Hidden Features of Brio Intelligence

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Hidden Features of
Brio Intelligence
Mark Ostroff
Principal Systems Consultant
T H E B U S I N E S S P E R F O R M A N C E S O F T W A R E C O M P A N Y™
Agenda
Unused Documented Features
Feature Side-Effects
“Undocumented” Features
Unused Documented Features
• Creating global JS code
• Incremental Drilling
• Creating reusable custom metadata settings
• Writing back to the database (under strict code
control, of course)
• Trapping client run-time errors
• “Hidden” Brio Object Model items
• Using the BRIOUNIQ repository table
• Setting the ODS max. processing memory
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
3
Creating global JS code
• Problem:
– How to define JS code once that applies to all BQY
documents
• Solution:
– Create a Custom Menu
• How to:
– Define using Tools | Customize menu
– Terminate all code lines with semi-colon
– No comments allowed
– Definitions stored in BQTOOLS.INI
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Incremental Drilling
• Problem:
– How to provide drilling without fetching huge amounts
of data
• Solution:
– Combine pre-defined drilling with Drill-to-Detail
• How to:
– Set a Topic or MetaTopic as a Dimension
– Turn on the Drill-to-Detail option
– Create a query and change the data function of the
facts to be a summary function
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
5
Creating Reusable Metadata Settings
• Problem:
– How to set up custom metadata settings so they can
be reused
• Solution:
– Add the settings to the BQMETA0.INI file so they
appear in the MetaData Wizard
• How to:
– Use the Custom setting in the MetaData Wizard to
create the initial settings
– Once the settings are working, add them to the
BQMETA0.INI file (and make a backup copy)
– Set up your network to copy the INI file to content
creators’ desktops
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Writing back to the database
Under strict code control, of course
• Problem:
– Need to update the data from within a BQY document
• Solution:
– Use the SendSQL() method
• How to:
– Create a dashboard application that uses the
SendSQL() method
– Control the database connection
– Control what fields can be updated
– Use exception handling and transaction control
– Validate the new values before writing to the database
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Trapping run-time errors
• Problem:
– Need to control how run-time errors are handled
• Solution:
– Use TRY-CATCH exception handling
• How to:
– Wrap any code that might generate an error at runtime inside a try{} catch {} block
– You can also use a try{} finally{} block for global
cleanup
• Most common usage:
– Trapping DB connection errors
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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“Hidden” Brio Object Model Items
• Problem:
– Not all BOM Objects appear in the Object Browser
• Solution:
– Use the Help system and the Brio Object Model & EIS
Development Reference Manual
• Why:
– The Object Browser only displays objects that exist
– Since all JS code is developed in BQ Designer or
Explorer, none of the Insight/QuickView/FreeView
objects will exist during development
– Hence, no web-only objects will appear in the Object
Browser
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Using the BRIOUNIQ Repository Table
• Problem:
– Heavily used Brio servers with multiple document
publishers may create duplicate ID numbers
• Solution:
– BRIOUNIQ table was added in v6.2.3
– Server upgrades will not auto-create the BRIOUNIQ
table
• How to:
CREATE TABLE BRIOUNIQ (UNIQUE_ID type)
INSERT INTO BRIOUNIQ (UNIQUE_ID) VALUES (value)
Where "type" is the appropriate integer numeric data
type for the database server and "value" is the new
starting unique ID value.
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
10
Setting ODS Max Processing Memory
• Problem:
– How to optimize ODS performance when dealing with
larger BQY file result sets
• Solution:
– Increase the Max Memory per Process setting
• How to:
– Launch the Brio Server Admin Tool
– Right-click on the ODS name, choose Modify
– Change the Max Memory on the Settings tab
or
– Hand edit the ODS.INI file and change the
BQ_MAXIMUM_PROCESSING_MEMORY param
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Agenda
Unused Documented Features
Feature Side-Effects
“Undocumented” Features
Feature Side-Effects
Using existing features in new ways
• Creating JS routines that respond to changes
• Aggregate navigation
• Eliminating fields from the drill path on-the-fly
• Exporting a section vs. a document
• Surfacing the Windows File-Save dialog
• Using alternative color settings
• Showing all numbers as positive, yet have
correct totals
• Creating self-maintaining BCS messages
• Optimizing ODS/BCS Repository access
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Creating generic JS routines
• Problem:
– Need to create generic JavaScript so users can
change section names, add new sections, etc. without
breaking the code
• Solution:
– Reference everything by array index and type code
constant
• How to:
– Everything has a Type property
– Every collection can be used as an array
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Aggregate navigation
• Problem:
– Need to auto-adjust SQL query to access aggregate
tables when appropriate
• Solution:
– Use the OnPreProcess() method to modify the SQL
that gets sent to the database server
• How to:
– Add JS code to OnPreProcess to parse the SQL to
determine how to modify
– Save the original SQL so it can be restored in the
OnPostProcess() method
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Eliminating drill-path fields on-the-fly
• Problem:
– Only want certain fields to appear in the drill path
without creating a Table section (since that would
increase BQY file size due to data duplication)
• Solution:
– Use the OnPostProcess() method to remove fields
from the Results section
• How to:
– Use the Columns[“xxx”].Remove() method
– Use the OnPreProcess() method to add the fields back
in so computed items calculate properly
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Exporting a section vs. a document
Controlling HTML exports
• Problem:
– Want to produce HTML that looks like a BQY file
• Solution:
– Use Export as Web Page instead of Export to HTML
• How to:
– Interactively:
• Use File | Export | Document as Web Page
– In JavaScript:
• For Export as Web Page, use the
ActiveDocument.Export()
method
• For Export to HTML, use the
ActiveDocument.Sections[“xxx”].Export() method
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Surfacing the Windows File-Save dialog
• Problem:
– Do not want to hard code the export type or location
• Solution:
– Use the Export() method without parameters
• How to:
– Code your Export() method with no values within the
function’s parentheses:
ActiveDocument.Export()
ActiveDocument.Sections[xxx].Export()
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Using Alternative Color Settings
• Problem:
– Need to set an EIS object to a color other that the
standard BqColorType settings
• Solution:
– Use the decimal equivalent of the RGB code
• How to:
– MyColor = <favorite RGB number>
– Rect1.Fill.Color = MyColor
– Can use 0x### syntax for Hex-based numbers
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Showing all numbers as positive
While having correct totals
• Problem:
– Some reports need to show both debits and credits as
positive numbers, but the combined numbers should
still create proper totals
• Solution:
– Create a custom number format where positive and
negative numbers display the same way
• How to:
– Use Format | Number menu, then select “Custom”
from the category list
– Define the format as:
#,##0.00;#,##0.00
or:
$#,##0.00;$#,##0.00
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
20
Creating self-maintaining BCS messages
• Problem:
– Don’t want to redefine BCS jobs when email recipients
change
• Solution:
– Use email groups to send BCS messages
• How to:
– Assign the BCS to a user account
– Define email groups for that user account
– When defining BCS jobs, always use email groups
instead of individual email addresses
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Optimizing ODS/BCS Repository access
• Problem:
– Need to optimize the speed of accessing the Brio
Server Repository
• Solution:
– Limit the Repository OCE to only access Brio
Repository tables
• How to:
– Modify the Repository OCE, using Advanced Options
– Set filters to limit access based on:
• Owner of the Repository tables
• Table Names that start with BRIO or V7_
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Feature Side-Effects
Functionality via OLE Automation
• Formatted exports
• Mailing labels
• Slideshows with data
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Formatted Exports
• Problem:
– Need to control the format of data exported to, say,
Excel
• Solution:
– Use OLE Automation instead of Export
• How to:
– Create an OLE Automation Object
– Copy the selected section to the Windows Clipboard
– Set the Paste location and paste the data into the
target application
– Use OLE Automation commands to format the target
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Mailing Labels
• Problem:
– Need to create mailing labels from Brio query results
• Solution:
– Leverage the mail merge capabilities of your word
processor
• How to:
– Create a generic mail merge document, using a
standard CSV file as the data source
– In Brio, use OLE Automation to export the data set to
the same CSV file name
– Use OLE Automation to then launch the word
processor and execute the mail merge
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Slideshows with Data
• Problem:
– Need to dynamically create slideshows with Brio data
in them
• Solution:
– Use OLE Automation in conjunction with pre-defined
slideshow template files
• How to:
– Copy the data to the Windows Clipboard
– Add a new template-based slide to the slideshow
– Paste the data into the new slide
– Use OLE Automation to control any needed formatting
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Feature Side-Effects
Integration with other Brio products
• Report surfing
• Creating a BQY Job Factory in Brio Portal
• Creating BQY-based Portal exception alerts
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Report Surfing
• Problem:
– Need to leverage the power of SQR for querying large
data sets, but still allow analysis via Brio Insight
• Solution:
– Set the SQR code to output a BQD file
• How to:
– A BQD file is a CSV file with a special header
– Use the <javascript> and </javascript> tags to create
an OnStartUp() method
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Creating a Portal BQY Job Factory
• Problem:
– Need to execute BQY files under Portal Job Factory
control
– Want to provide an HTML Parameter Collection Form
• Solution:
– Create an SQR job that launches BrioQuery
• How to:
– Publish a generic SQR program that gathers
parameters and launches the Brio Intelligence
executable
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Creating Portal Exceptions from BQY’s
• Problem:
– Need to generate exception alerts from BQY files
• Solution:
– Execute the BQY from a Portal Job, and have the BQY
file write the exception file as part of its execution
• How to:
– Create an OnShutDown() method that checks the
results for exception conditions
– Write a properly formatted OUTPUT.PROPERTIES file
if an exception is detected
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Feature Side-Effects
Integration with other software products
• Improving BQY performance via virus scan
• Using your browser to send email
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Improving BQY Performance
Via proper Virus Scan setup
• Problem:
– Brio takes a long time to launch
• Solution:
– Make sure your virus scanning software does NOT
check on Brio INI files
• How to:
– Eliminate the following files from your virus scans:
•
•
•
•
BQFORMAT.INI
BQMETA0.INI
BRIOQPLG.INI
BRIOQRY6.INI
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Using your Browser to send Email
• Problem:
– Want to send email without using OLE Automation
• Solution:
– Use the MailTo command in your browser
• How to:
– Use the Application.Shell() method to invoke the
browser
– In the command line parameter option, use the
appropriate mailTo parameters to build the email
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Agenda
Unused Documented Features
Feature Side-Effects
“Undocumented” Features
“Undocumented” Features
Features not found in the standard documentation set
• Adding custom functions to Computed Items
• Bulk processing of BQY documents
• Error logging
• Passing parameters into a BQY file
• Optimizing ODS performance
• Additional ODS Settings
• Additional BCS Settings
• Bulk updating of BCS job passwords
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Adding Custom Functions to Computed
Items
• Problem:
– Need to add new functions to those available for use
by Computed Items
• Solution:
– Modify the base classes in the OnStartup() method
• How to:
– Define the function as a member of the Number or
String class
– Use the JavaScript “prototype” designation in the
function definition
– Use FieldName.Function() syntax when creating the
Computed Item
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Bulk Processing of BQY Documents
Integrating with 3rd party products / systems
• Problem:
– Need to automate the running of one or more BQY
files (from a process other than the Broadcast Server)
• Solution:
– Execute Brio using command line options
• How to:
– Create a JavaScript file of OnStartup() commands
– Launch the Brio executable as a daemon
– Windows:
• brioqry.exe -daemon "a b" -nosplash -jscript script.js
– Unix:
(requires Xvfb or Xvnc)
• DISPLAY=‘hostname’:1.0; export DISPLAY;
• bq -nosplash -jscript script.js
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Error Logging
• Problem:
– Need to document all run-time errors
• Solution:
– Use DbgPrint to capture all execution messages
• How to:
– Create a blank file named DbgPrint (no extension)
– Place in same directory as executable
• Brio Clients:
• Brio Plug-ins:
• Broadcast Server:
Brio Client Program Directory
Browser Executable’s Directory
BCS Program Directory
– OnDemand Server:
• Set BQ_START_LOG=debug
• Stop and Restart the ODS
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Passing Parameters into a BQY File
Controlling how the ODS operates
• Problem:
– Need to modify the execution of a BQY based on
values passed to it
• Solution:
– Use the OnStartUp() method to parse the URL line for
parameters
• How to:
– Call the ODS document with &ParamName=value
structure
– Capture the parameters with Session.URL[“xxx”]
– Parse each multi-value parameter with split() method
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Optimizing ODS Performance
• Problem:
– ODS performance slow under moderate/heavy loads
• Solution:
– Increase the Java memory settings
• How to:
– Add “-Xms64m -Xmx256m” to the ODS and ODS
Process Factory command lines
– Insert after the reference to the java executable
– Windows:
• In RegEdit, modify cmdline and ProcFactCmdLine params
– Unix:
• Edit the ODS.START shell script
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Additional ODS Settings
Used in ODS.INI
Parameter
Purpose
Values
Usage
BQ_HEARTBEAT_RATE
How often to check if
ODS nodes are alive
Default = 1 min
Hand edit ODS.INI
BQ_MAX_GRPLIST_LEN
The threshold of
splitting group list for
GroupRetrieve request
Default = 1000
Hand edit ODS.INI
• This INI file is stored in the Server sub-directory under the install location
• All other ODS.INI settings can be found in the Brio Server Administrator’s Guide
• Backup the ODS.INI file before making changes
• Backup the ODS.PWD file as well
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Additional ODS CGI Settings
Used in /etc/ODSCGI.INI (Unix)
Parameter
Purpose
Values
Usage
Log_Mode
Controls logging of
Web Broker activity
off (default),
standard, trace
Hand edit ODSCGI.INI
Log_File_Name
Complete path and file
name to store log
Any legal path /
filename combo
Hand edit ODSCGI.INI
TempFileDirectory
Specifies where ODS
should store temp files
Any legal directory
designation
Hand edit ODSCGI.INI
Enable_Multiple_Req
uests
Controls IE request
filtering
true or false
Hand edit ODSCGI.INI
• Windows servers use the same parameters, but store them in the Windows
Registry.
• Make sure you have backed up your registry before making any changes.
• Take extreme care when modifying any settings in the Registry.
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
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Additional BCS Settings
Used in BQServ1.INI
Parameter
Purpose
Values
Usage
BrioQuery55Exe
Use dual-mode v5.5/v6
operation
Complete path to the
v5.5 BQ executable
Hand edit BQServ1.INI
BQRunOnlyWhenIdle
Should BQ run only on
CPU idle
n (default) or y
If jobs take too long,
hand edit
DefDateFmt
Format BCS uses to
display dates
Choose from drop
down list
“Formats” tab’s “Date:”
field in “Preferences”
DefTimeStFmt
Format BCS uses to
display timestamps
Choose from drop
down list
“Formats” tab’s
“TimeStamp:” field in
“Preferences”
Disconnectafterpoll
Disconnect from the
Repository DBMS?
n or y
Hand edit BQServ1.INI
Useful for Oracle Repos.
MSExchangeProfile
(Windows only)
MS Exchange Profile
to use
Choose from drop
down list
“Mail” tab’s “Profile:”
field in “Preferences”
NoMailMsgId
Use the Message ID in
e-mails or not
true or false (default)
To identify emails, hand
edit
UserListSQL
Custom SQL to
retrieve User List
Valid SQL to query a
user list table
Hand edit BQServ1.INI
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
45
Bulk Updating of BCS Passwords
• Problem:
– When DB passwords expire, need to update BCS without having
to hand edit every job
• Solution:
– Create a Password table for the BCS to use
– Tell the BCS to use this table for its passwords
• How to:
– Add the PwdSQL parameter to each Processing OCE in the
BQServ1.INI file
[OCE 1]
PwdSQL=Select UPWD from MYPWDS where UID=:USER and
BRIOOCE=:OCE and BCS=:SERVER
– Control access to the password table via standard RDBMS Grants
and Revokes
BRIO CONFIDENTIAL
46
Hidden Features of
Brio Intelligence
Mark Ostroff
Principal Systems Consultant
T H E B U S I N E S S P E R F O R M A N C E S O F T W A R E C O M P A N Y™
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