A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ORACLE BI DISCOVERER END USER LAYER (EUL)

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ORACLE BI DISCOVERER END USER LAYER (EUL) Authr: Jayashree Satapathy Krishna Mhan A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 1

INTRODUCTION END USER LAYER (EUL) The End User Layer (EUL) insulates Discverer end users frm the cmplexity and physical structure f the database. The EUL prvides an intuitive, business-fcused view f the database that yu can tailr t suit each Discverer end user r user grup. The EUL enables Discverer end users t fcus n business issues instead f data access issues. It helps Discverer end users prduce queries by generating SQL and prvides a rich set f default settings t aid reprt building. The Meta layer structure f the EUL preserves the data integrity f the database. Whatever the Discverer manager r the Discverer end user des with Discverer, it affects nly the metadata in the EUL and nt the database. The EUL is a cllectin f apprximately 50 tables in the database. These are the nly tables that can be mdified thrugh Discverer Administratr. Business areas are defined in Discverer Administratr using the EUL database tables. Discverer prvides read-nly access t the applicatin database. The End User Layer (EUL) is the metadata (i.e. data abut the actual data in a database) that is simple and easy fr Discverer end users t understand. We use Discverer Administratr t create, custmize, and maintain this view fr the users s they can easily access data in Discverer. One must have access t at least ne EUL in rder t use Discverer. Access is granted using the Privileges dialg. USAGE OF END USER LAYER The EUL insulates Discverer end users frm the cmplexity usually assciated with databases. It prvides an intuitive, business-fcused view f the database using terms that Discverer end users are familiar with and can easily understand. This enables Discverer end users t fcus n business issues instead f data access issues. CONTENTS OF EUL The EUL cntains the metadata that defines ne r mre business areas. A business area is a cnceptual gruping f tables and/r views that apply t a user's specific data requirements. Business areas can be set up t reflect the needs f the user r grup f users accessing the EUL. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 2

PRIVILEGES TO CREATE AN END USER LAYER IN AN ORACLE DATABASE T create an End User Layer in an Oracle database, the database user that the EUL is being created in must have the fllwing database privileges: CREATE SESSION CREATE TABLE CREATE VIEW CREATE SEQUENCE CREATE PROCEDURE HOW TO CREATE AN END USER LAYER --- DATABASE USER) (FOR AN EXISTING T create a EUL fr an existing database user fllwings steps are t be fllwed: Tls EUL Manager is t be chsen t display the EUL Manager windw. Figure 1 EUL Manager Dialg T Create a new EUL we need t click n the radi buttn as shwn in the belw figure. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 3

Figure 2 Create EUL Wizard Step 1 dialg The Select an existing user radi buttn is t be selected. The Grant access t PUBLIC check bx is t be Selected r cleared as required: This check bx is t be selected t enable all users in the current database t access the new EUL This check bx is t be cleared t enable nly the EUL wner t view data thrugh the new EUL. The New EUL is fr use by Oracle Applicatins users ONLY check bx selected r cleared as required: is t be This check bx is t be selected t restrict the new EUL t Oracle Applicatins users nly. This check bx is t be cleared t create a standard EUL The Select buttn is t be clicked t display the where we search fr, and the database user is selected t wn the new EUL. If it is specified a database user ther than the current user t be the EUL wner, then it is needed t specify the database user's passwrd. Finish buttn is t be clicked. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 4

Discverer Administratr displays the Creating EUL prgress bar and creates a new EUL fr the specified database user. When the new EUL has been created, Discverer gives the ptin t install the Discverer sample data in the new EUL. DEFAULT END USER LAYER It can be viewed r changed which EUL is the default. EUL fr the current database user (i.e. the EUL used when the current database user cnnects t Discverer Administratr). Figure: Default EUL (fr example: EUL4_US) A STANDARD EUL CANNOT BE CHANGED INTO ORACLE APPLICATIONS EUL AND VICE VERSA A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 5

EUL TABLES A EUL's tables / views are fund in the schema by the same name as the EUL. The views that are in the Apps schema are nt EUL tables / views always, but Oracle Apps BIS views that can be imprted the definitin int EUL. S, fr example, if an Apps EUL is nt used but a standard EUL, there are n BIS views. (Table: Sme f the EUL tables and its descriptin) EUL TABLES EUL4_BAS EUL4_OBJS EUL4_KEY_CONS EUL4_EXPRESSIONS EUL4_OBJS EUL_USERS EUL4_ACCESS_PRIVS DESCRIPTION Table gives list f Business Areas Table gives all flders in the EUL Table gives all Flder Jins details. Key_Obj_ID pints t parent flder, FK_Obj_ID_Remte pints t child flder Table gives all Items that are in the EUL where IT_Obj_ID is nt null AND jin t a rw in EUL4_Objs yu have a Flder Item. They are listed as Exp_Type f 'CO' r 'CI'. COs are database bject items. CIs are created items (like date hierarchy items, cmplex flder items, etc). Table gives details abut the types f bjects Obj_Type tells yu Standard (SOBJ) frm Cmplex (COBJ) flders. Table gives user details. Table t use t get the list f Disc users that was granted access t the User Editin. Basically, when a user has been granted privileges ne rw per privilege is inserted int this table. The clumn called AP_EU_ID cntains the ID f the user. The clumn GP_APP_ID is the ne that tells yu what privilege a user has. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 6

Figure: Granting Access n EUL tables while Creating EUL END USER LAYER OWNERS An End User Layer (EUL) wner is the database user that a EUL is created fr. A database user can nly wn ne EUL. If yu are cnnected t yur wn EUL and yu attempt t create a new ne, Discverer Administratr prmpts yu t delete yur existing EUL. If yu create a EUL fr a database user that already wns an EUL, Discverer Administratr prmpts yu t delete the existing EUL befre creating the new ne. The EUL wner maintains and mdifies their wn EUL and can grant access t the EUL t ther users. Depending n the privileges given t the ther users, thse users can use and make changes t the EUL. When yu create a EUL, yu specify wh has access t it, as fllws: every user in the database (PUBLIC access) nly the EUL wner (PRIVATE access) HOW TO MANAGE AN END USER LAYER (EUL) Discverer Administratin privilege n the EUL Allw Administratin privilege n business areas yu want t mdify SELECT database privilege n any tables yu want t add t a business area. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 7

HOW TO DELETE AN END USER LAYER (EUL) We may need t delete a EUL fr a number f reasns. Fr example, it might be an ld r a test EUL. It is required t cnnect as the wner f the EUL that is t be deleted. T delete an EUL: 1. Chse File Cnnect t display the "Cnnect dialg". 2. Specify the username, passwrd, and cnnect string fr the wner f the EUL that yu want t delete, and click Cnnect t display the "Lad Wizard: Step 1 dialg". 3. Click Cancel t clse the Lad Wizard. 4. Chse Tls EUL Manager. 5. Click Delete an EUL t display the "Delete EUL dialg". Discverer prmpts yu t cnfirm that yu want t delete the current EUL. 6. Make sure that the EUL specified in the EUL field is the ne yu want t delete and click OK. If the EUL name displayed is incrrect, g back t Step 2 and use the crrect cnnect string t cnnect as the EUL wner. When yu click OK, Discverer prmpts yu t cnfirm that yu want t delete all EUL tables. This will delete all EUL infrmatin and wrkbks in the database. This will als remve all summary data and infrmatin. 7. Click yes t cntinue. 8. Click OK t delete the EUL. Discverer deletes the EUL bjects fr the current database user. EXPORTS/IMPORTS EUL OBJECTS EUL bjects can be exprted (e.g. business areas, wrkbks, flders, items) frm ne database and imprted int anther database. Fr example, we might want t mve EUL bjects when transitining frm a develpment envirnment t a prductin envirnment. There are a number f different ways t cpy EUL and EUL bjects, depending n the requirement: cpy specified EUL bjects int anther EUL cpy an entire EUL and recreate it as a new EUL cpy the database user that is the EUL wner A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 8

We can imprt and exprt EULs and EUL bjects in the fllwing ways: Using the Discverer Exprt Wizard and Imprt Wizard Using the Discverer cmmand line interface Using the standard database exprt/imprt cmmands, this ptin is used t exprt an entire EUL t a file when ne needs t cpy bjects frm the EUL int a new EUL r t create a backup. T exprt the entire EUL using the Discverer Exprt Wizard: Chse File Exprt t display the "Exprt Wizard Step 1 dialg". Figure: Exprt Wizard: Step 1 dialg Select the entire End User Layer radi buttn and click Next t display the next wizard. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 9

Figure: Exprt Wizards: Step 2 dialg The abve dialg is used t specify a name and lcatin fr the exprt file. Click Brwse t display the Save As dialg. This enables us t brwse fr a lcatin t save the EUL exprt file. Enter a suitable name fr the exprted EUL. Select the Generate XML fr exprted wrkbks check bx t save any wrkbk definitins in XML frmat. (Optinal) This enables us t view wrkbk definitins in an XML brwser. Select the Save exprt cmmands t a text file (*.txt) check bx t save the exprt cmmands that created this exprt t a text file. (Optinal). This creates an additinal file cntaining the cmmands used t create this exprt and applies the file extensin.txt. Click Finish t create the exprt file (and any additinal files selected) in the specified lcatin and display the Exprt Lg. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 10

Figure: Exprt Lg dialg The Exprt Lg displays infrmatin abut what has been exprted. Click Save t specify a name and lcatin t save the Lg file. (Optinal) Click Clse t finish. DISCOVERER INTERGRATION Discverer 10g End User Layer resides in 11i database. APPS_MODE ptin enfrces Applicatins Security fr all Discverer Users. Easy migratin frm Discverer4i.Installatin upgrades a cpy f 4i End User Layer t 10g. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 11

CONCLUSION Discverer stres statistics abut end user queries in the EUL t imprve the perfrmance. Fr this reasn, Discverer requires that the database cntaining the EUL is writeable. Specifically, Discverer des nt supprt the creatin f EULs in Lgical Standby (r read-nly) databases. Always Discverer Administratr is started in the default EUL. Default EUL is the ne specified n the "Optins dialg: Cnnectin tab". If we want t change the EUL we are wrking in, we must change ur default EUL and then recnnect t Discverer Administratr. A Cmplete Guide t Oracle BI Discverer End User Layer (EUL) 12