified against many databases including DB2 and Terradata.

13) Can I view my data indifferent currencies?

The BI Apps hold both the transactional and local currency amounts. In addition there is the
possibility to have up to 3 reporting currencies with basic configuration. The data model stores
five currency versions in each fact as follows:

- Group Amount (x3) : Corporate Currency Amount

- Local Amount : Local Country / Region Currency Amount
- Document Amount : Actual Transaction Currency Amount

Support for different exchange rate types through ETL configuration

- Corporate
- User

14) I am a multi-country organisation and would like to have the ability to display the BI
Apps in the local language, is this possible?

Yes, there is the facility to have the OBIEE components displayed in multi-language and the BI
Apps can be configured to display the objects in multi-language. To display the data in multi-
language is a customisation effort that will require extending the warehouse to include
translation tables.