Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart

Are you in the right session?

1. Do you need additional reports from Oracle Applications?
2. Do you need reports that combine data from Oracle Applications with
other sources such as:
 Legacy data
 In-house systems other than Oracle Applications
 Vendor and/or customer information not supported in Oracle
Applications
1. Have you been in a meeting where several people had the same report
but with different totals or had multiple definitions for the same data
item?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you are in the right
session.
Using Discoverer to Build a
Reporting Data Mart
Barry Markovic
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data
Mart
Agenda
1. Why build a Reporting Data Mart
2. Building a Reporting Data Mart
3. Using Discoverer to extend analytical and reporting
capabilities
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Why Build a Reporting Data Mart?
1. Provide reports with both Oracle and non-Oracle Applications data
2. Improve overall system performance
3. Standardize reporting formats and terminology
4. Reduce cost and time to develop customer analysis and reports
Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Why Build a Reporting Data Mart?
1. Provide reports with both Oracle Applications
and non-Oracle Applications data
A. Integrating legacy data
B. Integrating non-Oracle Applications data
 Partners
 Market research
 Competitors
A. Date Transformation
 Data Cleansing
 Data Summarization
 Data Categorization
Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Why Build a Reporting Data Mart?
2. Improve overall system performance
A. Create custom tables designed for reporting requirements
 Reduce the number of tables needed in queries
 Filter data when loading tables based on reporting requirements
 Create indexes on data elements for quicker data retrieval
 De-normalize data for quicker response time
 Create summary tables for management level reporting
A. Avoid using Oracle Applications tables while they are being
updated on-line
 Move Data Mart tables to another server
 Schedule extracts from Oracle Applications tables during non-
peak times
Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Why Build a Reporting Data Mart?
3. Standardize Reporting Formats and Terminology
A. Provide a snapshot of the data for reporting
 All reports run throughout the day provide the same results.
A. Create standard calculations for Key Performance Indicators
 Profit Margin
 Net Sales
 Etc.
A. Create time sensitive data elements
 Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly
 Production Planning, Sales Forecasts, Cash Flow, Etc.
A. Use Business terminology rather than Oracle data column names
 Create a user-friendly data dictionary
Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Why Build a Reporting Data Mart?
4. Reduce cost and time for developing custom analysis
and reports
A. Simplify procedures for accessing business data
B. Minimize Information Technology staff time
C. Allow users to do their own ad hoc analysis
D. Allow users to create standard production reports
E. Allow “super-user” to perform administrative tasks
Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Building a Reporting Data Mart
Basic Steps
1. Plan and Launch the Project
2. Define Business Requirements
3. Define the Technical Architecture
4. Selecting Data Warehouse Tools
5. Design Dimensional Data Models
6. Create Users’ Analytical Applications
7. Build the Data Staging Applications
8. Maintain and Sustain the Data Warehouse
 Discoverer Data Mart Architecture
Discoverer
Oracle Application Tables Reports

Data Mart
Accounts Order Oracle Tables
Receivable Entry Discoverer
Administrator
Network
Printer

Custom
Extraction,
Developed Oracle Network Users
Inventory Transformation
SQL Discoverer Who View or
Develop Reports
and Load
Extract Admin. and
Programs
Programs Reporting
(SQL, PL/SQL) Tools
Internet
Network Users
Who View or
Other Develop Reports
Oracle
Application Non-Oracle Custom
Tables Application Meta Data Discoverer
Reports Discoverer
Tables Tables Reports
1. Legacy Local Printer
2. Suppliers Remote Users
Who View or
3. Customers Develop Reports
 Discoverer Data Mart Architecture - Building Tables

Oracle Application Tables

Order Non-Oracle
Entry Application Tables
Accounts 1. Legacy
Receivable 2. Suppliers
3. Customers

Inventory

Extraction,
Transformation
and Load Data Mart
Programs Oracle Tables
(SQL, PL/SQL)
Other Oracle
Application
Tables
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Building Data Mart Tables
1. Based on reporting requirements
2. Standardize technical elements
 Table and column naming conventions
 Use defined prefix to identify the Oracle Source table
 Use defined prefix to identify calculated columns
1. Standardize business terminology and calculations
 Net Sales: Include/exclude samples, promotions, returns, recalls
 Identify quantity versus dollar amount
 Time dimensions: Year-to-date, Prior year, monthly, etc.
 Calculations: customized for each organization
 Forecast that includes year-to-date net shipments plus sales forecast for the
remainder of the year.
 Cross-Reference of Prefix to Oracle Table
# Prefix Oracle Table or View # Prefix Oracle Table or View
1 Co ra_contacts 10 Pd so_picking_line_details
2 Dl wsh_deliveries 11 Ph so_picking_headers
3 Dp wsh_departures 12 Pl so_picking_lines
4 Fu fnd_users 13 Pr so_price_lists
5 Ho so_order_holds 14 Ra ra_addresses
6 Mc mtl_categories 15 Rc ra_customers
7 Oh so_headers 16 Ro ra_contacts
8 Ol so_lines 17 Rr mtl_so_rma_receipts
9 Op hr_operating_units 18 Rs ra_site_uses
 Order Entry Items - Business Definitions
# Report Column Transaction(s) / Comments
1 Entered Orders Entered Orders Entered Orders which have not been booked in Oracle's
Order Entry cycle.
2 Booked Orders Booked Orders Booked Orders. May or may not be shipped.
3 Cancel Cancelled Orders Cancelled Orders cannot have been shipped.
4 Bookings Entered Orders + Booked Orders - Cancelled Orders - Returns
Bookings include any item on order less cancelled orders less
items returned. This is the same as Open orders plus net
shipments. It is essentially what has been or will be sold.
Note Open Orders at the end of a year are automatically
included in Bookings for the new year.
5 Gross Ship Total Shipped Items shipped which may or may not be returned.
6 Net Ship Total Shipped – Returns Shipped items which have not been returned.
7 Net Open Order Entered Orders + Booked Orders - Cancelled Orders –Total Shipped
Items which are currently on Order but have not been shipped.
Returns will not affect Net Open Orders (If an item is returned, it will
not automatically become an open order).
8 Return Returns Returns are not recognized until items received or
customer documents the items were destroyed.
 Standard Reporting Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefix Business Meaning Suffix Business Meaning
CY Current Year QTY Quantity (Units)
CYTD Current Year To Date AMT Currency (Dollars)
CM Current Month PCT Percent
CMTD Current Month To Date AVG Average
CM+1 Next Month
PY Prior Year
PYTD Prior Year To Date
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Building Data Mart Tables - continued
4. Extract Programs
 Primarily SQL scripts with some PL/SQL
 Ease of development and maintainability primary factors
4. Transformations
 De-normalized data for ease of reporting
 Embed common calculations
4. Load Programs
 Designed for ease of loading on a nightly basis
 Used multiple load steps rather than more complicated logic
 Designed to run concurrent processes
 Scheduled in off-peak time: 2:00 AM through 5:00 AM
 Sample Data Staging Architecture

Oracle Oracle Application

Tables
Nightly SQL Scripts to
extract data into custom
designed Oracle tables that
Legacy Sales
Shipping Data

Application Order Entry, A/R, are part of the Sales

from Access

Application Tables
Inventory, etc. Reporting Data Mart
database
Lf_Disc_So_Lines.sql
PART 1
Tables
Nightly SQL Scripts to One time set of
Nightly SQLScript to One time set of SQL
extract data into custom SQL Scripts to
extract Inventory Item Scripts to extract data
designed Oracle tables that extract data into
into custom designed

Non-Oracle
Quantity and Cost custom designed
are part of the Sales Oracle tables that are
Information and merge Oracle tables that
Reporting Data Mart part of the Sales
it with Item
SQL Scripts PART 1 are part of the
classification Reporting Data Mart
Sales Reporting
information Data Mart
Part 1: Create Detail
Table LF Disc So
Headers LF Disc So
All data from Lines LF Disc So
LF Disc So
Oracle Apps All data Lines
Headers
from Oracle History
History
LF Disc Item Apps

Temporary Onhand
Details by Sub-
inventory
Nightly script to join header
records - Modified to only
extract current and prior year Nightly script to join line
records - Modified to only
Tables records based on run time
parameter
Lf_Disc_So_Headers.sql
extract current and prior
year records based on run
Nightly SQLScript to PART 2 time parameter
extract Inventory Item lf_disc_so_lines.sql

Discoverer Tools
Quantity and Cost One time PART 2
Information and SQL

SQL Scripts
merge it with Item Loader
classification script LF Disc So
information
Headers V - LF Disc So

and Reports
Part 2: Create
Current and Lines V -
Summary Table
Week Prior year Only Current and

Data Mart Tables Lookup

Table
Prior year only

LF Disc Item Onhand Sales Reporting

Summary by Folder Discoverer Reports
Operating Unit Oracle Applications Open Orders; Sales
and Legacy Data Analysis; Sales
Orders, etc.
 Discoverer Data Mart Architecture - Administration

Discoverer
Administrator Meta Data
1. Business Areas
Oracle Discoverer 2. Folders (Views)
Administrator 3. Users
Tool 4. Security
5. Calculations
6. Summaries
7. Hierarchies
8. Data Definitions
Data Mart
Oracle Tables
Folder loaded directly
from an Oracle table

Folder created from

joining other folders
using foreign keys

Folder created using SQL to

extract directly from Oracle
table(s). This occurs at run time.
 Discoverer Data Mart Architecture - Reporting

Meta Data Discoverer

Client Server
1. Business Areas Network Reports
2. Folders (Views) Connection Network Users
3. Users Who View or Network
Develop Reports Printer
4. Security
5. Calculations
6. Summaries Oracle
7. Hierarchies Discoverer
8. Data Definitions Reporting Internet
Tools Intranet
Network Users
Who View or
Develop Reports

Custom Discoverer
Data Mart Discoverer Reports
Oracle Tables Reports Remote Users
Who View or Local Printer
Develop Reports
 Discoverer Data Mart Architecture
Discoverer
Oracle Application Tables Reports

Data Mart
Accounts Order Oracle Tables
Receivable Entry Discoverer
Administrator
Network
Printer

Custom
Extraction,
Developed Oracle Network Users
Inventory Transformation
SQL Discoverer Who View or
Develop Reports
and Load
Extract Admin. and
Programs
Programs Reporting
(SQL, PL/SQL) Tools
Internet
Network Users
Who View or
Other Develop Reports
Oracle
Application Non-Oracle Custom
Tables Application Meta Data Discoverer
Reports Discoverer
Tables Tables Reports
1. Legacy Local Printer
2. Suppliers Remote Users
Who View or
3. Customers Develop Reports
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Create Users’ Analytical Applications
Oracle’s description of Discoverer Plus:
 End-user data access and analytical reporting tool
1. Discoverer provides:
 On-line access to pre-defined reports via Corporate Network or
Internet/Intranet
 Batch printed reports
 Reports not available in Oracle Applications
 More data or less data
 Different sort
 Filtered data
 Different totals and/or different page breaks
 Etc.
 Using Discoverer To Create a Reporting Data Mart
Create Users’ Analytical Applications
2. Discoverer Plus Reporting Strengths:
 Good user interface for creating reports and ad-hoc analysis
 Drill down and up between summarized and detail data
 Easy to move data elements between columns and rows
 Easy to create exception reporting
 Can include graphical reports
 Can define run time parameters to allow users flexibility in
selecting data
 Easy to transfer data to other tools such as Excel
Selecting data for analysis
Formatting report layout
Set conditions for filtering data
Using run time parameters
Setting sort fields and properties
Creating Custom Calculations
Available Functions
Entering Run Time Parameters
Checking Query Run Time
Query Results
Drop Down Selection of Values
Swapping Row and Column Items
Using Exceptions for Specified Values
Using Exceptions for Specified Values
Cross Table Report Format
Drill Up / Down Based on Hierarchies
Drilling to Specific Data Items
Graphical Reporting
Scheduled Reports
More Complex Reports
Barry Markovic
(630) 513-6208
[email protected]
www.iodatasphere.com