Error while running burst report

So the scenario was as follows. I setup a report in report studio, set the burst option and tried to run it with options to email me the pdf files. Failed with the following messege : "The option to allow local processing has not been enabled. UDA-SQL-0267 Incompatible types for parameter number 1 in the function "_add_days". UDA-SQL-0268 The function "_add_days" must be processed by the database but the parameter "1" is not supported by the database." so I research and in my queries I had used the _add_days function twice, both after an underlying query ran a sql statement. At first I through well I need to turn on the limited local option but after that failed the thought came to my mind : Perhaps cognos doesnt like to intermix this function with its oracle counterpart. Thus I rewrote the logic into the sql query by itself as follows

instead of this in the detailed filter:

[trans_date] = _add_days (current_date,-1)

I wrote this as part of the actual sql query:

INV.TRANS_DATE between
To_Date(To_Char(SysDate - 1, 'MM/DD/YYYY'), 'mm/dd/yyyy') and
To_Date(To_Char(SysDate , 'MM/DD/YYYY'), 'mm/dd/yyyy')


I think this also should run faster since its touching the database and filtering the results directly there.

Cascading Prompts

Just learned an interesting thing based on documentation on http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1342510&page=58

When building cascading prompts be sure to understand the mechanism that will cause the cascade to go through. One is for the second cascade which is based on the previous one to mention that in the definition of the prompt. Secondly, if there is only one seletion from the first prompt we could just use the auto-submit other wise if the first prompt has more than one prompts that can be selected then we need to use the "prompt button" which is in the insertable objects panel (last one actually). Once you drop it in (preferably below the first multi select prompt column) you can rename it by dropping a text on top of it. Fascinating :-)

Dashboard Design from scratch

I've been trying to develop various reports based on couple of simple concepts : Interconnected reports that let you traverse across various aspects of the information and/or filter them down to where we need to be. This will be in form of

a)Cascading prompts
b)Dynamic queries
c)Drill Through
d)Drill Down

The goal being I want to have all the various possible user analysis requests boiled down to a simple and useful user interface. Currently users run various reports and need to jump from one page to another in order to get to where they need to. With this panel users only need to drill down to where they need to and quickly have the results on the screen, ready to save, print, share. I'll share my experiences here as things get rolling. Right now I'm referring to various resources on the web to learn more about how to get the project off the floor.

First Post

I've been working for Cognos (now known as IBM Cognos) for ten years now having gone through the various versions of the package including Cognos 5, 6, 7 and now 8 :-) The package initially was desktop bound but in the newer version is web enabled fully both in design and deployment of enterprise reports. What I plan to do is jot down what I learn each day and some hints and tricks along the way to help me and fellow users of Cognos 8. :-)