Cognos ReportNet (CRN) Interview Questions & Answers

Question 1. How To Drill Through From A Powerplay Cube To Reportnet?

Answer :

Setting up drill-through access from PowerPlay Web to ReportNet involves :

1. configuring Cognos Series 7 for drill-through access to ReportNet
2. preparing the Transformer model and cube
3. copying the search path of the folder that contains the target report
4. enabling the cube for drill-through access to ReportNet
5. deciding which filters to create in the target report
6. creating the target report
7. disabling the Drill Through Assistant

Question 2. How To Create Prompts In Report Net?

Answer :

Prompts is meant by the end user can be filter the data.

• u can open the explore bar and added the new prompts page, And enter the new name.
• u go to tool menu and track prompts button.
• u select prompts and then ok.

Question 3. Explain What Is Difference Between Query Studio And Report Studio?

Answer :

Query Studio:

1. Used to create Ad-hoc (or) simple reports.
2. It does not provide any pre-defined report templates.
3. It directly displays data (without running the report) when we insert attributes in the report.

Report Studio:

1. Used to create complex reports.
2. It provides pre-defined report templates.
3. It does not display the data directly in the report. We need to run the report to display the data.

Question 4. What Is The Difference Between Powerplay Transformer And Power Play Reports?

Answer :

• 'Powerplay transformer' is an 'MOLAP' tool using which one can create multi dimensional structure called "CUBE".
• 'Powerplay for reports' is used to generate report from the cube.Only one report can be generated from one cube.If u want 'n' reports u must create 'n' cubes.

Question 5. Explain What Are Components Of Report Studio?

Answer :

Components of Report Studio:

1. Insertable Objects pane.
2. Properties pane.
3. Explorer bar - Conditional Explorer, Query Explorer, Page Explorer.
4. Report Viewer - Work area, Report Layout Objects.

Question 6. Explain What Are The Advantages Of Query Studio Compared To Report Studio?

Answer :

The query studio is used to create adhoc reports, it is easy to understand the bussiness user.The report studio is mainly used to create proffessional and corporate reports, it is not like query studio it is having mainly 3 explorers those are page explorer,conditional explorer and variable explorer by using these it is working.

You can view the output in the work area itself while creating the reports in QS but in report studio only when u run the report you can view the values ie the output.

Question 7. How To Generate The Cubes In Framework Manager?

Answer :

• You can create the IQD file from framework manager.
• This IQD file will be used by Transformer to create the cube.
• Use Externalize method to import IQD files.

Question 8. Explain The Versions Of Reportnet?

Answer :

In ReprotNet have two vertions:

1. ReportNet 1.0
2. ReportNet 1.1 MR1, MR2

Question 9. Explain The Difference Between Native Sql And Cognos Sql?

Answer :

In cognos reportnet

• Native SQL is used for the single datasource to import the meta data.
• Cognos SQL used for multiple datasources to import the metadata.

Question 10. Explain Is There Any Comparison Available For Cognos Reportnet Vs Crystal Reports?

Answer :

There is a lot of difference between Crystal reports an Cognos Report net:

1. Crystal report is a product of Business Objects where as Reportnet is of cognos.
2. Cryatal reports is for only low 2 midrange analysis and that to some even says tha they wont use this for analysis used to make proper strategic decision But report net yes it is for high end analysis.
3. In reportnet we can login through web and can create our own desired report through web.

Question 11. Explain How To Generate Iqd File From Framework Manager?

Answer :

Create a Query Subject, from the properties pane select externalise,there we have 4 options in that select IQD

Question 12. Suppose Your Client Wants To Ensure Only Specific Users Can Create Reports In Query Studio With Other Users Creating Reports Using Report Studio. How Can This Be Accomplished?

Answer :

Create 2 roles . One role can be given access to create reports in RS and the other role may be denied.

Question 13. Explain What Are Components Of Reportnet?

Answer :

ReportNet has a three-tier architecture, namely,

1. Web server 
2. Applications and 
3. Data.

The tiers are based on business function, and are typically separated by firewalls. ReportNet user interfaces sit above the tiers.ReportNet user interfaces include

• Web-based Cognos Connection, Cognos Report Studio, and Query Studio.
• Windows-based Framework Manager.

Question 14. Explain The Difference Between Dw And Bi?

Answer :

There may be a Feature film (movie) without a Trialer.But there will be no trialer without a movie.similarly Data warehousing is a concept related to extracting client's business data and applying business processing features on that data according to user needs and finally loading the processed data into a database,this database is what we call a warehouse or data warehouse.

After the completion of a data warehouse the business user ultimately want to view his data (a precise and summary data)but as a business person he may don't have knowledge of accessing a database( a computer person can access the database with SQL)..

so there comes olap toos(which help that person to access the database )we can call these olap tools as Business Intelligence tools(Intelligence in sense they generate sql queries internally and provide lot of facilities and privileges for a reporting developers in formating the data and presenting it in a higly convenient manner).

So data warehouse(movie) is a database and business intelligence tools(trialers) present the content of a database in an effecticient manner.

Question 15. Explain What Are The Various File Formats Involved In Reportnet?

Answer :

It has six (6) formats in report net. They are HTML, PDF, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, CSV, and XML format. We can see the types of formats in the report viewer on the right side

Question 16. How To Provide Security In Frame Work Manager For A Query Subject?

Answer :

procedure for providing security for query subject in frame work manager is:

select querysubject -> in properties pane select ->security filters(click on edit)a specify data security wizard appears->click on add groups -> cognosnamesspace(select users and groups wizard opens)

Question 17. What Is Prompt Types Of Prompts?use Of Prompts Syntax Of Prompt?

Answer :

Prompts act as questions that help users to customize the information in a report to suit their own needs.

The different types of Prompt are :

• Value prompt
• Text Prompt
• Date prompt
• Time prompt
• Date and time prompt

Using prompts is faster and easier than repeatedly changing the filter.Cognos Report Studio provides several ways to create prompts.

You can :

• use the Build Prompt Page tool
• build your own prompt and prompt page
• create a parameter to produce a prompt
• create a Prompt directly in a report page

Question 18. What Function Should We Use To Display The Value Entered Or Selected By A User In Response To A Prompt?

Answer :

We have a function called param Display Value. By using this function we can display the parameter value selected in prompt.

Question 19. Explain What Are Necessary Tasks To Install Reportnet Software?

Answer :

You need to do the following for a standard installation process:

1. Verify your system requirements like RAM Minimum: 512 MB, a Web server installed and started
2. Review the ReportNet default settings like default ReportNet ports and URI settings.
3. Create the database for the content store which means you must create the database that is used for the content store using either Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or DB2 UDB. ReportNet uses this database to store, organize, and retrieve information.
4. Install ReportNet: Use the installation wizard to select the components you want to install and the location on your computer where you want to install them.
5. Set up the database client for the content store (Oracle and DB2): If you use Oracle or DB2 as the database server for the content store, additional steps are required after you install ReportNet before you can configure ReportNet. you need to go to the 6th step only when installing on UNIX. For Windows above 5 steps are good.
6. Update Your Java Environment: Before you can use the cryptographic operations, such as data encryption and key management, implemented by ReportNet, you must check that the required JAR (Java Archive) files are present in your Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

Question 20. How To Test Report In Reportnet?

Answer :

If we wanna test the report in report net, first we can intially check by validating it in the report page.

After that we can test the out put of the report Using a sql anlyser and sql query.so here we will be comparing the sql analyzer output with the output of the report viewer.

Question 21. Explain What Is The Main Advantage Of Impromptu Over Cognos Reportnet?

Answer :

One of the advantage's of Reportnet, is:

• It is web-based reporting wherein, reports can be easily accessed from anywhere through a browser.

By using ipromptu we can use multidimensional analysis to see the data in diff formates.i.e we have drillup,drilldown features in cognos impromtu,but it is not possible in reportnet.

Question 22. Explain What Is The Difference Between Powerplay Transformer And Power Play Reports?

Answer :

• 'Powerplay transformer' is an 'MOLAP' tool using which one can create multi dimensional structure called "CUBE".
• 'Powerplay for reports' is used to generate report from the cube.Only one report can be generated from one cube.If u want 'n' reports u must create 'n' cubes.

Question 23. Is Framework Manager An Unneeded Overhead? As We Know Report Studio Allows Us To Create The Data Model From A Query And Thereby Skipping Framework Manager. Given That This Feature Is Available, In What Scenarios Would One Want To Skip Framework Manager?

Answer :

Actually the it is not possible to make reports without packages and packages can be build in FM. So no way one can skip FM and create reports.Adding to it,we need metadata (created in FM) to create relations among tables or views and also creating objects which satisfies reporting need.

Question 24. How To Define A Cube?

Answer :

Its a multidimensional view of dimension and measures. It is used to analyze the data in various aspects, which is called slicing and dicing

Question 25. Explain What Is The Extension Of File To Save Template?

Answer :

Template extension is .imt

Question 26. What Is Difference Between Model & Package?

Answer :

Model:

• Model is a representation of the metadata structures(imported from the soure datawarehouse).
• A model contains organized metadata objects(organizing depends on business needs).
• After the completion of a model(obviously in a framework manager environment) it has to submitted to ReportNet server.

Package:

• There enterts the object called Package.
• A Package compresses(or includes) the developed meta data definitions and publishes (forwards) it to ReportNet server.
• Then the reportnet server moves it into a content store(repositiry) and now this repository acts as a source for report developers for generating various types of reports(list reports, cross tab reports etc etc.)

Question 27. Explain What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Reporting Directly Against The Database?do You Always Need To Copy The Data Before Reporting On It?(example, Real-time & On-demand Reporting Is A Requirement)?

Answer :

There isnt any need to copy the data before reporting on as long as the data is clean. But if the data is not clean it should be cleansed and so go for ETL process.

Adv of reporting directly against the database(OLTP): No need to sepertaley maintain a Database for it.(Space consumption is recduced).

Disadv of reporting directly against the database(OLTP): It slows down the process bcoz OLTP system is designed for the online application but a DataWarehouse application which requires to do analysis and hence takes the same data but takes a long time.

Question 28. How To Allow A Dynamic Selection Of A Column For A Measure In A Chart,without Using Variable?

Answer :

• We can in do it in this way. first creat a list report in which u have a calculated item in the starting.
• Then creat a prompt page with a value prompt.In value prompt creat static choice of which u want to be dynamically displayed.
• Let the parameter of value prompt be ?Par1? and the choices as Revenue, Cost.
• Now u write the expression of the calculated item in the report page as follows, "If ?Par1?=Revenue then Revenue else Cost.
• Here Revenue,Cost should b dragged from the Model Items. So now the calculated item column displays the value of the one selected in the prompt.
• Now make a graph using the list report,then place the calculated item on the axis of the chart ,which u wanted to display dynamically based on ur selection.
• So now if u select Revenue in the prompt then the grph will take the values for Revenue.And if u select Cost then graph will be with the values of Cost.

Question 29. Explain The Difference Between Filter And Condition?

Answer :

The difference between Filter and Condition:Condition returns true or false Ex: if Country = 'India' then ...Filter will return two types of results

1. Detail information which is equal to where clause in SQL statement
2. Summary information which is equal to Group by and Having clause in SQL statement

Question 30. Explain Can Report Net Connect Multiple Datasource At A Time In Report Creation Time?

Answer :

Yes it can connect multiple datasources at a time when the frame work manager has the metta data regarding that datasources.

Question 31. How To Limit The Max No Of Rows Retrieved In The Report?

Answer :

We can limit the maximum number of rows by setting the web page size option in the manage file tab in the report studio.

Question 32. What Is The Use Of Tabular Model, Tabular Sql, Tabular Reference In Real Time Application?

Answer :

• Tabular model: It is the basic list query. It contain the data items, filters and child tabular objects.
• Tabular SQL: We can write and edit our own SQL
• Tabular ref: It is a shortcut to another tabular object somewhere in another query within the same report specification.
• Tabular set: Tabular set object returns a single result set using union, intersect or minus operators