What's New in Cognos8.4

Hello everyone! We got our hands and knees dirty digging into the new Cognos8.4. Here are a series of blogs on the new features in Cognos8.4. Thank you Prachi and Amar for your contribution! You have a surprise gift on the way.This blog is supported by viewers like you. (PBS???)

Cognos has introduced new chart types and images with effects and Data lineage features.
Marimekko Chart: It is 100% stacked chart in which the width of a column is proportional to the total of the column's values. The individual segment height is a percentage of the respective column total value. It is also frequently called “Market Map” and enables Strategic Analysis. Here is an example. Step Line Charts: These are just modified Line Charts, where the data points are joined using horizontal and vertical lines. Step Line combines time and trend analysis. Following is an example of step line chart: Microcharts: These are miniature charts that can be inserted into lists and crosstab cells.Following is the snapshot of different microcharts available. Generated Images: You can define and generate an enhanced background for objects in a report. The images can be enhanced with borders, fill, drop and shadow effects. You can also apply enhanced backgrounds as a class style.

Data Lineage: This is feature is available across all studios. It is viewable in the report outputs (HTML only). It traces metadata of an item. Ex. View the lineage information of a model calculation.

Tips and Techniques

How to format numbers like SSN, Phone numbers, Zip codes, ISBN, Account Numbers etc?
It is very common to find SSN and other number data types stored as XXXXXXXX but the users would like to see it as XXX-XX-XXXX.
You can achieve the formatting by using substring, LTRIM and RTRIM etc. However, these functions are resource intensive. We have a better solution. Try this.
stuff(stuff([field_expression_SSN],3,0,'-'),5,0,'-')

How to save real estate on prompt page when working with Date prompts.
In the properties pane of the date prompt control, set “Select UI” property as Edit box. The default UI for date prompt is Calendar. This consumes a lot of space. The edit box also allows for typing in.

Why we shouldn’t edit data source query subjects?
Cognos generates most optimized queries if the import layer has data source query subjects. Framework Manager will not fetch metadata at runtime if it has data source query subjects available. If a Data source query subject is edited then Cognos fetches the metadata from the database each time the query is run.

Why do you see year field with values like 2016, 2032?
The reason is aggregate property was set incorrectly by the modeler. The modeler set the aggregate property to ‘Sum’. It should be unsupported or maybe count. The Usage property can be edited as attribute. You as a report developer can set the aggregate property to ‘None’ on the report.

Render Variable
Render Variable is not available on table cells or rows. To render or hide a table cell or table row use style variable.