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Contents
Title and Copyright Information
Preface
Audience
Documentation Accessibility
Related Documentation and Other Resources
Conventions
New Features for
Oracle Business Intelligence
Users
New Features for Oracle BI EE 12
c
(12.2.1)
1
Introducing
Oracle Business Intelligence
Enterprise Edition
Introduction to
Oracle BI Enterprise Edition
Where Do I Store and Manage
Oracle BI EE
Objects?
Signing In to
Oracle BI Enterprise Edition
Signing Out of
Oracle BI Enterprise Edition
Navigating
Oracle BI Enterprise Edition
What Is the
Oracle BI EE
Home Page?
What Is the New Home Page?
Searching for Saved Projects and Visualizations
Visualizing Data with BI Ask
Search Tips
What Is the Oracle BI EE Global Header?
Where Can I Get Help or More Information?
About Privileges and Permissions
About Acting for Other Users
Acting for Other Users
Setting Preferences
Downloading BI Desktop Tools
Installing Oracle Business Intelligence Client Tools
How Does
Oracle BI EE
Interact with Other Products?
Integration of Oracle BI EE with Oracle BI Publisher
Integration of
Oracle BI EE
with Oracle BI Mobile App Designer
Integration of
Oracle BI EE
with
Oracle Business Intelligence Mobile
Integration of
Oracle BI EE
with Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System
Interaction of
Oracle BI EE
with
Oracle BI Applications
Integration of
Oracle BI EE
with Microsoft Office
Topics of Interest in Other Guides
System Requirements and Certification
2
Creating Analyses
What Is an Analysis?
How Do I Work with an Analysis?
How Is an Analysis Processed?
How Can I Always See the Most Current Results of an Analysis?
What Are Subject Areas and Columns?
What Are the Types of Columns?
How Are Columns Indicated Visually?
Understanding the Double Column Feature
What Is the Analysis Editor?
Managing Panes in the Analysis Editor Tabs
What Is the Process for Constructing Analyses?
Creating New Analyses
Specifying the Criteria for Analyses
Understanding Null Suppression
Example 1: Adding a Filter to a Row Edge on a Measure When Null Values Are Included
Example 2: Adding a Filter to a Row Edge on a Measure When Null Values Are Included
Example 3: Adding a Not Null Filter to a Row Edge on a Measure When Null Values Are Included
Editing the Formula for a Column
Combining Columns Using Set Operations
Guidelines for Selecting Columns to Combine
Difference Between Combining Columns Using Set Operations and Adding Columns from Related Subject Areas
Example: Combining Columns from One Subject Area
Combining Columns from One or More Subject Areas
Viewing Metadata Information from the Subject Areas Pane
Saving Columns to the Catalog
Changing the Sort Order of Subject Areas and Subject Area Folders
Where Else is the Subject Areas Sort Order Reflected?
Displaying the Results of Analyses
Creating Additional Compound Layouts
Alerting Users to No Data in the Results of Analyses
Adding Prompts to Analyses
Examining the Logical SQL Statements for Analyses
Saving Analyses
Creating Agents from Analyses
Editing Analyses
About Embedding an Analysis in a Dashboard
Working with Direct Database Requests
Setting Privileges for Direct Requests
Executing a Direct Database Request
Seeing the Results of Direct Database Requests
Using Variables
What Are Session Variables?
What Are Repository Variables?
What Are Presentation Variables?
What Are Request Variables?
What Are Global Variables?
Where Can I Reference Variables?
What Is the Syntax for Referencing Variables?
What Predefined Presentation Variables Are Available?
Example of Referencing a Variable in a Title View
3
Adding External Data to Analyses
About Including External Data in Analyses
Accessing External Subject Areas and Sharing Analyses Containing External Subject Area Data
Subject Area Icons
Adding External Subject Areas to an Analysis
Removing External Subject Areas from an Analysis
Downloading External Subject Area Data
Deleting External Subject Areas from Oracle BI EE
4
Adding Views for Display in Dashboards
What Are Views?
What Types of Views Are Available?
What Types of Graphs Are Available?
What Types of Funnel Graphs Are Available?
What Types of Graphs Are Available to Trellis Views?
What Types of Gauges Are Available?
What Types of Logical SQL Views Are Available?
What Types of Waterfall Graph Formats Are Available?
Adding Views to the Results of Analyses
What Is the Recommended Visualizations Feature?
Editing Views
Editing Table and Pivot Table Views
Applying Formatting to Tables and Pivot Tables
Editing Graph Views
Formatting the Visual Appearance of Graphs
Graph Formatting Based on Position
Graph Formatting Based on Columns
Rules for Applying Conditional Formats in Graphs
Graph Exceptions for Conditional Formatting on Columns
Editing Trellis Views
What Terms are Used with Trellis Views?
What Makes a Trellis View Unique?
What Are the Functions of Trellis Views?
What Are Microcharts?
Spark Graphs in
Oracle BI EE
Working with Spark Graphs
About Simple Trellis Versus Advanced Trellis
Design Considerations for Trellis Views and Microcharts
When Might a Trellis Not Be the Best Visualization to Use?
Editing Gauge Views
Editing Map Views
Using Auto Correct
What are the Functions of Map Views?
What Terms Are Used with Map Views?
What Are the Components of Map Views?
What Are Layers?
Creating Map Views
How Do Formats Affect Layers?
When Are Formats Visible?
Where Can Formats Be Applied?
Applying Formats to Layers
Setting the Initial View Ports for Map Views
Editing Map Views and Displaying Map Views on Dashboard Pages
Editing Narrative Views
Editing Column Selector Views
Editing View Selector Views
Editing Legend Views
Editing Performance Tile Views
Editing Treemap Views
Understanding Treemap Views
Working with Treemap Views
Editing Heat Matrix Views
Understanding Heat Matrix Views
Working with Heat Matrix Views
Modifying the Layout of Data in Views
Understanding Drop Targets
Columns in the Excluded Drop Target
Aggregation and the Excluded Drop Target
Drop Target Guidelines for Graphs and Funnel Graphs
Drop Target Guidelines for Trellises
Drop Target Guidelines for Performance Tiles
Drop Target Guidelines for Treemaps
Drop Target Guidelines for Heat Matrixes
Adding and Rearranging Columns in Views
Setting Properties for View Bodies and Drop Targets
Adding Totals to Tables and Pivot Tables
Displaying Running Sums and Relative Values for Measure Columns in Pivot Tables
Displaying Running Sums for Measure Columns in Pivot Tables
Displaying Relative Values for Measure Columns in Pivot Tables
Defining Section Sliders in Graphs, Gauges, and Funnels
Modifying Values and Performing Write Back
About Modifying Values and Various Types of Users
Process for Write Back
Adding the Write-Back Capability to a Column
Adding the Write-Back Capability to a Table View
About the Modes for Write Back in Views
Interactions in Views
Click Interactions in Views
Right-Click Interactions in Views
Drilling in Views
In Which Columns Can I Drill?
How Do I Allow Drilling in Columns?
What are the Effects of Drilling on Filters and Selection Steps?
Sorting Data in Views
Common Sort Functionality
Sorting Data
Clearing Sorts
Sorting in Tables and Pivot Tables
Example 1: Sorting with a Single Column on Each Edge
Example 2: Sorting with Two Columns on the Row Edge
Example 3: Sorting with Two Measures on the Column Edge
Sorting in Graphs by Using the Right-Click Menu
Resizing Rows and Columns in Table Views, Pivot Table Views, and Advanced Trellis Views
Saving Views
Renaming Views or Compound Layouts
Rearranging Views
Printing Views
Changing Print and Export Options for Views
Previewing How Views Are Displayed on a Dashboard
Removing Views
Refreshing the Results in Views
Customizing Views for Delivery to Agent Users
What Is Master-Detail Linking of Views?
What Are Master Views?
What Types of Columns Can Be Master Columns?
What Information Do Master-Detail Events Pass?
What Are Channels?
What Are Detail Views?
How Does Master-Detail Linking of Views Work?
Linking Views in Master-Detail Relationships
Defining the Master View
Defining the Detail View
Example of a Table and Graph Linked in a Master-Detail Relationship
About the Regional Sales Master View
About the Regional Sales Detail View
How the Master-Detail Linking Works for Regional Sales Master View and Regional Sales Detail View
5
Building and Using Dashboards
What Are Dashboards?
Who Creates and Edits Dashboards?
What Is the Dashboard Builder?
What Controls the Look-and-Feel of a Dashboard?
About the ALTA Style
Creating Dashboards
Editing Dashboards
Adding New Pages to Dashboards
Adding Subpages to Dashboards
Adding Content to Dashboards
Dragging and Dropping Objects to the Page Layout Area in the Dashboard Builder
Setting Advanced Page Properties
Adding
Oracle BI Publisher
Reports to Dashboard Pages
How Do
Oracle BI Publisher
Reports and Dashboard Pages Interact?
About
Oracle BI Publisher
and Dashboard Pages
Interacting with Reports on Dashboard Pages
About Briefing Books and Printing
BI Publisher
Reports
About Adding Reports to Dashboard Pages
Adding Reports to Dashboard Pages
Using Prompts with Parameterized Reports
Changing the Properties of a Dashboard and its Pages
Changing the Properties of Objects Added to Dashboard Pages
Delaying the Execution of Dashboard Pages
About Creating Custom Layouts for Printing and Exporting Dashboard Pages
Items Not Supported When Using Custom Print Layouts
Creating Custom Layouts for Printing and Exporting Dashboard Pages
Editing, Replacing, or Removing Custom Layouts
Deleting Objects on Dashboard Pages
Deleting Subpages from Dashboards
Deleting Dashboard Pages
Deleting the Current Dashboard Page
Deleting One or More Dashboard Pages
Saving Dashboards by Other Names and in Other Locations
Opening and Using Dashboards
What Are Saved Customizations for Dashboard Pages?
Example Scenarios for Creating and Using Saved Customizations
Scenario 1: Saved Customizations Created by a Group for Use by Others
Scenario 2: Saved Customizations Created for Use by an Individual User
Saving Customizations
Applying Saved Customizations
Editing Saved Customizations
Clearing Your Current Customization
About Dashboard Template Pages for New Users
How Dashboard Template Pages Work
Where Oracle BI EE Searches for Dashboard Template Pages
How Users Can Work with Dashboard Template Pages
Creating Dashboard Template Pages for New Users
Publishing Dashboard Pages
About Creating Links to Dashboard Pages
What Are Bookmark Links?
What Are Prompted Links?
Basic Syntax of Prompted Links
Parameters for Prompted Links
Expanding the Syntax of Values
Guidelines for Manipulating Prompted Links
Creating Links to Dashboard Pages
Working with Briefing Books
What Are Briefing Books?
About the Table of Contents in a PDF Version of a Briefing Book
Adding Content to New or Existing Briefing Books
Editing Briefing Books
Downloading Briefing Books
Adding a List of Briefing Books to a Dashboard Page
Using Agents to Deliver Briefing Books
6
Filtering and Selecting Data for Analyses
Saving Objects as Inline or Named
What are Inline or Named Objects?
What is the Folder Structure for Named Objects?
Saving Filters as Inline or Named
Saving Groups and Calculated Items as Inline or Named
What are Filters and Selection Steps?
How Do Filters and Selection Steps Differ?
Applying Filters to Attribute Columns to Affect Hierarchical Columns
Working with Selections of Data
Creating Selection Steps
Editing Selection Steps
Saving Selection Steps as a Group Object
Working with Selection Steps and Double Columns
Creating Column Filters
Editing Column Filters
Working with the EVALUATE_PREDICATE Function
How Can I Use the EVALUATE_PREDICATE Function with a Filter?
Adding the EVALUATE_PREDICATE Function to an Inline Filter
Applying a Named Filter to an Analysis
Combining and Grouping Column Filters
Using a Saved Analysis as a Filter
Creating and Editing the SQL Statements for a Column Filter in an Analysis
Working with Calculated Measures
Working with Groups and Calculated Items
What are Groups?
What are Calculated Items?
Creating Groups and Calculated Items
Editing Groups and Calculated Items
Adding a Group to Another Analysis
Nesting Groups and Calculated Items
Examples of Calculated Items
7
Prompting in Dashboards and Analyses
What Are Inline and Dashboard Prompts?
What are Column Prompts?
Other Prompt Types
What Types of User Input Options Can I Use With a Column or Variable Prompt?
How Do Prompts Work in Oracle BI Mobile?
Can Dashboard Prompts and Analysis Prompts Interact?
In What Order Does
Oracle BI EE
Apply Prompts with Default Values?
What Is Auto-Complete?
Creating a Column Prompt
Overriding a Selection Step With a Column Prompt
Creating an Image Prompt
Creating a Currency Prompt
Creating a Variable Prompt
Editing Prompts
Adding a Dashboard Prompt to a Dashboard or Dashboard Page
Adding a Hidden Dashboard Prompt to a Dashboard or Dashboard Page
8
Formatting Analyses, Views, and Dashboard Pages
What Can be Formatted?
Applying Formatting to Columns in Analyses
Applying Formatting to Views
Applying Formatting to Dashboard Pages
Formatting Columns in Analyses
What Kinds of Formatting Can I Apply?
Applying Formatting to a Column
Saving Formatting Defaults
What is Cosmetic Formatting?
Using a Saved Analysis to Modify the Cosmetic Appearance of Other Analyses
Where is the Import Formatting From Another Analysis Button?
Which View Types Support Imported Formatting?
How is Imported Formatting Applied?
Applying Formatting from Columns
Applying Formatting from Views
Applying Formatting from Containers
Importing Formatting Using a Saved Analysis
Applying Conditional Formatting to Tables, Pivot Tables, Performance Tiles, Graphs, Heat Matrixes, and Trellises
How is Conditional Formatting Applied?
Can Conditional Formats Be Based on Another Column?
What Factors Affect Conditional Formats?
Layout, Order, and Conditional Formats
Value Suppression and Conditional Formats
Applying Conditional Formatting
Example of Conditional Formatting for Ranking
Storing Custom Files Locally and Using the fmap Function to Reference Them
Custom Format Masks
Custom Format Strings
Custom Format Strings for Date and Time Fields
General Custom Format Strings
ODBC Custom Format Strings
Custom Format Strings for Numeric Fields
Custom Format Strings for Integral Fields
Custom Format Strings for Conversion into Hours
Custom Format Strings for Conversion into Hours and Minutes
Custom Format Strings for Conversion into Hours, Minutes, and Seconds
Custom Format Strings for Displaying Duration
9
Delivering Content
What Are Agents?
What Are Alerts?
How Agents Work
What Is the Agent Editor?
About Controlling Access to Agents
About Using Customization in Agents
Creating Agents
Viewing Summaries of Agent Settings
Saving Agents
Subscribing to Agents
Displaying a List of the Agents That You Subscribe to or That You Own
Unsubscribing from Agents
Customizing Your Agent Subscriptions
Displaying Customized Filter Values in Agent Results
Disabling and Enabling Agents' Schedules
What Are Devices and Delivery Profiles?
Configuring Your Devices and Delivery Profiles
Accessing and Managing Your Alerts
Subscribing to an RSS Feed for Alerts
10
Working with Conditions
What Are Conditions?
For What Do I Use Conditions?
What Are the Elements of a Condition?
What Are Named Conditions?
What Are Inline Conditions?
Who Creates Conditions?
Creating Named Conditions
Using Conditions to Determine Whether Agents Deliver Their Content or Execute Their Actions
Using Conditions to Determine Whether Action Links Are Displayed in Dashboard Pages
Using Conditions to Determine Whether Sections Are Displayed in Dashboard Pages
Specifying the Settings for Conditions
Editing Named Conditions
Editing, Customizing, Testing, Saving, and Disabling Conditions Used in Agents
Editing, Testing, Saving, and Removing Conditions Used in Action Links in Dashboard Pages
Editing, Testing, Saving, and Removing Conditions Used in Sections in Dashboard Pages
11
Working with Actions
What Are Actions?
What Are Action Links and Action Link Menus?
What Action Types Are Available?
Actions that Navigate to Related Content
Actions that Invoke Operations, Functions or Processes in External Systems
Who Can Create Actions?
Where Can I Add Actions?
What Are Named Actions?
What Are Inline Actions?
What Are Action Parameters?
About Conditionally Enabling Actions
About Conditionally Enabling Actions Added to Analyses
About Conditionally Enabling Actions Added to Dashboard Pages
About Conditionally Enabling Actions Added to Agents
About Customizing Information Displayed to Users on Action Execution
Creating Named Actions
Specifying the Settings for New Actions
Adding Actions to Analyses
About Adding Actions to Dashboard Pages
Adding Actions to Dashboard Pages Using Action Links
Completing the Action Link Properties Dialog
Adding Actions to Dashboard Pages Using Action Link Menus
Adding Actions to Agents
Adding Actions to KPIs
Adding Actions to Initiatives and Objectives in Scorecards
Creating a New Action Based on an Existing Named Action
Editing Named Actions
Editing Actions and Action Links Added to Analyses
Editing Actions, Action Links, and Action Link Menus Added to Dashboard Pages
Editing Actions Added to Agents
Editing Actions and Action Links Added to KPIs
Editing Actions and Actions Links Added to Initiatives and Objectives in Scorecards
Saving Inline Actions in Analyses to the Catalog
Saving Inline Actions in Dashboards to the Catalog
Testing a Named Action by Executing It
12
Using KPIs and KPI Watchlists
What Are KPIs?
How Are KPIs Evaluated?
How Can I Use KPIs?
What Are Dimensions and Pinned Dimension Values?
About KPI Privileges and Permissions
How Do I Create a KPI?
Creating KPIs
Editing KPIs
Editing KPIs from the Catalog
Editing KPIs from a KPI Watchlist
What Are Target Settings?
Prerequisites for Setting Up Target Settings in KPIs
Overview of Setting Up Target Settings in KPIs
User Interaction with Target Settings
Generating Analyses from KPIs
Creating Agents from KPIs
Contacting the Business Owner of KPIs
About Overriding Statuses of KPIs
About Adding Comments to KPIs
What Are KPI Watchlists?
Creating KPI Watchlists
Editing KPI Watchlists
13
Scorecarding
What Is
Oracle Scorecard and Strategy Management
?
What Is a Balanced Scorecard?
What Is the Scorecard Editor?
What Are Scorecard Objects?
How Do I Create a Scorecard?
About Scorecard Privileges and Permissions
Using the Edit and View Modes in the Scorecard Editor
Creating Scorecards
Opening or Editing Scorecards
Viewing Overview Information
About the Point of View Area
Setting Up the Point of View Controls
What Are Vision Statements?
Defining Vision Statements
What Are Mission Statements?
Defining Mission Statements
What Are Perspectives?
Creating Custom Perspectives
What Are Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)?
What Are Objectives?
Creating Objectives
Completing the Analytics Pane for Objectives or Initiatives
What Are Initiatives?
Creating Initiatives
Contacting Business Owners
About Comments
Working with Comments
Working with Comments in the Collaboration pane
Working with Comments in Watchlists
Working with Comments in the Diagram Tab of a View
Understanding Initiative or Objective Performance Assessment
About Assessment Mappings
Example of Determining the Performance Assessment for an Objective Based on Child Objectives
Example of Determining the Performance Assessment for an Objective Based on a Child KPI
Defining Assessment Mappings for Scorecards
Assigning Weights to Child Objectives, Initiatives and KPIs
About Status Overrides
Working with Status Overrides
Working with Status Overrides in Watchlists
Working with Status Overrides in the Diagram Tab of a View
What Are Strategy Trees?
Understanding a Strategy Tree Diagram
Understanding a Strategy Contribution Wheel Diagram
Creating Strategy Trees
What Are Strategy Maps?
Creating Strategy Maps
What Are Cause & Effect Maps?
Creating Cause & Effect Maps
Understanding Watchlists
Customizing Watchlists
What Are KPI Watchlists?
Working with KPI Details
What Are Smart Watchlists?
Creating Smart Watchlists
What Are Custom Views?
Creating Custom Views
Opening Scorecard Objects
Editing Scorecard Objects
Deleting Scorecard Objects
Adding Scorecard Objects to Dashboards
Troubleshooting
14
Managing Objects in the
Oracle BI Presentation Catalog
What is the Oracle BI Presentation Catalog?
Who Uses the Catalog?
Saving Business Intelligence Objects
How Can I Search for Objects?
Basic Catalog Search
Full-Text Catalog Search
Searching for Objects in the Catalog
Object-Specific Tasks
What Are Favorites?
Adding Objects to Favorites
Accessing Favorite Objects
Organizing Favorites
Removing Objects From Favorites
Exporting Analyses, KPIs, and Analysis Prompts Data
Accessing Properties
Levels of Oracle BI EE Security
What Are Permissions?
How Are an Object's Permission Assigned?
Access Control Lists and Permissions
Permission Definitions
Permissions Available by Object Type
Recommendations for Setting Permissions
Assigning Permissions
Who Owns an Object?
Assigning Ownership of Objects
Taking Ownership of Objects
What is Archiving?
Archiving Objects
15
Using BI Composer to Work with Analyses
What Is BI Composer?
Where Is BI Composer Available?
Availability of BI Composer in
Oracle BI Enterprise Edition
Comparing the Analysis Editor and BI Composer
What Types of Views Can I Work with in BI Composer?
What Are the Steps for Creating or Editing an Analysis in BI Composer?
Creating Analyses Using BI Composer
Editing Analyses Using BI Composer
Viewing Analyses in BI Composer
Editing Analyses Created by Using the Analysis Editor
A
Basic Information to Tell Your Users
About Exporting Results
Exporting Results
About Exporting Dashboards and Dashboard Pages
About Sorting Values in
Heat Matrix Views,
Table Views, Pivot Table Views, and Trellis Views
About Resizing Rows and Columns in Views
About Drilling in Results
What is Drilling?
Where Can I Drill?
Drilling in Heat Matrixes, Tables, Pivot Tables, and Trellises
Drilling in Attribute Columns
Drilling in Hierarchical Columns
Drilling in Graphs
About Running Actions Using Action Links and Action Link Menus in Analyses and Dashboards
About Running Actions Associated with Action Links in Analyses and Dashboards
Using Section Sliders in Graphs, Gauges, and Funnels
About Working with Map Views on Dashboard Pages
Panning in Map Views
Zooming in Map Views
Drilling in Map Views
Modifying Thresholds for Formats on a Map View
Showing or Hiding Formats on a Map View
Zooming and Scrolling in Graphs
About Working with Views that Are Linked in Master-Detail Relationships
Modifying Data in a Table View in a Dashboard Page or Analysis
About Handling Errors for Write Back
Accessing
Oracle BI Publisher
Reports in Dashboards
Using the Oracle BI Publisher Toolbar on a Dashboard Page
About Navigating With Breadcrumbs
Printing Dashboard Pages
About Working with Scorecard Objects
Modifying a KPI's Actual and Target Values
B
Accessibility Features
Using Accessibility Features
What are Accessibility Features?
Signing In Using Keystrokes
Changing to Accessibility Mode
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts for
Oracle BI EE
and
Oracle BI Publisher
Navigating on the Home Page
Navigating in
Oracle Business Intelligence
Dashboards
Designing for Accessibility
Obtaining General Information
Avoiding Common Misconceptions
Following Best Practice Recommendations
Following General Guidelines for Accessible Content
Font Selection
Color Selection
Using Color with Text
Color Contrast
Designing Dashboards that are Accessible
Promoting a Consistent Structure
Keeping Dashboard Pages Simple
Enhancing On-Screen Content
Providing Alternate Displays
Including Descriptions for Analyses
Working with Styles for Dashboards
Creating Custom Styles and Skins
Creating Custom Themes
Applying a Style to a Dashboard
Avoiding Prohibited Features
Using Objects to Enhance Accessibility
Switching Content with View Selectors
Using Static Text Objects for Custom HTML Markup
Scripting on this page enhances content navigation, but does not change the content in any way.