Frequently asked questions

This section answers frequently asked questions about starting Discoverer Viewer, and contains the following topics:

• "What is the End User Layer (EUL)?"

• "What are database accounts?"

• "How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?"

• "How do I edit a Discoverer connection?"

• "How do I delete a Discoverer connection?"

• "What are public connections?"

• "What are user-defined connections?"

• "When and why do I need to change my password?"

• "How do I change the password for a connection?"

• "How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?"

• "What is Single Sign-On?"

• "What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?"

What is the End User Layer (EUL)?

The EUL is an intuitive, business-focused view of the a relational database that uses terms that you are familiar with and can easily understand. The EUL insulates you from the complexity usually associated with databases. This enables you to focus on business issues instead of data access issues.

The Discoverer manager creates the EUL so that you see a user-friendly view of the database when you use Discoverer.

If you start Discoverer using a public connection, the Discoverer manager specifies an EUL for you. If you create your own connection, you select the EUL yourself, or accept the default EUL assigned to you (for more information, see "How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?").

What are database accounts?

To use Discoverer, you need a database account that enables you to connect to Discoverer. You store database account details in a Discoverer connection along with EUL and language settings.

Note: If your organization uses Single Sign-On (a system for enabling users to log in once to access many different applications), you also need a Single Sign-On account. If you are not sure whether your organization uses Single Sign-On, contact the Discoverer manager. For more information, see "What is Single Sign-On?".

A database account comprises two pieces of information:

• A user name - a short name by which you are identified by the database. For example, video5, or marketing.

• A password - a secret key that you use to authenticate your user name. An initial password is created for you by the database administrator. To keep your organization's data secure, do not tell another person what your password is, or write down your password so that other people can read it (for more information, see "When and why do I need to change my password?").

How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?

You create and save login information in a new private Discoverer connection when you want to start Discoverer Viewer using login details that you have not saved previously.

To create and save login information in a Discoverer connection:

1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".

2. Click Create Connection to display the Create Connection: Connection Details page.

   
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3. Choose the type of user you want to connect as:

   • to create a Discoverer connection, select OracleBI Discoverer from the Connect to drop down list

   • to create a Discoverer connection to access data in an Oracle Applications environment, select Oracle Applications from the Connect to drop down list

   • to create an OLAP connection, select OracleBI Discoverer for OLAP from the Connect to drop down list

4. Enter a connection name by which you want to identify the new connection in the Connection Name field.

   The connection name is displayed in the Connections column on the Connect to Discoverer Viewer page.

5. (optional) Enter a description of the connection in the Connection Description field.

   For example, you might want to add the names of the workbooks that the connection will be used to access.

6. Select the language that you want to use from the Locale drop down list.

7. Specify the user name, password, and database details for the connection that you want to create.

   Hint: If you are not sure what user name, password, and database details to enter, contact the Discoverer manager.

8. Save the details by doing one of the following:

   • Click Apply to save the details you have entered and return to the Connections list.

   • Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have entered and start Discoverer Viewer using the login details you specified.

9. If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list, the Select Oracle Applications Responsibility page is displayed. Do the following:

   1. Select a responsibility from the Oracle Applications drop down list.

   2. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.

10. (relational data only) If the user name has access to more than one End User Layer, the Create Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:

    1. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.

    2. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.

    If you clicked Apply, the Connect to Discoverer Viewer page is displayed. The new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new connection name in the Connection list.

    If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to select a workbook and worksheet to open.

How do I edit a Discoverer connection?

You edit a Discoverer connection when you want to change the login details stored in that connection. For example, you might want to change the user name that you use to start Discoverer Viewer.

To edit a Discoverer connection:

1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".

2. Select the pencil icon in the Update column next to the name of the connection that you want to edit.

   Hint: To confirm that you are using the correct connection, click Show in the Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional information, click Hide.

   The Update Connection page is displayed.

3. Change the connection details as required.

4. Save the details by doing one of the following:

   • Click Apply to save the details you have entered and return to the Connections list.

   • Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have entered and start Discoverer Viewer using the login details you specified.

5. If the user name has access to more than one End User Layer, the Create Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:

   1. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.

   2. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.

If you clicked Apply, the Connect to Discoverer Viewer page is displayed. The new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new connection name in the Connection list.

If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to select a workbook and worksheet to open.

Notes

• You can only edit private connections that you have created yourself. You cannot edit public connections created by the Discoverer manager.

How do I delete a Discoverer connection?

You delete a Discoverer connection when you want to remove login details permanently. For example, you might want to delete a connection that you no longer need.

To delete a Discoverer connection:

1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".

2. Select the trash can icon in the Delete column next to the name of the connection that you want to delete to display the Confirmation dialog.

   Hint: To confirm that you are deleting the correct connection, click Show in the Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional information, click Hide.

3. Click Yes at the confirmation page to delete the connection and return to the Connect to Discoverer Viewer page.

Notes

• You can only delete private connections that you have created yourself. You cannot delete public connections created by the Discoverer manager.

What are public connections?

Public connections are Discoverer logins created by the Discoverer manager. Public connections enable you to start Discoverer Viewer and access workbooks without having to create your own connections.

You cannot edit or delete public connections. Only the Discoverer manager can create, edit, and delete public connections.

What are user-defined connections?

User-defined connections (also known as private connections) are Discoverer logins that you create yourself. You can edit and delete private connections. Only you can access, edit, and delete the private connections that you create.

When and why do I need to change my password?

Typically you will have to change your password periodically to maintain data security.

Your system manager specifies how long you can keep the same password before it expires. In other words, how long you can keep the password before you have to change it.

You will know your password has expired if you start Discoverer Viewer and are prompted to enter a new password. When you connect to Discoverer Viewer, you might be warned that your password will expire in a specified number of days. If you do not change the password in this period, you are prompted to enter a new password when the password expires.

It is also important to change your password if you think that someone else has found out what the password is.

How do I change the password for a connection?

You change the password for a connection when the password:

• has expired

• is about to expire

• has become known by another user

To change the password for a connection:

1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".

2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the password.

3. Click Change Database Password.

4. In the Password field, enter the current database password for the current user name.

5. In the New Password field, enter a new database password for the current user name.

6. In the Verify Password field, re-enter the new database password for the current user name.

7. Click Finish.

   The Connect to Discoverer Viewer page is displayed. You can now use the connection to start Discoverer Viewer.

Notes

• If any of the password details that you entered were invalid, an error message is displayed with advice on which value to change.

How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?

You change the End User Layer (EUL) for a Discoverer connection when you want the connection to start Discoverer using a different EUL (for more information, see "What is the End User Layer (EUL)?").

To change the EUL for a Discoverer connection:

1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".

2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the End User Layer.

3. In the Password field, enter a valid password for the Discoverer connection.

4. Click Continue.

5. If the user name for the current Discoverer connection has access to more than one End User Layer, the Select End User Layer for Discoverer Connection page is displayed. Do the following:

   1. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.

   2. Click Finish.

   The Connect to Discoverer Viewer page is displayed. You can now use the connection to start Discoverer.

Notes

• If the user name does not have access to more than one End User Layer, you cannot change the default End User Layer.

• If the password that you entered was invalid, an error message is displayed with advice on which value to change.

What is Single Sign-On?

Single Sign-On is a feature that enables users to log in once to access many different applications.

What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?

If your organization uses Single Sign-On, your Discoverer password is separate to your Single Sign-On password:

• your Single Sign-On password authenticates your Single Sign-On user name

• your Discoverer password authenticates your Discoverer user name

• with a single Sign-on connection, you can connect using many different Discoverer connections