Universe Design Tool Tutorial Pdf

Business Objects Designer is a software tool that allows you to create universes for WebIntelligence and Desktop Intelligence users.

What is a universe?

A universe is a file that contains the following:

Connection parameters for one or more database middleware.
SQL structures called objects that map to actual SQL structures in the database such as columns, tables, and database functions. Objects are grouped into classes. Objects and classes are both visible to Web Intelligence users.
A schema of the tables and joins used in the database. Objects are built from the
database structures that you include in your schema. The schema is only available to
Designer users. It is not visible to Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence users.

Web Intelligence users connect to a universe, and run queries against a database. Theycan do data analysis and create reports using the objects in a universe, without seeing, orhaving to know anything about, the underlying data structures in the database.

What is the role of a universe?

The role of a universe is to provide an easy to use and understand interface for non-technical Web Intelligence users to run queries against a database to create reports and perform data analysis.

As the universe designer, you use Designer to create objects that represent database structures, for example columns and database functions, that users need to access and query, to get the information necessary to meet their business requirements.

The objects that you create in the universe must be relevant to the end user business environment and vocabulary. Their role is to present a business focussed front end to the SQL structures in the database.

What does a universe contain?

A universe contains the following structures

Classes
Objects

Classes

A class is a logical grouping of objects within a universe. It represents a category of objects. The name of a class should indicate the category of the objects that it contains. A class can be divided hierarchically into sub classes.

Objects

An object is a named component that maps to data or a derivation of data in the database. The name of an object should be drawn from the business vocabulary of the targeted user group. For example, objects used in a universe used by a product manager could be Product, Life Cycle, or Release Date. A universe used by a financial analyst could contain objects such as Profit Margin or Return on Investment.

Types of objects

In Designer, objects are qualified as one of three types: dimension, detail, or measure.

Types of objects

Note:

Refer to your reporting tool to determine the maximum number of digits that can be accurately used for measures. For example, Web Intelligence correctly handles 15-digit numbers, but longer numbers are rounded.

Objects infer SQL structures displayed in a schema

The objects that Web Intelligence users see in a universe infer SQL structures that you have inserted into a database schema. You, as the universe designer, create this schema based on the tables and joins that are required to return the data, needed by users for their analysis and report creation.

The schema is a part of the universe file, but is only visible and accessible in Designer. You create the schema in the "Structure pane" of the "Universe window". A schema is shown below for the sample universe Beach.unv.

Objects infer SQL structures displayed in a schema

How are objects presented in a universe?

Objects are displayed as nodes in a "Tree explorer" view in the "Universe pane". You use the object explorer to create, delete, copy, view, and move classes and objects.

Viewing the universe window

The "Universe window" in Designer is shown below. It contains both the "Universe" pane(also visible in Web Intelligence) and the "Structure pane" (visible only in Designer).

Viewing the universe window