IBM Cognos Training Offering

Infolink Consulting's installation and configuration services offer a unique blend of not only installing and configuring the product but also mentoring and shadowing the individuals responsible for maintaining the environment(s). We highly recommend that your organization's IBM Cognos administrators attend and be heavily involved with this process to ensure proper knowledge transfer. Ideally, the install of the product should feel more like a "working session" rather than the standard vendor install.

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of IBM Cognos, this session can include conversion and migration techniques. Leveraging these techniques can drastically reduce the rework associated with upgrades.

This service includes, but is not limited to, the following (duration and price may extend based on number of options selected and client preparedness):

• Basic install on any supported platform (Windows, Linux, Unix, VMWare)
• Installation and configuration of:
  • Supported reporting data sources
  • Framework Manager
  • IBM Cognos Samples
• Configuration of security with any supported product (MS Active Directory, Novell, SunOne)
• Environment tuning

1. Installation and configuration of version control (CVS or VSS)
2. Promotion strategy (i.e., migration from development to test) - Identification and/or development
3. Content organization strategy - Identification and/or development
4. Backup and restore procedures - Identification and/or development
5. Integration of security with other applications including third party portals
6. Single sign-on (when supported)
7. Environment tuning: VMWare/IBM Cognos best practices
8. Transformer - Installation and configuration
9. Metric Studio - Installation and configuration
10. Auditing - Installation and configuration
11. Go Office! - Installation and configuration
12. Go Dashboard! - Installation and configuration
13. CAFÉ - Installation and configuration

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator

This session provides a general overview of data modeling techniques with Framework Manager. Infolink works closely with the individuals responsible for data modeling to answer questions, ensure best practices are being met, and, if requested, set direction. The output of this training is a working data model that is capable of evolving to meet the report authors' or consumers' requirements.

Note: Given different data and query requirements of each organization, this is a mentoring session without formal training documentation. We can provide documentation upon request for specific talking points, but none is included as part of this offering.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author

Students learn the fundamentals of Business Insight Advanced and how to create reports from relational and dimensional data. Students will be introduced to different report formats as well as using groups, filters, hierarchies, and calculations, through demonstrations and practice exercises. The course also demonstrates exciting new features of Business Insight Advanced such as integrating external data, analyzing data, and maximizing the visual effectiveness of your report.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author, BI Advanced Business Author

Prerequisites:
1. A functional Framework Manager model and package to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Introduction to Metadata Modeling Mentoring".
2. A functional IBM Cognos PowerCube. This is typically developed as part of "Power Cube Development in Transformer".

Students learn the fundamentals of Query Studio and how to create ad-hoc reports from relational data. Simple list reports are used to exercise the Query Studio functionality. A key to understanding report development in IBM Cognos is the auto aggregation concept; this topic, as well as grouping, filtering, and formatting, are discussed, demonstrated and practiced. The course also demonstrates how data can be quickly and easily presented graphically or through crosstabs.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author, BI Advanced Business Author, BI Business Author

Prerequisites: A functional Framework Manager model and package to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Introduction to Metadata Modeling Mentoring".

Administrators learn the fundamentals and advanced features supported with IBM Cognos. This includes, but is not limited to, security integration, service tuning, load balancing, and monitoring. This mentoring is intended to address the final touches through which an environment should go before you consider a production deployment.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator

Prerequisites:
1. A security matrix identifying the roles of the various users is highly recommended.
2. A functional IBM Cognos environment.

Students learn the fundamentals of IBM Cognos Connection and Report Studio by creating basic list, crosstab, and repeater reports. Within those report types, concepts such as common formatting techniques, detail and summary filters, aggregations, and conditional formatting are included. A key to understanding report development in IBM Cognos is the auto aggregation concept, which students practice in detail.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author

Prerequisites:
1. A functional Framework Manager model and package to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Introduction to Metadata Modeling Mentoring".
2. Basic knowledge of SQL or other reporting tools/engines is recommended.

Students build on knowledge gained in the Report Studio Part 1 class to fully understand those concepts and learn additional options. Advanced report writing techniques such as multi-query reports, bursting, and graphs are also part of this course. We cover tips for ultimate success, such as prompt page performance, drill through, and security filters. This class rounds out a developer's ability to be successful with Report Studio.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author

Prerequisites:
1. Report Studio Part 1 Training.
2. We recommend at least three days of independent report development using Report Studio Part 1 concepts.

This session allows each attendee to work on a client-provided business report request in a classroom setting with the support of a trainer. Every question from the class is collectively discussed, demonstrated, and documented. This workshop engages students in a real report development scenario and allows them to learn from other team members' experiences to ramp up knowledge rapidly. The actual number of attendees in each workshop day or half-day can vary, but we limit the total at any given time to ten due to the one-on-one attention required.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: Course can be tailored to suit any role.

Prerequisites: Report specifications to be used in the workshop.

Students learn the concepts of dashboarding, portlets, and pages. Students learn how to create a dashboard based on a design created by the student ahead of time. This gives students the knowledge they need to incorporate a report into a portlet and integrate that portlet into an existing or custom page. Portlet to portlet communication is discussed, and if time allows, practiced.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author

Prerequisites:
1. A functional Framework Manager model and package to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Introduction to Metadata Modeling Mentoring".
2. Specifications for up to 3 dashboards.

Students learn the fundamentals of Metric Studio and learn how key performance indicators (KPIs) are defined, loaded, and monitored with Metric Studio. Students learn how performance can be tracked and reported against strategic objectives.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Business Manager

Prerequisites: Metric Studio and Designer installed. Infolink can assist with the installation and configuration of these components as well.

Students learn the steps involved to create and publish dimensional data to be used within the IBM Cognos studios. Course content includes the variety of options available to create cubes using Transformer. The focus and practice exercises are on the most widely accepted method(s).

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Business Analyst

Prerequisites: Previous Framework Manager experience is encouraged to maximize the benefit of this class.

This course covers the basic steps to develop a DMR model. Students learn techniques to identify metadata and class them within levels, hierarchies, measures, and alternate drill paths. This course also covers best practices on modeling for performance.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator

Prerequisites:
1. Introduction to Metadata Modeling Mentoring.
2. Functional IBM Cognos PowerCube.

Students learn the fundamentals of Query Studio and how to create ad-hoc reports from dimensional data. Simple list reports are used to exercise the Query Studio functionality. Topics such as grouping, filtering, aggregations, and formatting are discussed, demonstrated and practiced. The course also demonstrates how data can be presented graphically or through crosstabs, quickly and easily. This course differs from the Relational Track Query Studio course because dimensions and levels are used in addition to relational data that uses query subjects and query items. Organizations typically select only one of the Query Studio classes and believe that provides enough content for them to succeed.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author, BI Advanced Business Author, BI Business Author

Prerequisites: A functional IBM Cognos PowerCube or Framework Manager DMR model to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Power Cube Development in Transformer" or "Dimensionally Modeled Relational Data Mentoring".

This course covers the fundamentals of Analysis Studio and how to construct an IBM Cognos analysis, manipulate the format, and create "drillable" reports and queries based on that analysis. Through lecture, discussion, and exercises, students learn how to understand dimensional data and how it can be used to make better business decisions. Techniques such as ranking, filtering, aggregations, and charting are demonstrated and exercised.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Advanced Business Author, BI Business Analyst

Prerequisites: A functional IBM Cognos PowerCube. This is typically developed as part of "Power Cube Development in Transformer".

Students expand their knowledge of key Report Studio features as they create reports with dimensional data. Crosstab and list reports are used to exercise Report Studio functionality in the dimensional report context. Dimensional reporting concepts, functions, and hierarchies are presented as report development topics such as filtering, prompting, aggregations, and calculations are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

This course differs from the Relational Track Report Studio courses because dimensions and levels (and dimensional functions such as "tuples" and "slicers") are used, as opposed to relational data that uses query subjects and query items. This requires a significant paradigm shift for even the most experienced SQL-based report writer. The course culminates with a business case workshop.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: BI Administrator, BI Professional, BI Professional Author

Prerequisites:
1. A functional IBM Cognos PowerCube or Framework Manager DMR model to support the customized training. This is typically developed as part of "Power Cube Development in Transformer" or "Dimensionally Modeled Relational Data Mentoring".
2. Report Studio Parts 1 and 2 or equivalent experience

Infolink Consulting's installation and configuration services offer a unique blend of not only installing and configuring the product but also mentoring and shadowing the individuals responsible for maintaining the environment(s). We highly recommend that your organization's IBM Cognos TM1 administrators attend and be heavily involved with this process to ensure proper knowledge transfer. Ideally, the install of the product should feel more like a "working session" rather than the standard vendor install.

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of IBM Cognos TM1, this session can include conversion and migration techniques. Leveraging these techniques can drastically reduce the rework associated with upgrades.

This service includes, but is not limited to, the following (duration and price may extend based on number of options selected and client preparedness):

• Basic install on any supported platform (Windows, Linux, Unix, VMWare)
• Installation and configuration of:
  • TM1 Perspectives Client
  • TM1 Analytic Server and TM1 Web
  • IBM Cognos TM1 Samples
• Configuration of security with any supported product (MS Active Directory, Novell, SunOne)
• Environment tuning

1. TM1 Integrated Security with IBM Cognos Business Intelligence server
2. TM1 Workflow — To create and manage a workflow structure for your planning and budgeting activities
3. TM1 Contributor — Includes all the components of TM1 Web, plus additional functionality to design, deploy, and run managed planning applications based on TM1 data
4. TM1 Viewer Portlets — To view and edit TM1 data in the IBM Cognos BI Portal
5. Backup and restore procedures — Identification and/or development
6. Single sign-on (when supported)
7. System and Performance Monitoring

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: TM1 Administrator

This session provides a general overview of TM1 modeling techniques. It includes creating dimensions, cubes, and rules, and loading data into the cubes. Creating, deploying, and using managed planning applications enabling users to contribute to plans and forecasts on the Web can also be covered if required. Infolink works closely with the individuals responsible for TM1 modeling to answer questions, ensure best practices are being met, and, if requested, set direction. Given different data and query requirements of each organization, this is a mentoring session without formal training documentation. We can provide documentation upon request for specific talking points, but none is included as part of this offering.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: TM1 Modeler

Students are introduced to the components of the TM1 application and are taught the fundamentals of contributing and analyzing data within TM1 using a series of lectures and hands-on exercises. You will learn how to navigate within TM1 cubes, create views, and edit data using spread methods. Creating and publishing reports as well as using different interfaces to contribute planning data are covered, including a review of the TM1 worksheet functions available in MS Excel spreadsheets.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: TM1 Contributor

Prerequisites:

1. A functional TM1 data server and model to support the customized training. These are typically developed as part of the TM1 Modeling Mentoring.
2. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

Our Introductory Data Manager course offers a fast-paced introduction to the core principles and methods required to design and deliver subject oriented dimensional data marts for high performance reporting and analytics. We discuss where Data Manager fits in the overall architecture of an end-to-end solution created with the IBM Cognos suite of tools. Hands-on exercises provide students with opportunities to create the primary building blocks of dimensional data marts: hierarchies, dimension builds, and fact builds. More advanced topics include derivations, data validation, history preservation, and merging. The course culminates in a half day workshop in which students create a functional star schema data mart using techniques learned earlier in the course.

Corresponding IBM Cognos Roles: Data Manager

Prerequisites:

1. Experience with relational data modeling
2. Experience with writing SQL Select statements
3. Understanding of basic database optimization principles (i.e., indexing)