Description
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer is an intuitive ad-hoc query, reporting, analysis, and Web publishing toolset that gives business users immediate access to information in databases.
Oracle® Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer
User’s Guide
10g Release 2 (10.1.2.1)
B13987-04
July 2005
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide, 10g Release 2 (10.1.2.1)
B13987-04
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iii
Contents
Preface................................................................................................................................................................ vii
Intended Audience..................................................................................................................................... vii
Documentation Accessibility.................................................................................................................... vii
Related Documents ................................................................................................................................... viii
Conventions ............................................................................................................................................... viii
JGoodies License Agreement................................................................................................................... viii
Part I Conceptual and task information
1 Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer
What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer? ............................................................................ 1-1
Why use Discoverer Viewer? ................................................................................................................. 1-2
Easy-to-use Interface.......................................................................................................................... 1-3
Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop ....................................................... 1-3
Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer .................................................................... 1-3
Database Security............................................................................................................................... 1-3
Integration and Customization........................................................................................................ 1-3
JavaScript Enhanced User Interface ................................................................................................ 1-3
National Language Support ............................................................................................................. 1-4
Publish to Oracle Portal..................................................................................................................... 1-4
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2
(10.1.2) ......................................................................................................................................................... 1-4
What are workbooks? .............................................................................................................................. 1-5
What are worksheets?.............................................................................................................................. 1-5
About Discoverer worksheet types....................................................................................................... 1-5
About table worksheets..................................................................................................................... 1-5
About crosstab worksheets............................................................................................................... 1-6
What are the components of a cube? .................................................................................................... 1-6
What are measures? ........................................................................................................................... 1-6
What are dimensions and dimension members? .......................................................................... 1-6
What are dimension hierarchies?..................................................................................................... 1-7
What are dimension attributes? ....................................................................................................... 1-7
2 Starting Discoverer Viewer
What is a Discoverer connection? ......................................................................................................... 2-1
About starting Discoverer Viewer ........................................................................................................ 2-2
How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page................................................................ 2-2
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection ....................................................... 2-3
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly................................................................................. 2-5
How to exit Discoverer Viewer.............................................................................................................. 2-7
Frequently asked questions ................................................................................................................... 2-7
What is the End User Layer (EUL)?................................................................................................. 2-8
iv
What are database accounts?............................................................................................................ 2-8
How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?................................ 2-8
How do I edit a Discoverer connection?...................................................................................... 2-10
How do I delete a Discoverer connection?.................................................................................. 2-11
What are public connections?........................................................................................................ 2-12
What are user-defined connections? ............................................................................................ 2-12
When and why do I need to change my password?.................................................................. 2-12
How do I change the password for a connection? ..................................................................... 2-12
How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?....................................... 2-13
What is Single Sign-On?................................................................................................................. 2-13
What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?........................ 2-13
3 Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer
How to open a Discoverer worksheet .................................................................................................. 3-1
How to save worksheets.......................................................................................................................... 3-3
How to preview worksheets before printing...................................................................................... 3-4
How to print worksheets ........................................................................................................................ 3-4
Exporting Discoverer worksheets ......................................................................................................... 3-5
How to export Discoverer worksheets............................................................................................ 3-5
What are the implications of using different export formats?..................................................... 3-5
How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files....................... 3-7
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email............................................................................... 3-8
How to format worksheet items and cells........................................................................................... 3-8
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer ....................................................................................... 3-9
What is a conditional format? .......................................................................................................... 3-9
What is a stoplight format?............................................................................................................ 3-10
What is a conditional header format? .......................................................................................... 3-10
How to activate and deactivate conditional formats ................................................................. 3-10
How to change the precedence of conditional format............................................................... 3-11
How to create a conditional format .............................................................................................. 3-11
How to create a stoplight format .................................................................................................. 3-12
How to create a conditional header format................................................................................. 3-12
How to edit conditional formats................................................................................................... 3-13
How to delete conditional formats ............................................................................................... 3-13
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer................................................................................................... 3-14
About using graphs ........................................................................................................................ 3-14
How to edit a graph........................................................................................................................ 3-14
How to display or hide a graph.................................................................................................... 3-15
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer ........................................................................................... 3-15
About using indexes and values in parameters ......................................................................... 3-15
How to apply different parameter values to worksheets ......................................................... 3-16
About error when using lists of values........................................................................................ 3-16
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet............................................................................. 3-16
About drilling in Discoverer Viewer................................................................................................. 3-17
How to drill down in worksheets ...................................................................................................... 3-17
How to drill up in worksheets............................................................................................................ 3-18
How to change the layout of a worksheet ........................................................................................ 3-18
v
How to apply saved selections............................................................................................................ 3-19
Part II Reference information
4 Dialog reference
About Viewer page................................................................................................................................... 4-3
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)......................................................................... 4-4
Choose export type page......................................................................................................................... 4-5
Component Disabled page..................................................................................................................... 4-6
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page........................................................................................ 4-7
Create Conditional Cell Format page................................................................................................... 4-9
Create Conditional Header Format page .......................................................................................... 4-14
Create Stoplight Format page ............................................................................................................. 4-16
Drill page ................................................................................................................................................ 4-18
Edit Parameters page ............................................................................................................................ 4-19
Error page................................................................................................................................................ 4-21
Export Ready page................................................................................................................................. 4-22
Format Cells page.................................................................................................................................. 4-23
Format Worksheet data links page..................................................................................................... 4-26
Logged Out page.................................................................................................................................... 4-27
Multiple Sort page ................................................................................................................................ 4-28
PDF Ready page..................................................................................................................................... 4-29
PDF Sample Ready page...................................................................................................................... 4-30
Preferences page .................................................................................................................................... 4-31
Printable Page Options page: Content tab ....................................................................................... 4-34
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab.................................................................................. 4-37
Query Cancelled page .......................................................................................................................... 4-40
Query Confirmation needed page ..................................................................................................... 4-41
Query Progress page............................................................................................................................. 4-42
Save Warning page................................................................................................................................ 4-43
Save Workbook As page ...................................................................................................................... 4-44
Search and Select page ......................................................................................................................... 4-45
Send Email page .................................................................................................................................... 4-47
Table / Crosstab Layout page .............................................................................................................. 4-48
Worksheet Display page ...................................................................................................................... 4-49
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links) ............................................................. 4-51
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools) ............................................................................................ 4-53
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls).............................................................. 4-56
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)............................................................................. 4-58
Worksheet List page.............................................................................................................................. 4-62
Worksheet Options page...................................................................................................................... 4-64
Index
vi
vii
Preface
Welcome to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer - the tool that enables you
to analyze business data.
Intended Audience
Use this guide when you want to use Discoverer to view data to support business
decisions and you want to know how to:
? use existing workbooks to find the information you are interested in
? format the information to meet your requirements
? analyze the information in different ways
? share the information with other users
Documentation Accessibility
Our goal is to make Oracle products, services, and supporting documentation
accessible, with good usability, to the disabled community. To that end, our
documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive
technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to
facilitate access by the disabled community. Accessibility standards will continue to
evolve over time, and Oracle is actively engaged with other market-leading
technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be
accessible to all of our customers. For more information, visit the Oracle Accessibility
Program Web site at
http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/
Accessibility of Code Examples in Documentation
Screen readers may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The
conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an
otherwise empty line; however, some screen readers may not always read a line of text
that consists solely of a bracket or brace.
Accessibility of Links to External Web Sites in Documentation
This documentation may contain links to Web sites of other companies or
organizations that Oracle does not own or control. Oracle neither evaluates nor makes
any representations regarding the accessibility of these Web sites.
viii
TTY Access to Oracle Support Services
Oracle provides dedicated Text Telephone (TTY) access to Oracle Support Services
within the United States of America 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For TTY
support, call 800.446.2398.
Related Documents
You can access the documents referenced in this guide, and other information about
Oracle Business Intelligence (e.g. whitepapers, best practices, documentation updates,
other collateral) on Oracle Technology Network at:
http://www.oracle.com/technology
Conventions
Conventions used in this manual are shown in the table below:
JGoodies License Agreement
Oracle Business Intelligence includes the JGoodies software, whose License Agreement
follows:
Copyright© 2003 JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
? Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.
? Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list
of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
materials provided with the distribution.
? Neither the name of JGoodies nor the names of its contributors may be used to
endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior
written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
Convention Meaning
boldface Boldface type indicates graphical user interface elements associated
with an action, or terms defined in text or the glossary.
italic Italic type indicates book titles, emphasis, or placeholder variables for
which you supply particular values.
monospace Monospace type indicates commands within a paragraph, URLs, code
in examples, text that appears on the screen, or text that you enter.
< > Angle brackets enclose user-supplied names or values.
[] Square brackets enclose optional clauses from which you can choose
one or none.
Menu name |
Command
Text in this format conveys a sequence of menu choices, e.g. choose the
menu, then the command under that menu.
ix
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
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NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
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ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
x
Part I
Conceptual and task information
This section contains conceptual and task information about Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Viewer.
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-1
1
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Viewer
This chapter introduces you to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer, and
contains the following topics:
? "What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer?"
? "Why use Discoverer Viewer?"
? "What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g
Release 2 (10.1.2)"
? "What are workbooks?"
? "What are worksheets?"
? "About Discoverer worksheet types"
? "What are the components of a cube?"
What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer?
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer is an intuitive ad-hoc query, reporting,
analysis, and Web publishing toolset that gives business users immediate access to
information in databases.
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer enables business users at all levels of the
organization to make faster and more informed business decisions. Using any
standard Web browser, you have secure and immediate access to data from both
relational and multidimensional data sources. Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
provides a business view to hide the complexity of the underlying data structures,
enabling you to focus on solving business problems.
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer comprises a number of integrated components
that work together with the Oracle database to give you a complete and integrated
Business Intelligence solution.
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
1-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Figure 1–1 The Discoverer BI toolset
Which Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer component you use will depend on
what you want to do. For example:
? if you want to create new worksheets and analyze data from both relational and
multi-dimensional data sources across the Web, you will use Discoverer Plus
(Relational and OLAP)
? if you want to create new worksheets and analyze data from relational data
sources using a Windows application on a PC, you will use Discoverer Desktop
? if you want to analyze data in existing worksheets, you will use Discoverer Viewer
or Discoverer portlets (that have been added to an Oracle Portal page using
Discoverer Portlet Provider)
? if you want to display Discoverer worksheets as gauges in dashboard-style
portals, you will use Discoverer Portlet Provider and Discoverer portlets
? if you want to manage the end user view of relational data, you will use
Discoverer Administrator
The Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer components use definitions of Discoverer
objects stored in the Discoverer End User Layer or the Discoverer Catalog.
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
Decision makers today need a business intelligence solution to track up-to-the-minute
company information and key performance indicators. Part of Oracle Business
Intelligence, OracleBI Discoverer Viewer is an intuitive ad hoc query, reporting and
analysis tool that gives business users immediate access to information from data
warehouses, datamarts and online transactional processing systems.
Using Discoverer Viewer, business users can easily turn data into information and
publish it seamlessly throughout the enterprise using a familiar and intuitive user
interface, the Web browser.
Reasons why you use Discoverer Viewer are as follows:
? "Easy-to-use Interface"
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-3
? "Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop"
? "Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer"
? "Database Security"
? "Integration and Customization"
? "JavaScript Enhanced User Interface"
? "National Language Support"
? "Publish to Oracle Portal"
Easy-to-use Interface
Discoverer Viewer is easy to use and allows you to interact directly with data using
familiar terminology and a Web browser. Anyone familiar with using a browser will
quickly be able to use Discoverer Viewer.
Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop
Existing business views of the database are immediately available to Discoverer
Viewer users. Any reports (workbooks) created using Discoverer Plus or Discoverer
Desktop can be run from Discoverer Viewer immediately.
Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer
All the usual facilities of your Web browser are available:
? bookmark your favorite reports
? use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate
? use the browser Print function for print output
? launch registered applications to process data exported using Discoverer Viewer
Database Security
Discoverer Viewer uses the existing database security as defined within Discoverer
Administrator. No additional setup is required, and no one can view data they are not
authorized to see. When used with Oracle Applications, Discoverer Viewer uses the
Oracle Applications security model, including the use of roles and responsibilities.
Discoverer Viewer is the only business intelligence product to integrate directly with
the Oracle Applications security model.
Integration and Customization
Discoverer Viewer can be used as a standalone business intelligence tool or can be
used to integrate database output into your Web site and portal. In addition,
Discoverer Viewer is easily customized to fit in with your Web site look and feel, to
incorporate your company's logo or other artwork, or to build custom Discoverer
applications for the Web. For more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Configuration Guide.
JavaScript Enhanced User Interface
Discoverer Viewer uses JavaScript to enhance the user interface. To benefit from this
enhanced user interface, you must have JavaScript and Cookie support enabled in
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2)
1-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
your browser. For more information on JavaScript and Cookie support in your
browser, see the browser's documentation.
National Language Support
Discoverer Viewer supports many different languages. You can specify your preferred
language by choosing from a drop down list on either the Connect page or the Options
page. The drop down list on the Connect page defaults to your preferred language (as
set in your browser). For more information on setting your preferred language, see
your browser's documentation.
Publish to Oracle Portal
Using Oracle Portal, you can publish Discoverer workbooks and worksheets to an
enterprise information portal quickly and easily. Oracle Portal's intuitive user interface
guides you through the publishing process step by step, enabling non-technical
business users to create powerful business intelligence portals with ease.
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2)
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2) contains the
following new and improved features:
? Native support of the database OLAP option - Discoverer Viewer now enables you
to analyze multidimensional databases.
? Single Sign-on support for VPDs - Single Sign-On IDs (if used) are propagated to
the Virtual Private Database policy being used (for more information, see the
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide).
? Email support - Send a worksheet as an attachment to an email message (for more
information, see "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email").
? Save to database - Save worksheets to the database (for more information, see
"How to save worksheets").
? Customization - Customize Viewer’s look and feel and layout using Oracle
Application Server Control (for more information, see the Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide.
? Enhanced drilling - Drill to related data, and drill directly into graph data to
display other Discoverer worksheets or Internet URLs (for more information, see
"About drilling in Discoverer Viewer").
? Enhanced printing - Define advanced page setup, print preview, generate a
sample, and print to PDF format (for more information, see "How to preview
worksheets before printing" and "How to print worksheets").
? New export formats - Export to Excel Web Query (*.iqy) format to run queries in
Microsoft Excel sheets, and export to PDF format (for more information, see
"Exporting Discoverer worksheets").
? Enhanced worksheet formatting - Define conditional formatting and stoplight
formatting (for more information, see "Using conditional formatting in
Discoverer").
? Enhanced parameter handling - Search and select parameters from lists of values,
include mandatory or optional parameters, use indexes and values (for more
information, see "Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer").
About Discoverer worksheet types
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-5
? Enhanced graphing capability - New graph types, predefined graph styles, drill in
graphs (for more information, see "Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer").
? Single Sign-On support for Oracle Applications users - Create and use private
connections, and connect directly to an Oracle Applications environment using
authenticated OracleAS Single Sign-On users (for more information, see "About
starting Discoverer Viewer").
What are workbooks?
Workbooks are Discoverer files that contain worksheets displaying data retrieved from
the database. If you are familiar with spreadsheet applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel),
think of a workbook as a spreadsheet file. Discoverer workbooks are stored in the
database (for relational data) or the Discoverer Catalog (for multidimensional data).
Workbooks typically contain data that is related in some way but organized to show
different perspectives.
What are worksheets?
Worksheets contain the data that you want to analyze, together with a number of
Discoverer components to help you analyze the data. For example, a worksheet can
contain parameters, totals, percentages, exceptions, and calculations.
If you are familiar with spreadsheet applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel), think of a
workbook as a spreadsheet file and worksheets as different sheets in that spreadsheet
file.
About Discoverer worksheet types
In Discoverer you can display data in two different ways:
? in a table worksheet - see "About table worksheets"
? in a crosstab (i.e. cross-tabular) worksheet - see "About crosstab worksheets"
About table worksheets
A table worksheet lists data in rows and columns. The figure below shows an example
table worksheet analyzing profit values for cities within a region.
Figure 1–2 A table worksheet
Note: The table worksheet style is only used for analyzing relational data.
What are the components of a cube?
1-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
About crosstab worksheets
A crosstab worksheet (short for cross-tabulated worksheet) relates two different sets of
data and summarizes their interrelationship in terms of a third set of data. The figure
below shows an example crosstab analyzing profit values for regions by department.
Figure 1–3 A crosstab worksheet
Key to figure:
a. Top axis, containing the Region item.
b. Left axis, containing the Department item.
c. Data points, containing profit sum figures for each region in each department.
The region and department items are displayed as rows and columns on the crosstab.
Each row and column intersection shows a data point, which in this case is the profit
total for a particular region and a particular department.
What are the components of a cube?
A cube in a multidimensional data source has the following components:
? A measure, which is the name given to the data itself.
? One or more dimensions. Dimension is the name given to the parts of the cube
that categorize the data, such as Product, Geography, and Time. Dimensions have
dimension members, dimension hierarchies, and attributes.
The cube contains a measure value for each possible combination of the different
dimensions. It is therefore very quick for applications such as Discoverer Plus OLAP to
find the value for sales of a particular product in a particular city in a particular year.
What are measures?
In OLAP metadata, measures represent data that can be examined and analyzed in
crosstabs and graphs. Examples include Sales, Cost, and Profit.
What are dimensions and dimension members?
Measures have dimensions that categorize the data in the measure. For example, a
Sales measure might have Product, Time, and Geography as its dimensions. When a
measure has a particular dimension, the measure is said to be dimensioned by that
dimension. For example, Sales is dimensioned by Product. The group of dimensions
for a measure constitute the dimensionality of that measure. For example, the
dimensionality of Sales is Product, Time, and Geography.
Each element in a dimension is a dimension member. For example, January 2001,
February 2001, March 2001, Quarter 1 2001, and the year 2001 are likely members of
the Time dimension.
What are the components of a cube?
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-7
What are dimension hierarchies?
A dimension hierarchy describes a hierarchical relationship between two or more
dimension members.
Individual dimension members might be related to each other in a hierarchical way.
For example, a specific day belongs to a particular month, which in turn is within a
particular year. To reflect such relationships, dimension members are organized into
dimension hierarchies.
A dimension hierarchy is a logical structure that uses ordered levels as a means of
organizing and aggregating data. For example, the Time dimension might have a
hierarchy to aggregate data from the Month level to the Quarter level to the Year level.
A dimension can have more than one hierarchy. For example, as well as the
Month-Quarter-Year dimension hierarchy, the Time dimension might also have a
Day-Month-Year dimension hierarchy. Note that where multiple dimension
hierarchies exist for the same dimension, one dimension hierarchy must be specified as
the default hierarchy.
What are dimension attributes?
A dimension attribute describes a characteristic that is shared by dimension members.
Dimension attributes enable you to select data based on similar characteristics. For
example, a Product dimension might have a Color attribute that enables you to search
for all red products.
What are the components of a cube?
1-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-1
2
Starting Discoverer Viewer
This chapter explains how to start Discoverer Viewer, and contains the following
topics:
? "What is a Discoverer connection?"
? "About starting Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page"
? "How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection"
? "How to start Discoverer by connecting directly"
? "How to exit Discoverer Viewer"
? "Frequently asked questions"
What is a Discoverer connection?
A Discoverer connection stores login details that enable you to connect to Discoverer
Viewer. Each connection stores the following information:
? database user name
? database password
? database name
? (optional) Oracle Applications responsibility
? language
? EUL (relational data only)
Discoverer login details are saved automatically when you create a connection. From
then on, you can start Discoverer Viewer simply by clicking on a connection name in
the Discoverer connections list that is displayed when you run Discoverer Viewer.
The Discoverer manager can also create public connections. Public connections enable
you to start Discoverer and access workbooks without having to create your own
connections.You cannot edit or delete public connections. Only the Discoverer
manager can create, edit, and delete public connections.
Notes
? You can also start Discoverer Viewer without creating a connection, by connecting
directly (for more information, see "How to start Discoverer by connecting
directly").
About starting Discoverer Viewer
2-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? For more information about saving login information in a private connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
? If you require login details to enable you to create your own Discoverer Viewer
connections, contact the Discoverer manager.
About starting Discoverer Viewer
The table below show the different ways in which you can start Discoverer Viewer.
Depending on the internet browser you are using and how your company’s network
server is configured, you might see a dialog about security when you first start
Discoverer Viewer. This security dialog appears when Discoverer Viewer requests
extra permissions to access the Discoverer server or local devices (e.g. printers). If you
do not want to see the dialog every time you connect, select the option "Always trust
content from Oracle Corporation." Click Yes (or OK or Grant depending on browser)
to continue starting Discoverer Viewer.
When you start Discoverer Viewer, you cannot open multiple browser windows (e.g.
for Internet Explorer) and continue to use Discoverer Viewer in the new browser
windows. Most Web browsers enable you to open multiple browser windows in
parallel (e.g. by using Ctrl + N). To use Discoverer Viewer in multiple browser
windows you have to use a new connection for each new browser window.
How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page
You display the Discoverer Viewer connections page to select a connection (i.e. a
stored set of database login details) to start Discoverer Viewer or to connect to
Discoverer Viewer directly. You can also use the Discoverer Viewer connections page
to edit and delete Discoverer connections.
To display the Discoverer Viewer connections page:
1. Launch a Web browser.
2. Go to the Discoverer web address given to you by the Discoverer manager.
To start Discoverer Viewer: Use this method when:
use an existing pre-defined connection
(known as a public connection) created by
the Discoverer manager
the Discoverer manager has created login
details for you so that you do not have to
supply login details yourself (for more
information, see "How to start Discoverer
Viewer using an existing connection")
use an existing user-defined connection
(known as a private connection) that you
created yourself
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
using login details that you saved
previously (for more information, see "How
to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing
connection")
create a new user-defined connection
(known as a private connection)
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
using a new login (for more information, see
"How do I create and save login information
in a Discoverer connection?")
connect directly by entering login details
(which are not saved in a connection)
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
but you do not want to save the login details
for use later (for more information, see
"How to start Discoverer by connecting
directly")
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-3
Hint: The Discoverer web address might be:
? the default web page that you access when you start a browser
? an internet address (URL) that you enter in the address field in a browser (e.g.
a typical URL might be
http://machinename.myorganization.com:7777/discoverer/viewer)
? a link from a portal or other internet or intranet site that you are using
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed.
A list of the existing Discoverer connections is displayed in the Connection
column.
Notes
? For information on how to create and save a private Discoverer connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
? If this page does not display any connections or the Create Connection button:
– you can connect to Discoverer by entering connection details in the Connect
Directly area (for more information, see "How to start Discoverer by
connecting directly")
– Discoverer has not been associated with an infrastructure (for more
information, ask the Discoverer manager)
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
When you start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection, you can use one of
the following:
? an existing public connection created by the Discoverer manager
? an existing private connection that you created earlier
To start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection:
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
2-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page").
2. Select the name of a connection name in the Connection column to start
Discoverer Viewer.
Hint: To confirm that you are using the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
Note: If you have already used Oracle’s Single Sign-On functionality to establish a
database connection, you will not be prompted for password information when
you start Discoverer Viewer.
Discoverer Viewer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables
you to locate and select a worksheet to open.
You can open any worksheet accessible to the database username used in the
current connection. If you cannot see the worksheet that you want to open, you
might need to use a different connection.
3. Select the + icon next to a workbook to display the worksheets contained in that
workbook (or select the icon in the Focus column next to a workbook).
4. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer Viewer displays the selected worksheet.
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-5
You can now begin to analyze data using Discoverer Viewer’s powerful analysis
tools.
Notes
? For information on how to create and save a private Discoverer connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
You start Discoverer by connecting directly when you want to connect to Discoverer
but you do not want to save the login details for use later.
To start Discoverer by connecting directly:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page").
2. Select the Connect Directly link to display the Connect Directly area.
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
2-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
3. Enter login details using the fields provided (e.g. User Name, Password,
Database).
4. Click Go to start Discoverer.
Discoverer Viewer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables
you to locate and select a worksheet to open.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-7
5. Select the + icon next to a workbook to display the worksheets contained in that
workbook (or select the icon the Focus column next to a workbook).
6. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer Viewer displays the selected worksheet.
You can now begin to analyze data using Discoverer’s powerful analysis tools.
How to exit Discoverer Viewer
When you have finished using Discoverer Viewer to analyze data, exit the application.
To exit Discoverer Viewer:
1. Select the Exit link in the header area or footer area of the Discoverer Viewer page.
Frequently asked questions
This section answers frequently asked questions about starting Discoverer Viewer, and
contains the following topics:
? "What is the End User Layer (EUL)?"
? "What are database accounts?"
? "How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?"
? "How do I edit a Discoverer connection?"
? "How do I delete a Discoverer connection?"
Frequently asked questions
2-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? "What are public connections?"
? "What are user-defined connections?"
? "When and why do I need to change my password?"
? "How do I change the password for a connection?"
? "How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?"
? "What is Single Sign-On?"
? "What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?"
What is the End User Layer (EUL)?
The EUL is an intuitive, business-focused view of the a relational database that uses
terms that you are familiar with and can easily understand. The EUL insulates you
from the complexity usually associated with databases. This enables you to focus on
business issues instead of data access issues.
The Discoverer manager creates the EUL so that you see a user-friendly view of the
database when you use Discoverer.
If you start Discoverer using a public connection, the Discoverer manager specifies an
EUL for you. If you create your own connection, you select the EUL yourself, or accept
the default EUL assigned to you (for more information, see "How do I create and save
login information in a Discoverer connection?").
What are database accounts?
To use Discoverer, you need a database account that enables you to connect to
Discoverer. You store database account details in a Discoverer connection along with
EUL and language settings.
Note: If your organization uses Single Sign-On (a system for enabling users to log in
once to access many different applications), you also need a Single Sign-On account. If
you are not sure whether your organization uses Single Sign-On, contact the
Discoverer manager. For more information, see "What is Single Sign-On?".
A database account comprises two pieces of information:
? A username - a short name by which you are identified by the database. For
example, video5, or marketing.
? A password - a secret key that you use to authenticate your username. An initial
password is created for you by the database administrator. To keep your
organization’s data secure, do not tell another person what your password is, or
write down your password so that other people can read it (for more information,
see "When and why do I need to change my password?").
How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?
You create and save login information in a new private Discoverer connection when
you want to start Discoverer using login details that you have not saved previously.
To create and save login information in a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer connections page (for more information, see "How to
display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Click Create Connection to display the Create Connection: Connection Details
page.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-9
3. Choose the type of user you want to connect as:
? to create a relational connection, select OracleBI Discoverer from the Connect
to drop down list
? to create a multidimensional connection, select OracleBI Discoverer for OLAP
from the Connect to drop down list
? to create a connection to access data in an Oracle Applications environment,
select Oracle Applications from the Connect to drop down list
4. Enter a connection name by which you want to identify the new connection in the
Connection Name field.
The connection name is displayed in the Connections column on the Connect to
OracleBI Discoverer page.
5. (optional) Enter a description of the connection in the Connection Description
field.
For example, you might want to add the names of the workbooks that the
connection will be used to access.
6. Select the language that you want to use from the Locale drop down list.
7. Specify the username, password, and database details for the connection that you
want to create.
Hint: If you are not sure what username, password, and database details to enter,
contact the Discoverer manager.
Frequently asked questions
2-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list (and
you logged in as a Single Sign-On user), Discoverer displays only the Database
field. You specify a username and password (if required) in subsequent pages.
8. Save the details by doing one of the following:
? Click Apply to save the details you have specified and return to the
Connections list.
? Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have specified and start
Discoverer Viewer using the login details specified.
Note: If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list (and
you logged in as a Single Sign-On user), Discoverer displays the Select Username
page or the Enter Username and Password page.
9. If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list, do the
following:
a. Select a username (if the flashlight icon is displayed) or enter a username in
the User Name field.
Note: The User Name field is only displayed for a SSO user with more than
one associated Oracle Applications username, or for a non-SSO Oracle
Applications user.
b. Enter a password in the Password field (not displayed for a SSO user, if you
selected a username using the flashlight icon).
c. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
10. If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list and the user
has more than one Oracle Applications Responsibility, Discoverer displays the
Select Oracle Applications Responsibility page. Do the following:
a. Select a responsibility from the Oracle Applications drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
11. (relational data only) If the username has access to more than one End User Layer,
the Create Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
If you clicked Apply, the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. The
new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To
start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new
connection name in the Connection list.
If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to
select a workbook and worksheet to open.
How do I edit a Discoverer connection?
You edit a Discoverer connection when you want to change the login details stored in
that connection. For example, you might want to change the username that you use to
start Discoverer Viewer.
To edit a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-11
2. Select the pencil icon in the Update column next to the name of the connection that
you want to edit.
Hint: To confirm that you are using the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
The Update Connection page is displayed.
3. Change the connection details as required.
4. Save the details by doing one of the following:
? Click Apply to save the details you have entered and return to the
Connections list.
? Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have entered and start
Discoverer Viewer using the login details you specified.
5. If the username has access to more than one End User Layer, the Create
Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
If you clicked Apply, the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer Viewer page is displayed.
The new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To
start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new
connection name in the Connection list.
If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to select
a workbook and worksheet to open.
Notes
? You can only edit private connections that you have created yourself. You cannot
edit public connections created by the Discoverer manager.
How do I delete a Discoverer connection?
You delete a Discoverer connection when you want to remove login details
permanently. For example, you might want to delete a connection that you no longer
need.
To delete a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the trash can icon in the Delete column next to the name of the connection
that you want to delete to display the Confirmation dialog.
Hint: To confirm that you are deleting the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
3. Click Yes at the confirmation page to delete the connection and return to the
Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page.
Notes
? You can only delete private connections that you have created yourself. You
cannot delete public connections created by the Discoverer manager.
Frequently asked questions
2-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
What are public connections?
Public connections are Discoverer logins created by the Discoverer manager. Public
connections enable you to start Discoverer Viewer and access workbooks without
having to create your own connections.
You cannot edit or delete public connections. Only the Discoverer manager can create,
edit, and delete public connections.
What are user-defined connections?
User-defined connections (also known as private connections) are Discoverer logins
that you create yourself. You can edit and delete private connections. Only you can
access, edit, and delete the private connections that you create.
When and why do I need to change my password?
Typically you will have to change your password periodically to maintain data
security.
Your system manager specifies how long you can keep the same password before it
expires. In other words, how long you can keep the password before you have to
change it.
You will know your password has expired if you start Discoverer Viewer and are
prompted to enter a new password. When you connect to Discoverer Viewer, you
might be warned that your password will expire in a specified number of days. If you
do not change the password in this period, you are prompted to enter a new password
when the password expires.
It is also important to change your password if you think that someone else has found
out what the password is.
How do I change the password for a connection?
You change the password for a connection when the password:
? has expired
? is about to expire
? has become known by another user
To change the password for a connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the
password.
3. Click Change Database Password.
4. In the Password field, enter the current database password for the current
username.
5. In the New Password field, enter a new database password for the current
username.
6. In the Verify Password field, re-enter the new database password for the current
username.
7. Click Finish.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-13
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. You can now use the
connection to start Discoverer Viewer.
Notes
? If any of the password details that you entered were invalid, an error message is
displayed with advice on which value to change.
How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?
You change the End User Layer (EUL) for a Discoverer connection when you want the
connection to start Discoverer using a different EUL (for more information, see "What
is the End User Layer (EUL)?").
To change the EUL for a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the
End User Layer.
3. In the Password field, enter a valid password for the Discoverer connection.
4. Click Continue.
5. If the username for the current Discoverer connection has access to more than one
End User Layer, the Select End User Layer for Discoverer Connection page is
displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Finish.
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. You can now use the
connection to start Discoverer.
Notes
? If the username does not have access to more than one End User Layer, you cannot
change the default End User Layer.
? If the password that you entered was invalid, an error message is displayed with
advice on which value to change.
What is Single Sign-On?
Single Sign-On is a feature that enables users to log in once to access many different
applications.
What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?
If your organization uses Single Sign-On, your Discoverer password is separate to
your Single Sign-On password:
? your Single Sign-On password authenticates your Single Sign-On username
? your Discoverer password authenticates your Discoverer username
? with a single Sign-on connection, you can connect using many different Discoverer
connections
Frequently asked questions
2-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-1
3
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer
This chapter explains how to analyze data with Discoverer Viewer, and contains the
following topics:
? "How to open a Discoverer worksheet"
? "How to save worksheets"
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
? "Exporting Discoverer worksheets"
? "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email"
? "How to format worksheet items and cells"
? "Using conditional formatting in Discoverer"
? "Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer"
? "Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to sort items and measures in a worksheet"
? "About drilling in Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to drill down in worksheets"
? "How to drill up in worksheets"
? "How to change the layout of a worksheet"
? "How to apply saved selections"
? "About using indexes and values in parameters"
How to open a Discoverer worksheet
You open a Discoverer worksheet to analyze the data in that worksheet. You can
display one worksheet at a time (though you can create multiple Discoverer Viewer
browser sessions).
To open a Discoverer worksheet:
1. Start Discoverer Viewer (for more information, see Chapter 2, "Starting Discoverer
Viewer").
Discoverer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables you to
locate and select a worksheet to open.
How to open a Discoverer worksheet
3-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
2. Select the + icon next to the workbook containing the worksheet you want to open
to display the worksheets in that workbook (or select the icon the Focus column
next to a workbook).
3. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer displays the selected worksheet.
How to save worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-3
You can now begin to analyze the worksheet data using Discoverer’s powerful
analysis tools.
How to save worksheets
If you have made changes to a worksheet (e.g. you have re-sorted data or repositioned
worksheet items), you can save these changes. If you are logged in to Discoverer as the
owner of the workbook that contains the worksheet, you can overwrite the original
worksheet. If you are not logged in as the owner of the workbook that contains the
worksheet, you can save a copy of the worksheet.
If you change a worksheet and then switch to a different worksheet, Discoverer
prompts you to save the changes you have made or discard the changes.
To save a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to save.
If you own the worksheet, both the Save and Save As options are available. If you
do not own the worksheet, only the Save As option is available.
2. Save the worksheet as follows:
If you own the worksheet, do one of the following:
? to save changes to the worksheet, select the Save link
? to save the worksheet in a workbook with a different workbook name, select
the Save As link to display the Save Workbook As page and specify a new
workbook name
How to preview worksheets before printing
3-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
If you do not own the worksheet, to save the worksheet in a workbook as a
different workbook name, select the Save As link to display the Save Workbook As
page and specify a new workbook name.
Discoverer saves the worksheet in the database in the current workbook. If you use the
Save As option, workbooks are always stored in the root folder.
How to preview worksheets before printing
You preview a worksheet before printing to confirm that the settings in the Print
Options page produce the output you expect. For example, you might want to check
that margins, spacing, and set up options are correct before printing the worksheets.
You preview a Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the worksheet.
Discoverer generates either a sample PDF version of the worksheet, or a full PDF
version of the worksheet. The sample PDF version of the worksheet contains data that
represents the first 50 rows of data. The full PDF version of the worksheet contains all
the rows of data.
To preview a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to preview.
2. Select the Printable Page link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content
tab".
3. (optional) Use the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" to change the print
settings, if required.
4. Click Preview Sample to generate a sample PDF version of the worksheet and
display the "PDF Sample Ready page".
5. Click Open PDF to view sample to display the sample PDF version of the
worksheet in a separate browser window.
You can view, print or save a copy of the sample PDF file from the separate
browser window.
How to print worksheets
You print a worksheet in Discoverer Viewer by generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the worksheet and printing the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
Discoverer displays the PDF version of the worksheet for you to preview before you
print it (for more information, see "How to preview worksheets before printing").
To print a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to print.
2. Select the Printable Page link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content
tab".
3. (optional) Use the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" to change the print
settings, if required.
4. (optional) If you want to preview a sample PDF version of the worksheet before
printing the full worksheet, follow the steps in "How to preview worksheets
before printing".
5. Click Printable PDF to display the "PDF Ready page".
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-5
6. Select the Click to view or save link to display the full PDF version of the
worksheet in a separate browser window.
Note: You can now view, print, or save the PDF file.
7. In the separate browser window displaying the PDF file, choose File | Print to
display the operating system print dialog and print the PDF file.
Discoverer prints the PDF version of the worksheet.
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
This section explains how to export worksheets in different formats, and contains the
following topics:
? "How to export Discoverer worksheets"
? "What are the implications of using different export formats?"
? "How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
How to export Discoverer worksheets
You export worksheet data so that you can use the data in a Discoverer worksheet in a
different application. For example, you might want to produce a Discoverer worksheet
in Microsoft Excel format.
To export a Discoverer worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to export (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Export link in the Actions area to display the "Choose export type page".
3. Select an export type from the drop down list and click Export to display the
"Export Ready page".
4. Click the Click to view or save button to display the exported file in the
application associated with that file type.
Discoverer displays the exported file in the application associated with that type of
export file (e.g. a browser, Microsoft Excel).
5. (optional) If you want to save the exported file, save the file in the application
used for that type of export file (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
What are the implications of using different export formats?
When you have exported a worksheet to a specified export file format, you might
notice differences when you open the exported file in the associated application. These
differences are described in the following topics:
? "What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the XLS file
format?"
? "What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the CSV file
format?"
What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the XLS file
format?
When you export relational worksheet data to the XLS file format, Discoverer:
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
3-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? sets the MimeType of the worksheet output to application/vnd.ms-excel
? requests the file name to be <worksheet_name>.xls
? formats worksheet output to be readable by Microsoft Excel
On a machine where Microsoft Excel is installed, the operating system typically
associates the XLS file with Microsoft Excel.
Note: When you export a worksheet to the XLS file format, it is recommended that you
save the XLS file and then open the saved XLS file in Microsoft Excel.
For more information about exporting worksheet data, see "Choose export type page".
What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the CSV file
format?
When you export worksheet data to the CSV file format, Discoverer:
? sets the MimeType of the worksheet output to application/csv
? requests the file name to be <worksheet_name>.csv
Note: The Discoverer server does not format the worksheet output to be readable
by Microsoft Excel (because CSV files are often used for other purposes, and to
impose Microsoft Excel-specific formatting might be inappropriate).
On a machine where Microsoft Excel is installed, the operating system does not
necessarily associates the CSV file with Microsoft Excel:
Note: Although you might be able to open a CSV file using Microsoft Excel, it is
recommended that you export the worksheet to the XLS file format and then open the
XLS file in Microsoft Excel.
For more information about exporting worksheet data, see "Choose export type page".
About exporting Discoverer worksheets to Microsoft Excel Web Query format
Microsoft Excel Web Query is an external data format in Microsoft Excel that enables
you to include dynamic relational data from an Internet or Intranet URL (e.g. a
Discoverer worksheet) in a Microsoft Excel worksheet. For example, you might want
to create a Microsoft Excel worksheet that contains a Discoverer sales report for a
range of dates that you specify when you open the worksheet in Microsoft Excel. The
Microsoft Excel worksheet stores the query used to obtain the Discoverer data, so that
the data can be refreshed automatically.
Discoverer enables you to export Discoverer data to Microsoft Excel Web Query format
by selecting Web Query for Microsoft Excel 2000+ (*.iqy) from the list of export types.
End users can then access dynamic Discoverer worksheets in Microsoft Excel. You can
export data to Microsoft Excel Web Query format from both Discoverer Plus and
Discoverer Viewer.
Notes
? Web Query for Microsoft Excel 2000+ (*.iqy) format is not available in a Single
Sign-On environment. Contact the Discoverer manager or Oracle administrator for
more information.
? To access Discoverer reports exported to Microsoft Excel Web Query format,
Microsoft Excel end users require Microsoft Excel 2000 (or later) and Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.0 (or later).
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-7
? You can only export numeric and textual data into Microsoft Excel Web Query
format. You cannot export Discoverer graphs into Microsoft Excel Web Query
format.
? Once you have imported a Discoverer report to Microsoft Excel, refresh the sheet
in Excel when you want to display up-to-date data. Please refer to Microsoft Excel
documentation for more information about how to refresh data in Microsoft Excel.
Note: For more information about exporting worksheet data to Microsoft Excel Web
Query format, Refer to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus User’s Guide.
How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files
To enable your client machine to automatically open exported Excel files, you need to
configure settings as described in the following topics:
? "How to configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you to
open or save the export file"
? "How to configure Internet Explorer to display the Download complete dialog"
? "How to configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an
exported Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel"
How to configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you
to open or save the export file
To configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you to open or save
the export file:
1. Choose Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options from the Windows Start menu.
2. Display the list of Windows File Types.
3. Select the File Type for which you want to display a prompt dialog to open or save
the export file.
4. Click Advance to display the Edit File Type dialog.
5. Select the Confirm open after download check box (a MIME type property of the
file type).
6. Click OK.
How to configure Internet Explorer to display the Download complete
dialog
To configure Internet Explorer to display a Download Complete dialog when the
export is complete:
1. Open Internet Explorer and choose Tools | Internet Options | Advanced tab.
2. Select the Notify when downloads complete check box.
3. Click OK.
How to configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an
exported Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel
Excel will not allow you to open a Discoverer worksheet exported to an XLS file if the
macro security level in Excel is set to High. Excel displays an alert and prevents you
from opening the worksheet.
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email
3-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
To configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an exported
Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel:
1. Open Microsoft Excel and select Tools | Macro | Security Level tab.
2. Select the Medium radio button.
3. Click OK.
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email
You can send a copy of the currently displayed worksheet to one or more email
recipients in a range of formats.
To send a Discoverer worksheet in an email:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to send (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Send as email link in the Actions area to display the "Choose
attachment type (send as email attachment)".
3. Select an export type from the drop down list and click Next to display the "Send
Email page".
4. Use the "Send Email page" to enter the email addresses of the intended email
recipients, and create the email message.
5. (optional) If you want to display the attached worksheet file, click View
Attachment, to display the worksheet in an appropriate software package (e.g.
Microsoft Excel).
6. Click Finish to send the email.
Note: Discoverer sends the email using the IMAP settings specified by the Discoverer
manager.
Note: Discoverer sends the email as a Zip file using the IMAP settings specified by the
Discoverer manager.
How to format worksheet items and cells
You format worksheet items and cells to change their appearance (e.g. text font, text
color, background color). On table worksheets, you format worksheet items, but not
individual worksheet cells. On crosstab worksheets, you can format worksheet items
and individual worksheet cells.
Hint: You can select more than one worksheet item or cell by pressing the Ctrl key and
clicking another worksheet item or cell.
To format worksheet items:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to edit (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select one or more worksheet items or cells by selecting the grab handle of
worksheet items to highlight them.
Hint: You can select more than one item by pressing Ctrl and selecting another
item.
3. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
4. Use the formatting tools to format the selected worksheet items.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-9
For example, you might:
? click the B, i, or U buttons to format the text as bold, italic, or underlined
? select the color palette icons next to the Background and Font tools to display
a color palette
? select the More link to display the "Format Cells page", which enables you to
specify font, border, and number format options for the selected worksheet
items
Note: Number format options are only available for OLAP worksheets.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Conditional formatting is the use of conditional formats and stoplight formats to
highlight worksheet values. This section explains how use conditional formatting in
Discoverer Viewer, and contains the following topics:
? "What is a conditional format?"
? "What is a stoplight format?"
? "How to activate and deactivate conditional formats"
? "How to create a conditional format"
? "How to create a stoplight format"
? "How to create a stoplight format"
? "How to create a conditional header format"
? "How to edit conditional formats"
? "How to delete conditional formats"
What is a conditional format?
A conditional format enables you to highlight worksheet values that meet a specific
condition. For example, you might want to highlight profit values greater than 30,000.
Note: In Discoverer Desktop, conditional formats are known as exceptions.
In the example below, a conditional format highlights Profit SUM values greater than
30,000. The Profit SUM figures for Cincinnati and Louisville are displayed with a blue
background because they are greater than 30,000.
Figure 3–1 A Discoverer worksheet using a conditional format
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
3-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
What is a stoplight format?
A stoplight format (or traffic light format) enables you to categorize numeric
worksheet values as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable using different colors. The
default stoplight format uses the familiar red, yellow, and green color scheme to
represent unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable values.
For example, you might want to categorize performance based on profit values where:
? values less than or equal to 10,000 are unacceptable, and are shown in red
? values between 10,001 and 29,999 are acceptable, and are shown in yellow
? values equal to or greater than 30,000 are desirable, and are shown in green
In the example below, a stoplight format based on the above values is used to
categorize Profit SUM values. Values in the unacceptable category are show in red (e.g.
Chicago and Dallas). Values in the acceptable category are shown in yellow (e.g. St.
Louis and Washington). Values in the desirable category are shown in green (e.g.
Cincinnati and Louisville).
Figure 3–2 A Discoverer worksheet using a stoplight format
What is a conditional header format?
A conditional header format enables you to change the appearance of selected
worksheet item headings. For example, you might want to display the heading for
items Year and Region with a blue background, leaving the items Profit SUM with the
default white background.
How to activate and deactivate conditional formats
You activate a conditional format to apply that format to the currently displayed
worksheet. For example, you might want to use an existing conditional format to
highlight percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue
background.
You deactivate a conditional format to remove that format from the currently
displayed worksheet. For example, you might want to remove a conditional format
that highlights percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue
background. You can always activate the conditional format later.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
To activate and deactivate a conditional format:
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-11
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. To activate a conditional format, select the check box in the Display column next
to the format you want to activate.
5. To deactivate a conditional format, clear the check box in the Display column next
to the format you want to deactivate.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to change the precedence of conditional format
When two formats specify different settings for the same cell, the most recently created
format takes precedence. For example, when you set the background color for a
column to blue, and then set the background color for a row to red, the intersecting cell
has a red background.
The order of the formats in the Conditional Formats <Crosstab | Table> page
determines which format applies in the case of a conflict. The higher format in the list
takes precedence over lower formats.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
To change the precedence of a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Click the Move Up icon next to the conditional format that you want to apply.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a conditional format
You create a conditional format to highlight worksheet values that meet a specific
condition. For example, you might want to highlight percentage values greater than
75% by displaying them with a blue background.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
Note: To categorize worksheet values as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable
using color and text formatting, you create a stoplight format and not a conditional
format (for more information, see "How to create a stoplight format").
To create a conditional format?
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
3-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Create Conditional Format link to display the "Create Conditional Cell
Format page".
4. Use the "Create Conditional Cell Format page" to select the worksheet item that
you want to format, and specify format colors and styles.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a stoplight format
You create a stoplight format when you want to categorize numeric worksheet values
as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable using text and color formatting. For
example, you might want to display low cost values in green, medium cost values in
yellow, and high cost values in red.
For more information, see "What is a stoplight format?".
To create a stoplight format?
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Stoplight link to display stoplight formatting tools above the worksheet
data.
3. Use the Format drop down list to specify whether to apply the format to all cells,
selected cells, or to cells for an item or measure.
4. Enter threshold values in the Unacceptable and Desirable fields.
Note: Threshold values are inclusive. For example, if you select 30,000 in the
Desirable field, you apply this category to value equal to or greater than 30,000.
5. (optional) Select the color palette icons next to the Unacceptable, Acceptable, and
Desirable fields to display a color palette and change the color for that category.
6. Click Go to apply the stoplight format to the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a conditional header format
You create a conditional header format to change the look and feel of particular
worksheet item headings. For example, you might want to change the background
color of the worksheet item header for a Region item to blue.
For more information, see "What is a conditional header format?".
To create a conditional header format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display stoplight formatting tools above the worksheet
data.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-13
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Click Create Conditional Header Format to display the "How to create a
conditional header format".
5. Use the "Create Conditional Header Format page" to select the worksheet item
that you want to format, and specify format colors and styles.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
7. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to edit conditional formats
You edit a conditional format to change how it works. For example, you might want to
change the color of the Acceptable stoplight category from yellow to orange.
To edit a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Select the pencil icon in the Edit column next to the format you want to change to
display the edit page for that type of format.
5. Make the necessary changes to the formats.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and close the edit page.
7. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to delete conditional formats
You delete a conditional format to remove it permanently from the currently displayed
worksheet. For example, you might want to delete a conditional format that highlights
percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue background.
Hint: If you think you might want to use the conditional format again, consider
deactivating the conditional format rather than deleting it (for more information, see
"How to activate and deactivate conditional formats").
To delete a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer
3-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Select the trash can icon in the Delete column next to the conditional format you
want to delete.
Hint: To remove all formatting applied using the Formatting toolbar from the
current worksheet, click Clear All Formatting, and click Yes at the confirmation
page.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer
The following topics explain how to use graphs in Discoverer Viewer:
? "About using graphs"
? "How to edit a graph"
? "How to display or hide a graph"
About using graphs
You can edit a graph in Discoverer Viewer by:
? changing the graph type
? changing the graph size
? enabling and disabling graph gradients
? enabling and disabling 3D effects
? changing the data area that is plotted on the graph
For more information about editing graphs, see "How to edit a graph".
Notes
? Graphs created in Discoverer Plus (Relational and OLAP) are displayed in
Discoverer Viewer. Graphs created in Discoverer Desktop are not displayed in
Discoverer Viewer.
How to edit a graph
You edit a graph to change the style or appearance of the graph. For example, you
might want to change the graph type from pie graph to bar graph.
To edit a graph:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
If the worksheet contains a graph that is hidden, display the graph (for more
information, see "How to display or hide a graph").
2. Select the Graph link to display graph tools above the graph.
3. Use the graph tools to edit the graph as follows:
? to change the graph type, select a graph type from the Type drop down list
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-15
? to change the graph style, select a graph style from the drop down list next to
the Type drop down list
? to change the graph size, change the values in the Height and Width fields
? to specify whether the 3D or gradient effect is applied, use the 3D Effect and
Gradient check boxes.
4. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the graph tools.
How to display or hide a graph
You display a graph to plot the currently displayed worksheet data in a graph. For
example, you might want to plot the worksheet data in a pie chart.
You hide a graph to remove it from the worksheet.
To display or hide a graph:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Worksheet options link to display the "Worksheet Options page".
3. To display the graph for the current worksheet, select the Graph check box.
4. To hide the graph for the current worksheet, clear the Graph check box.
5. Click Apply to close the "Worksheet Options page" and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: You can also use the Graph plus (+) and minus (-) icons to expand and collapse
the graph.
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer
The following topics explain how to use parameters in Discoverer Viewer for
worksheets containing relational data:
? "About using indexes and values in parameters"
? "How to apply different parameter values to worksheets"
Note: Discoverer worksheets containing OLAP data do not contain parameters.
About using indexes and values in parameters
Discoverer enables end users to display and select parameter values with index
numbers (e.g. (1) January, (2) February) or without index numbers (e.g. January,
February). Indexes are set up by the Discoverer manager to improve query
performance for specific End User Layer (EUL) items, when these items are used as
parameters. For more information about selecting parameters, see "Edit Parameters
page".
The <Index and Value> drop down list options enables you to choose whether you
want to enter parameter values as index numbers or values. For example, if you want
a parameter field called Month to be set to the value January, you could do either of
the following:
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet
3-16 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? select Index from the <Index and Value> drop down list and enter the index
number that represents January (e.g. 1)
? select Value from the <Index and Value> drop down list and enter the text value
that represents January (e.g. January)
Either of the above values will produce the same result in the worksheet.
Note: Parameters do not apply with OLAP connections.
How to apply different parameter values to worksheets
You apply a different parameter value to a worksheet to refine the worksheet data. For
example, you might want to display data for a different month.
To apply a different parameter value to a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
When you display a worksheet that contains active parameters, Discoverer
prompts you to specify parameter values for each active parameter.
2. Select the Rerun Query link in the Actions area (or select Refresh in the browser) to
display the "Edit Parameters page".
3. Use the "Edit Parameters page" to specify the new parameter values.
For example, you might enter New York for a City parameter to display worksheet
data for New York.
4. Click Apply to close the "Edit Parameters page" and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the changes you have specified.
About error when using lists of values
If you have a Discoverer worksheet portlet with parameters that use lists of values
(LOVs), then you will get a "404 Not Found" error in the following situations:
? When you click "Analyze" in a Discoverer Portlet, to launch OracleBI Discoverer
Viewer.
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet
You can change the order in which items and measures are displayed by using the Sort
tool.
Note: Sort tools are not available for crosstab worksheets based on relational data.
Crosstab worksheets based on relational data are sorted by the worksheet creator in
either Discoverer Plus or Discoverer Desktop.
To sort items and measures in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Sort link to display the sort tools above the worksheet data.
3. The available sort tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a table worksheet containing relational data, use the Sort and Order fields
to select sort options, or select the More link to display the "Multiple Sort
page", which enables you to do more complex sorting
How to drill down in worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-17
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, use the Sort, Based On,
and Order fields to select sort options
Discoverer sorts the worksheet data according to the sort options you have
specified.
About drilling in Discoverer Viewer
Discoverer enables you to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily using a
powerful set of drilling tools.
The table below lists the types of drill supported by Discoverer:
How to drill down in worksheets
You drill to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily. For example, you might drill
down into a worksheet item to see data in more detail.
To drill down in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. The available drill tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a worksheet containing relational data, you:
– Select a drill icon next to the item heading of the worksheet item you want
to drill down into.
– Select a level of detail below the current level of detail (indicated by a dot).
For example, to drill down from Region to City, select the City option.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drill level you selected.
For example, if you drill down from Region to City, Discoverer adds city
data to the worksheet.
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, you:
– Select a Drill Expand (+) icon next to the worksheet value you want to
drill down into.
Drill type Description Drill icon used in worksheets
Drill up and down Drill up and down a drill
hierarchy created by the
Discoverer manager.
You can drill up and down
in both worksheet data and
graph data.
Drill to a related item Drill to a related worksheet
item.
You can drill to a related
item in worksheet data, but
not graph data.
Drill out Drill out to a worksheet,
Internet URL, or file.
You can drill out in
worksheet data, but not
graph data.
How to drill up in worksheets
3-18 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Discoverer displays the next level of data in the data hierarchy. For exam-
ple, if you drill into the 2005 value, you might display quarterly data for
2005.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drilling options you have
specified.
Note: For information about drilling in graphs, refer to the Discoverer Plus Help
systems.
How to drill up in worksheets
You drill to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily. For example, you might drill
up from a worksheet item to consolidated data.
To drill up in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. The available drill tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a worksheet containing relational data, you:
– Select a drill icon next to the item heading of the worksheet item you want
to drill up to.
– Select a level of detail above the current level of detail (indicated by a dot).
For example, to drill up from City to Region, select the Region option.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drill level you selected.
For example, if you drill up from City to Region, Discoverer removes City
data from the worksheet.
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, you:
– Select a Drill Collapse icon (-) next to the worksheet value you want to
drill up from.
Discoverer collapses the worksheet value. For example, if you collapse the
2005 value, you remove quarterly data for 2005.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drilling options you have
specified.
Note: For information about drilling in graphs, refer to the Discoverer Plus Help
systems.
How to change the layout of a worksheet
You can change the layout of a worksheet by using the Layout tool. For example, you
might want to analyze a worksheet in a new way by moving a worksheet item called
Year from the left axis to the top axis.
To change the layout of a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Layout link to display layout tools above the worksheet.
To do more complex layout changes, select the More link to display the
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
How to apply saved selections
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-19
3. Use the layout tools or options on the "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab
tools)" to change the worksheet layout.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the layout options you have
specified.
How to apply saved selections
A saved selected is a predefined selection of members for a dimension. It can be
specified as members themselves, or as criteria for selecting members (e.g. last three
months, top 10 cities based on shoe sales). You can apply saved selections to
worksheets containing data from multidimensional (OLAP) data sources.
To apply a saved selection:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Saved Selections link to display the saved selection tools above the
worksheet.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to drilling options you specified.
3. Use the Dimension drop down list to select dimension whose members you want
to update.
4. Use the Action drop down list to specify whether to replace the current set of
dimension members with those in the saved selection, whether to add the
members from the saved selection to the current members, whether to remove the
members in the saved selection from the current selection, or whether to keep only
the dimension members in the current selection that are also in the saved selection.
5. Use the Saved Selection list to specify the saved selection to apply.
6. Click Go to apply the saved selection.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to saved selections you have applied.
How to apply saved selections
3-20 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Part II
Reference information
This section contains general reference information including descriptions of all Oracle
Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer pages.
Dialog reference 4-1
4
Dialog reference
This chapter contains comprehensive reference information for each page in
Discoverer Viewer.
"About Viewer page"
"Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)"
"Choose export type page"
"Component Disabled page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
"Drill page"
"Edit Parameters page"
"Error page"
"Export Ready page"
"Format Cells page"
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Logged Out page"
"Multiple Sort page"
"PDF Ready page"
"PDF Sample Ready page"
"Preferences page"
"Printable Page Options page: Content tab"
"Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab"
"Query Cancelled page"
"Query Confirmation needed page"
"Query Progress page"
"Save Warning page"
"Save Workbook As page"
4-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
"Search and Select page"
"Send Email page"
"Table / Crosstab Layout page"
"Worksheet Display page"
"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
"Worksheet List page"
"Worksheet Options page"
About Viewer page
Dialog reference 4-3
About Viewer page
This page gives a brief overview of OracleBI Discoverer Viewer and displays the
component version numbers of Discoverer Viewer, the PDF generator, and the
Discoverer Server. You might use the component version numbers to determine the
versions being used if any upgrades or patches are made following release.
Component Versions
Viewer
This field displays the version number of Discoverer Viewer.
PDF
This field displays the version number of the PDF generator that is used to generate
PDFs through Discoverer Viewer (using the Printable page option).
Server
This field displays the version number of the OracleBI Discoverer Server.
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)
4-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)
Use this page to select an export file format that you want to use when you export a
worksheet into a specified format to send as an email attachment. When a worksheet is
received as an email attachment, it can be opened in other applications.
For more information, see:
? "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email"
Choose export type
Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the
worksheet.
Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see
"What are the implications of using different export formats?".
For more information about how the behavior of exported worksheets depends on
how helper applications (e.g. MS Word, Excel) are specified in your operating system,
see "Choose export type page".
Next
Use the Next button to export the worksheet to the specified format and display the
"Send Email page".
Choose export type page
Dialog reference 4-5
Choose export type page
Use this page to select the export format that you want to use when you export a
worksheet into a specified file format to open in other applications.
You can export the current worksheet in a variety of formats. The worksheet is
exported exactly as it is displayed prior to export. In other words, all the drills, page
items and query parameters that are defined in the worksheet are exported.
For more information, see:
"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
Choose export type
Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the
worksheet.
Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see
"What are the implications of using different export formats?".
Note: If you select the html export format, Discoverer automatically creates a Zip file
containing the HTML file to be exported. Some SMTP servers might be configured to
prevent users from sending email messages that contain Zip file attachments.
Export
Use the Export button to export the worksheet into the specified format and display
the "Export Ready page".
Component Disabled page
4-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Component Disabled page
This page displays error messages that indicate whether the Discoverer Viewer
component has been disabled, or whether Discoverer Viewer has not been started or
has been stopped.
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
Dialog reference 4-7
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
Use this page to manage the conditional formats and stoplight formats that you apply
to a worksheet. For example, you might want to activate a conditional format that
highlights costs that are greater than 100,000.
For more information, see:
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
<Conditional formats>
Use these lists to create, manage and edit conditional and stoplight formats.
Hint: Use the check box in the Display column to activate and deactivate a format.
Note: You can have conditional formats and stoplight formats active on the same
worksheet item at the same time.
Hide data values for Stoplight Formats
Use this check box to specify whether to display worksheet values for the worksheet
item that is being formatted. For example, you might select this check box if you want
to create a worksheet that displays formatting colors but not the values themselves.
Create Stoplight Format
Use this button to display the "Create Stoplight Format page", which enables you to
create a new stoplight format to categorize worksheet numeric values into acceptable,
desirable, and unacceptable categories.
Create Conditional Cell Format
Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", which enables
you to create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet numeric values.
Create Conditional Header Format
Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Header Format page", which
enables you to create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet header values.
Display
Use these check boxes to display the conditional format in the current worksheet.
Note: If more than one Display check box is selected (e.g. when there are multiple
stoplight formats and/or multiple conditional cell formats):
? Discoverer Viewer first applies the stoplight formats first in the order in which
they are listed.
? Discoverer Viewer then applies conditional formats that don’t conflict with the
stoplight formats.
? Where a conflict exists between conditional formats and stoplight formats,
Discoverer Viewer applies the stoplight formats.
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
4-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? You can change the order in which the formats are applied by using the icons in
the Move Up and Move Down columns.
Name
This read-only field displays the name of the conditional format.
Attributes
This read-only field shows what the format looks like.
Move Up
Use the move up icon in this column to move a conditional format up in the list of
conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format up one row at a time.
Clicking the icon in the Move Up column enables you to change the order in which the
stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.
Move Down
Use the move down icon in this column to move a conditional format down in the list
of conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format down one row at a time.
Clicking the icon in the Move Down column enables you to change the order in which
the stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.
Edit
Use this icon to display either the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", the "Create
Stoplight Format page" page, or the "Create Conditional Header Format page". these
pages enable you to edit the format that is selected in the <Conditional formats list>.
Delete
Use this icon to delete the selected conditional format.
Clear All Formatting
Use this button to deselect all of the Display check boxes and to remove all formatting
entries that were defined using the Toolbar (for more information, see "Worksheet
Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)").
Notes
? If you save a workbook in Discoverer Viewer, Discoverer Viewer does not save
any conditional or stoplight formatting information for future use.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-9
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Use this page to create a conditional cell format that will display worksheet data cells
in a specified format, depending on a condition that you define on this page.
For example, to format the background of worksheet data cells in blue if the item
Profit SUM is greater than $10,000, you might:
? Select Profit Sum from the Item field.
? Select Greater Than (>) from the Operator drop down list.
? Enter 10,000 in the Value field.
? Select a blue color from the Background color picker.
This page is also displayed as:
Edit Conditional Cell Format page
For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to enter a name for the conditional cell format. Discoverer Viewer
generates a default name, which you can edit.
Item
Use this drop down list to select the item or measure to which you want to apply a
conditional format. You must select a numeric item (e.g. Profit).
Operator
Use this drop down list to select the operator (e.g. >, <, =) that will act on the value
specified in the Value field for the selected item or measure.
Value
Use this field to enter a value to apply to the selected item or measure. The value you
enter in this field is applied to the selected item or measure, and is subject to the
operator that you select. You must enter a number in this field.
Dimension
Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
can apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Apply Format to Members
Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension members (e.g. 2002, East,
Boston) to which the format will apply.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
4-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Edit
Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more
dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if
the member is City, you could select a specific city (e.g. Paris) to apply the conditional
format to that city when the condition becomes true.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit,
Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed.
Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:
? When you have selected more than one range of cells.
In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension
members for the cells.
? When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a
hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected
one of these rows.
For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In
outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo
would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is
too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no
value for cities.
? When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.
For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up
so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not
appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill
down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
conditional cell format.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
conditional cell format.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the conditional cell format.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional cell
format.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional cell format.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-11
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet
cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Number
This area displays different content for different number categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Negative Numbers
Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This drop down
list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Decimal Places
Use this drop down list to specify the desired number of decimal places. This drop
down list is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent categories.
? Scale
Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example,
when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed
as 10. This drop down list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Currency Symbol
Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option
does not convert one currency to another. Therefore be careful to apply the
appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency
category.
? Show <letter> for <Scale>
Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells.
For example, Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check box is
Create Conditional Cell Format page
4-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
labeled Show 'K' for Thousands If you select this check box and apply the
settings, the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This check box
is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value
other than None.
? Use 1000 Separator
Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For
example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value
10000 is displayed as 10,000. This check box is displayed only for the Number
category and is locale (or language) dependent.
? Insert
Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the
item to the Edit Custom Format field. This drop down list is displayed only for the
Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting, you can enter an Oracle
number format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by
using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the
settings in the selected category are applied.
Date
This area displays different contents for different date categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which Category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Date Options
Use this list to select a format for dates. This list is displayed for the Date category.
? Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for time values. This list is displayed for the Time
category.
? Date Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This list is displayed for
the Date & Time category
? Insert
Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the
Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting, you can enter an Oracle date
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by using the
Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in
the selected category are applied.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-13
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Create Conditional Header Format page
4-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Create Conditional Header Format page
Use this page to create a conditional header format that will display a header cell in a
specified format depending on a condition that you define on this page.
For example, to format the header cell text of the Year column in blue if the Year is
2000, you might:
? Select Year from the Dimension drop down list.
? Select the Selected Calendar Year check box.
? Move 2000 from the Available field to the Selected field.
? Select a blue color from the Font color picker.
This page is also displayed as:
Edit Header Format page
For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to enter a name for the conditional header cell format. Discoverer Viewer
generates a default name, which you can edit.
Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed with crosstab worksheets.
Apply format to
Use these radio buttons to specify the header values to apply the conditional header
format to as follows:
? Entire <Table/Crosstab> or Any <Dimension>
Use this radio button to apply the current format to any value. For example, if the
selected dimension was Region, the current format would be applied to the header
in any region in the worksheet (e.g. East, West, or Central).
? Selected <Columns> or Selected <Dimensions>
Use this radio button to apply the current format to one or more available values.
For example, if the selected dimension is Region, the values for Region might be
East, West, and Central.
Use this drop down list to select an item or measure to apply a conditional format to.
Available/Selected
The Available field shows the members in the worksheet. The Selected field shows
those members to which the conditional format will apply.
Use these fields to move the members to and from the Available and Selected fields.
Create Conditional Header Format page
Dialog reference 4-15
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
conditional header format.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
conditional header format.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the conditional header format.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional header
format.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional header format.
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected header cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected header cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Create Stoplight Format page
4-16 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Create Stoplight Format page
Use this page to create a new stoplight format for a worksheet item. For example, you
might want to categorize sales figures as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable.
This dialog is also displayed as:
Edit Stoplight format page
For more information, see:
"What is a conditional format?"
"What is a stoplight format?"
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to specify a name for the stoplight format. The name you specify is used
to identify the conditional format on other pages. If you want to use the name that
Discoverer Viewer has created, you use the value already in the field.
Thresholds
Use these fields to specify the ranges for the unacceptable and desirable categories.
? Unacceptable
Use this field to enter the threshold for the unacceptable category. For example,
enter 5000 to treat values of 5000 or less as unacceptable.
? Acceptable
This read-only field is populated automatically based on the values that you enter
in the Unacceptable and Desirable fields.
? Desirable
Use this field to enter the threshold for the desirable category. For example, enter
30000 to treat values of 30000 or more as desirable.
Color
Use these icons to display the color picker, which enables you to change the color of
unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable values in all stoplight formats.
Dimension
Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
can apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Apply Format to Members
Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension values (e.g. 2002, East, Boston)
to which the format will apply.
Create Stoplight Format page
Dialog reference 4-17
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Edit
Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more
dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if
the member is City, you could select a specific city (e.g. Paris) to apply the conditional
format to that city when the condition becomes true.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit,
Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed.
Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:
? When you have selected more than one range of cells.
In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension
members for the cells.
? When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a
hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected
one of these rows.
For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In
outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo
would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is
too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no
value for cities.
? When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.
For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up
so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not
appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill
down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page
Apply format to
Use these radio buttons to specify the data points to apply the stoplight format to as
follows:
? All Data Points
Use this radio button to apply the current stoplight format to all Data Point values.
? Selected Data Points
Use this radio button to apply the current format to one or more available Data
Points. For example, if the selected data point is Profit Sum, the current format
would be applied to all cells in the Profit Sum column.
Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.
Available/Selected
The Available field shows the Data Points in the worksheet. The Selected field shows
those Data Points to which the stoplight format will apply.
Use these fields to move the Data Points to and from the Available and Selected
fields.
Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.
Drill page
4-18 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Drill page
This page displays the information to enable you to perform a drill by specifying the
drill details and applying the drill to the current worksheet.
Note: This page is not displayed when using an OLAP connection.
Hint: To display this page you use the Tab key to highlight a worksheet cell heading
that has an arrow icon (i.e. a drill icon) then use the Return button.
For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)".
From
This read-only area displays the name of the item being drilled from (e.g. Product
Type).
To
This area displays fields that enable you to select the Type of drill, the hierarchy and
the item you want to drill to.
Type
Use this drop down list to select the Type of drill that you want to use (e.g. Up/Down,
Related Item).
Hierarchy
Use this drop down list to select the hierarchy that is being drilled into.
Apply
Use this drop down list to apply the drill details specified on this page and display the
result of the drill in the worksheet.
Edit Parameters page
Dialog reference 4-19
Edit Parameters page
Use this page to specify parameter values. Parameter values are typically used to:
? provide input to conditions that are used to filter worksheets (e.g. when prompted
to choose a month, you might enter January to analyze January data only)
? provide input to calculations (e.g. when prompted to choose a rolling average
value, you might enter the number 3 to calculate a three month rolling average)
Parameters Needed
This area contains one or more fields into which you enter parameter values. Each
field has a prompt (typically an instruction or question) telling you what value to
enter. For example, if the prompt is 'Please choose a month', enter 'January' to analyze
performance figures for January.
Note: Parameters that are required are shown with an asterisk.
To select parameters to apply to the current worksheet, you:
? use the Go button to display the worksheet using the default parameter values
currently displayed
? use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" where you can
search for and select parameter values from a list of values (LOV)
? enter a value into a text field and click the Go button
Discoverer Viewer might display an <Index and Value> drop down list for a
parameter (for more information, see "About using indexes and values in
parameters").
Note: You specify in Discoverer Plus whether or not the <Index and Value> drop
down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Plus User’s Guide).
Go
Click this button to display the worksheet.
Notes
? You can enter the following reserved words into a parameter field:
? SYSDATE or TODAY
Enter the reserved word SYSDATE or TODAY into a parameter field (must be
of data type DATE) to display worksheet data that matches the system or
today’s date.
? USER
Enter the reserved word USER into a parameter field (must be of the same
data type as the data type of the parameter) to display worksheet data that
matches the current database user.
? NULL
Enter the reserved word NULL into a parameter field (must be of data type
DATE, STRING or NUMERIC) to display worksheet data where the item that
this parameter is based upon has a NULL value.
Edit Parameters page
4-20 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note that the reserved word must have the same data type as the parameter (e.g.
SYSDATE or TODAY can only be used with a parameter that has the data type
DATE).
Note: You can enter reserved words using upper or lower case letters. However,
you must not enter any additional text or text symbols. For example, you cannot
use NULL% or ’NULL’. Discoverer would treat NULL% as a text string and not as
a reserved word.
? If a Discoverer List Of Worksheets portlet includes a worksheet that has
parameters with lists of values (LOV) (where a default value is not specifed for
each parameter), Discoverer displays a "404 Not Found" error when you do the
following:
1. Select the List Of Worksheets portlet link to display the worksheet in
Discoverer Viewer.
2. Click on the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to display
the parameter values from a LOV.
To resolve this issue after launching Discoverer Viewer, run the worksheet again
by pressing the Go button (you might need to enter some parameter values before
pressing Go), then use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to
search for, and select parameter values from a LOV.
Note: This issue does not arise when a default value is specified for each
parameter.
Error page
Dialog reference 4-21
Error page
This page displays text that describes the error encountered and enables you to
reconnect to Discoverer using the Connect button.
Error Encountered
Connect
Use this button to reconnect to Discoverer.
Hint: You might be able to use the Back button of the Browser to display the previous
page that caused Discoverer to display this error page. However, this might not
resolve the problem and if not, you should use the Connect button on this page to
connect to Discoverer again.
Export Ready page
4-22 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Export Ready page
This page enables you to display and save the exported document in the format that
you chose in the "Choose export type page".
Click to view or save
Use this button to open the exported document in the appropriate helper application.
For example, if you export a worksheet in PDF format, if you click this button
Discoverer will display the exported document using Adobe Acrobat. You can then
use Adobe Acrobat to view or save the exported worksheet.
The behavior that occurs after you click the Click to view or save button depends on
the helper applications (e.g. Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, Excel) that are specified in your
operating system for different file types (i.e. MIME Type settings).
Any of the following behaviors might occur after you click the Click to view or save
button:
? the worksheet opens in an application embedded in the browser
? the worksheet opens in an application
? the operating system displays a dialog where you can save the worksheet in the
exported format
Note: Before you can open worksheets in Discoverer Viewer, you must have made
the recommended configuration settings to your operating system, browser (e.g.
Internet Explorer) and spreadsheet application (e.g. Microsoft Excel). For more
information, see "How to configure a client machine to automatically open
exported Excel files".
Format Cells page
Dialog reference 4-23
Format Cells page
Use this page to specify font, border, and number format options for selected cells in a
crosstab worksheet.
For more information about worksheet formatting, see:
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
"What is a conditional format?"
"What is a stoplight format?"
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
selected worksheet cells.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
selected worksheet cells.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the selected worksheet cells.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the selected worksheet
cells.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the selected worksheet cells.
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet
cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Format Cells page
4-24 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Number
This area displays different content for different number categories.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Negative Numbers
Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This field is
displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Decimal Places
Use this drop down list to specify the example that has the desired number of
decimal places. This field is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent
categories.
? Scale
Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example,
when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed
as 10. This field is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Currency Symbol
Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option
does not convert one kind of currency to another. You should be careful to apply
the appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency
category.
? Show <letter> for <Scale>
Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells.
For example, when Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check
box is labeled Show 'K' for Thousands. If the you select this check box and apply
the settings, then the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This
field is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value
other than None.
? Use 1000 Separator
Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For
example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value
10000 is displayed as 10,000. This field is displayed only for the Number category,
and is locale (or language) dependent.
? Insert
Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the
item to the Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed only for the Custom
category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting you can enter an Oracle number
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using
the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Format Cells page
Dialog reference 4-25
Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the
settings in the selected category are applied.
Date
This area displays different content for different date categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Date Options
Use this list to select a format for dates. This field is displayed for the Date
category.
? Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for time values. This field is displayed for the Time
category.
? Date Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This field is displayed for
the Date & Time category
? Insert
Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the
Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting you can enter an Oracle date
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using
the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in
the selected category are applied.
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Format Worksheet data links page
4-26 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Format Worksheet data links page
Use the following links to display help pages that contain information about the
following Discoverer Viewer Formatting pages:
? "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
? "Create Conditional Cell Format page"
? "Create Stoplight Format page"
? "Format Cells page"
Logged Out page
Dialog reference 4-27
Logged Out page
This page is displayed when you click the Exit link in a worksheet and Discoverer logs
you out and closes your session.
Click here to log in again
Use this link to display the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page where you can
reconnect to Discoverer.
Multiple Sort page
4-28 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Multiple Sort page
This page enables you to specify how Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in
worksheet columns.
First Sort, Second Sort, Third Sort
These rows determine the priority in which sorts are applied to the displayed data.
Column Header
Use the drop down list to select the column that you want to sort by.
Sort Order
Use this drop down list to select a value that determines the order in which Discoverer
will display column values.
Discoverer displays different values in this drop down list depending on whether the
data type of the selected Column Header is numeric or alphanumeric, as follows:
? Ascending or Descending
These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is numeric
(e.g. Profit Sum, Year).
? No Sort Order
This sort option is displayed for all column data types (i.e. for both numeric and
alphanumeric data).
? A-Z or Z-A
These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is
alphanumeric (e.g. Region, City).
Sort Type
Use this drop down list to select a value that determines whether or not Discoverer
displays the Column Header data sorted in groups. For example, if you selected
Group from this drop down list and Department was already selected from the
Column Header drop down list, Discoverer will display data grouped by Department.
Note: Discoverer enables you to apply the Group value only when you select Group
from the drop down list in the First Sort row.
Discoverer displays the following values in the drop down list:
? Normal
Discoverer displays data sorted by the selected Column Header.
? Group
Discoverer displays data in groups based on the value selected in Column Header.
Hide Column
Use this check box for Discoverer to sort the table based on the values selected, but not
to display any data for this column.
PDF Ready page
Dialog reference 4-29
PDF Ready page
This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the
worksheet is complete.
Use the link on this page to display a PDF version of the entire worksheet. The PDF
version was generated using the options specified on the "Printable Page Options
page: Content tab" and "Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can
use the printable PDF version of the worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Click to view or save
Use this link to display the printable PDF version of the worksheet.
When you display the printable PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save
a copy as a PDF file.
Return to worksheet
Use this button to close the PDF Ready page and display the current worksheet.
PDF Sample Ready page
4-30 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
PDF Sample Ready page
This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the first 50
rows of the worksheet is complete. You can use this preview PDF output to confirm
that the settings you specified have produced the output you expected.
Use the link on this page to display a preview PDF version of the worksheet (based on
the first 50 rows of data in the worksheet). The preview PDF is generated using the
options specified on the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" and "Printable
Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can use the preview PDF version of the
worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Open PDF to view sample
Use this link to display the preview PDF version of the worksheet.
When you display the preview PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save
a copy as a PDF file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate and display a printable PDF version of the entire
worksheet.
Preferences page
Dialog reference 4-31
Preferences page
Use this page to specify the following settings for Discoverer Viewer:
? "Query Governor"
? "Measure Unit"
? "Summary Data"
? "Fan Trap Detection"
Query Governor
The Query Governor preferences enable you to set limits on the amount of time a
query should take to complete. Use these preferences to limit the time you wait for
Discoverer to run a query. These preferences set time and size limits on data as it is
being retrieved from the database.
Warn me if predicted query time exceeds:
Select this option for Discoverer to display a message if the estimated query
completion time exceeds the number of seconds that you specify here.
Prevent queries from running longer than:
Select this option for Discoverer to cancel a query that runs longer than the time
specified here. Discoverer will display a message informing you if the query exceeds
the specified time, then Discoverer cancels the query. Select this option if long running
queries might affect server performance.
Limit retrieved query data to:
This option sets the maximum number of rows to retrieve for a query. If the database
contains more rows than the number required for the query, Discoverer displays a
message informing you that not all data is retrieved, and therefore the displayed data
might not be complete.
Retrieve data incrementally in groups of:
Set this option when the database contains large tables with many rows that might
take a long time to retrieve. With an entry made here Discoverer retrieves rows of data
in increments rather than all at the same time. The smaller the number of rows to
retrieve as a group, the faster the initial retrieval. The default data group size of 100
rows, equates to the first 10 pages of data at 10 rows per page. You can set the number
of rows per page in the "Worksheet Display page" page.
Cancel list-of-values retrieval after:
Use this field to define the maximum time you want to wait while Discoverer retrieves
the values in a list of values.
Measure Unit
PDF measure unit
Use the drop down list to select a unit of measure to display PDF files (i.e. inches and
centimeters).
Preferences page
4-32 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Axis Label
Show Axis Label
Use the drop down list to select whether to display axis labels (i.e. Always, Never,
Worksheet) as follows:
? Always
Axis labels are always shown in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The
saved worksheet value is overridden.
? Never
Axis labels are hidden in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The saved
worksheet value is overridden.
? Worksheet
Axis labels are shown or hidden in crosstab worksheets depending on how they
were last saved.
Summary Data
Using summary data loads data more quickly for the work you do most often. When
you request data for a worksheet, Discoverer first checks summary tables set up by the
Discoverer manager to see if their saved data satisfies your request and, if it does,
loads the appropriate data quickly. If the summary tables' data does not satisfy your
request, Discoverer then redirects the request to the rest of the database and runs the
query using the data in the database.
The preferences that are available to you here depend on whether your database
supports materialized views.
For databases that support materialized views, the following options are available:
Always, when available
Select this option if time-sensitive data is not important for data analysis. Discoverer
Viewer retrieves and displays saved data from the materialized views regardless of
whether the data is current.
Only when summary data is not out of date (stale)
Select this option when time-sensitive data is necessary for worksheets. If the data in
the materialized views is out of date (stale), Discoverer Viewer does not use the
materialized views to fulfill your query request. Instead Discoverer Viewer redirects
your query request to the full database and uses the latest data for the worksheet.
Never
Select this option if you always want Discoverer Viewer to ignore the Summary Tables
and use the latest data.
Warning: Do not use summary tables if you normally work with the most current data
in the database. The saved data in the summary tables remains constant until updated
with new data. summary tables should be updated periodically to incorporate new
data. The Database administrator creates summary tables based on the type of data
and the type of queries you use most often. Normally, summary tables are used for the
queries that take a long time to aggregate and display data. Other queries that require
less time to aggregate and join data might not need summary tables. See your
Database administrator if you want to use summary tables
Preferences page
Dialog reference 4-33
Fan Trap Detection
A fan-trap occurs when the data items in two folders are not directly related (such as
with a Customer ID), but do have a relationship based on the data items in a third
folder.
Discoverer automatically detects and resolves potential fan trap queries into multiple
SQL statements to obtain normal expected results. Where Discoverer cannot resolve a
fan trap, Discoverer prevents the worksheet from running and displays a warning
message dialog.
If you disable fan trap detection, Discoverer still detects potential fan trap
configurations, and resolves them by generating the correct SQL and displaying
correct worksheet data. If Discoverer cannot resolve a fan trap, it displays the
worksheet data and does not display a warning message dialog. The result of
disabling fan trap detection might result in a query based on an unresolvable fan trap
configuration, generating potentially misleading results.
For more information about fan traps, see the Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus
User’s guide.
Enable fan-trap detection
Use this check box to enable fan trap detection.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
4-34 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
Use this page to choose the content options to use for generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.
You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (i.e. the first 50 rows of
data) or to generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having created a
PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample
Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
General Options
Use these options to specify general settings that apply to the entire worksheet.
Page items
Use these radio buttons to specify how to select page items when Discoverer displays
more than one page of data.
? Print current selection of page items
Use this radio button to generate a PDF version for the currently displayed page
items.
? Print all combinations of page items
Use this radio button to generate a PDF version for all page item combinations.
Note: If you select both this radio button and the Print Graph check box,
Discoverer displays a different graph for each page item combination.
Show page items
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print page items when Discoverer displays
more than one page of data.
? On the first page
Use this radio button to print page items only on the first page.
? Never
Use this radio button to not print page items on any pages.
Show title
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print the worksheet title.
? On the first page
Use this radio button to print the worksheet title only on the first page.
? Never
Use this radio button to not print the worksheet title on any pages.
Data
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print the worksheet data.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
Dialog reference 4-35
? Print all rows and columns
Use this radio button to print all data (including data that is currently not
displayed).
? Print only the rows and columns that are displayed in the crosstab or table
Use this radio button to print only the current window of data (e.g. if Discoverer
Viewer is currently displaying rows 50-75 and columns 10-15, then only these rows
and columns will be printed).
Use the following settings to specify general options that apply to the whole
worksheet.
? Print Header
Use this check box to specify whether to print the header.
? Print Footer
Use this check box to specify whether to print the footer.
Table/Crosstab Options
Use these options to specify table or crosstab settings that apply to the whole
worksheet.
? Print Table/Crosstab
Use this check box to specify whether to print the table or crosstab.
? Repeat header cells on every page
Use this check box to specify whether to print repeats of header cells after each
page break.
Graph Options
Use these options to specify graph settings that apply to the worksheet. Discoverer
only displays these options if there is a graph.
? Print graph
Use this check box to specify whether to print the graph.
? Print gradients
Select this check box to specify whether to print the graph with gradients. A
gradient is a variation in color tone that can occur across any area in a worksheet.
Hint: Only use this setting if the printer quality is good. If the printer quality is
good, gradients are more likely to be clearly visible on paper.
Clear this check box to not print the graph with gradients.
Graph size
If you specify that you want to print the graph, specify the graph size by selecting one
of the following controls.
? Actual size
Use this radio button to print the graph with the height and width that is currently
specified in Discoverer Viewer.
? Specified size
Use this radio button to print the graph with a height and width that you specify.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
4-36 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? Width
Use this field to change the width of the graph.
? Height
Use this field to change the height of the graph.
Note: The default unit of measure (e.g. centimeters, inches) used to print graphs, is
configured by the Discoverer manager (for more information, see the Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide).
Preview sample
Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the
worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you
specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF
file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save
or print the file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer
displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the file.
Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional
memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To
work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print
again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide. For more information about
changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Dialog reference 4-37
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Use this page to choose the sizing options to use for generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.
You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (i.e. the first 50 rows of
data) or generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having generated a
PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample
Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Paper Setup
Use these settings to specify the paper size and page orientation for the PDF version
that you use for printing.
? Size
Use this drop down list to choose the paper size from a list of available paper
sizes.
The paper size that you specify here is represented in the preview or printable
PDF version of the worksheet that is generated. When you subsequently print the
PDF version of the worksheet it will appear the same as when viewed in the PDF
version.
Note: The list of available paper sizes displayed here is configured by the
Discoverer manager.
Orientation
Use these radio buttons to specify the orientation for the PDF version that you use for
printing.
? Portrait
Use this radio button to specify the portrait orientation for printing.
? Landscape
Use this radio button to specify the landscape orientation for printing.
Margins
Use these fields to specify the size of the page margins for the PDF version that you
use for printing. Page margins define the width of the border that surrounds the area
where data is printed in a worksheet page. When page margins become narrower, the
area where data is printed becomes greater, enabling more data to fit into on each page
? Top
Use this field to specify the size of the top margin.
? Bottom
Use this field to specify the size of the bottom margin.
? Left
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
4-38 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Use this field to specify the size of the left margin.
? Right
Use this field to specify the size of the right margin.
Note: The default unit of measure (e.g. centimeters, inches) used to print worksheets,
is configured by the Discoverer manager.
Scaling
Use this drop down list to choose the percentage amount to change the size of the
worksheet relative to its original size, for the PDF version that you use for printing.
For example to fit a large worksheet onto a single page you might make it smaller by
using this control.
After you have specified graph and column sizes (i.e. in the "Printable Page Options
page: Content tab" and on this page), scaling can take effect. For example, if the
original graph size is specified as 4 cm by 6 cm and you want the graph size to become
2 cm by 3 cm you can choose the 50% from the list to reduce the relative size of the
graph to 50% of its original size.
Column Sizes
Use these settings to change the width of the columns in your worksheet and specify
whether to wrap the text when it exceeds the specified width, for the PDF version that
you use for printing.
? Column size (e.g. Pixels)
Use each field to enter a number to change the width of the corresponding
column.
Discoverer displays default values for column sizes as follows:
If a column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, that size is displayed here.
If no column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, the default size is calculated
based on the first few hundred rows of data.
? Always wrap text when size exceeds column width
Select this check box to wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a
column. The default value for this check box is to be selected.
Clear this check box to not wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a
column.
Note: When you clear this check box and text is wider than the width of a column,
Discoverer truncates the text.
Preview
Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the
worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you
specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF
file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save
or print the preview PDF file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer
displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Dialog reference 4-39
Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional
memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To
work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print
again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide. For more information about
changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".
Query Cancelled page
4-40 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Query Cancelled page
This page is displayed when you cancel a query from the "Query Progress page". This
page will display a text message explaining that this query has been cancelled. You can
rerun the query from this page.
Rerun
Use this button to rerun the query.
Query Confirmation needed page
Dialog reference 4-41
Query Confirmation needed page
This page is displayed when the query estimate is greater than the time set in the Warn
me if predicted query time exceeds: field in the "Preferences page".
Run Now
Use this button to confirm that you want to run the query now.
Query Progress page
4-42 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Query Progress page
Discoverer displays the Query Progress page while a query is running. During this
time you can view the query progress, refresh the query or cancel it.
Note: Discoverer does not display this page with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
Query Progress Indicator
When a query is running, Discoverer displays the query progress while the query
either progresses or is cancelled.
? Estimated Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS
? Elapsed Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS
Cancel
This button cancels the query that is currently running.
Refresh
Use this button to refresh the query. This may be necessary if your browser either does
not update automatically, or is configured so that it will not update automatically.
When might Discoverer display query progress?
Query progress might be displayed when:
? a query runs for more than two seconds
? running a new query
? re-running a query
? drilling
? changing page items
? changing the layout
Save Warning page
Dialog reference 4-43
Save Warning page
This page is displayed when you modify an open worksheet (e.g. drill, change
worksheet options, change the visible rows and columns) and click the Exit, Connect,
or Workbooks link.
Cancel
Use this button to return to the worksheet.
No
Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (i.e. Exit,
Connect, Workbooks), and not save the changes you made.
Yes
Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (i.e. Exit,
Connect, Workbooks), and save the changes you made.
Save Workbook As page
4-44 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Save Workbook As page
This page is displayed when you use the Save as link in the "Worksheet Display page".
This page enables you to save the current workbook and all its worksheets to the
database using a name that you enter.
Workbook Name
Use this field to enter a name that you want to use to save the current workbook.
Search and Select page
Dialog reference 4-45
Search and Select page
Use this page to search lists of values and select the values that you want. For
example, when you choose a parameter that has a long list of values, you might want
to search for values that begin with the letter C, and then select just the values CPM
and CPN and CPO.
For more information about parameters, see:
"Edit Parameters page"
Search in
Use this drop down list (when available) to specify whether you want to display and
select parameter values with or without index numbers (for more information, see
"About using indexes and values in parameters").
Note: You determine in Discoverer Plus whether or not the <Index and Value> drop
down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Plus User’s Guide).
Search by
Use this drop down list to specify how you want to match values. For example, choose
Starts With and enter 'T' as a Search for value to list only items beginning with the
letter 'T'.
Search for
Use this field to enter the text that you want to match against. For example, enter 'T'
here and choose Starts With in the Search by drop down list to list only items
beginning the letter 'T'.
Go
Use this button to start the search according to the search criteria that you have
specified and display matching values in the Available values list below. If you click
Go when the Search for field is empty, the first group of values in the list is displayed.
Case Sensitive
Use this check box to specify whether you want to match upper and lower case letters
exactly when searching (e.g. when selected, the search term 'New York' would find
'New York', but would not find 'NEW YORK', 'new york', or 'new York').
Available Values
This list displays values that match the search criteria that you have specified, or
values displayed by default when the dialog is first displayed. Use this list to choose
values that you want to select. To choose values, move values from the Available
Values list to the Selected Values list.
Note: You can select more than one value by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking another
value.
Selected Values
Use this list to see which values are currently selected. To deselect values, move values
from the Selected values list to the Available values list.
Search and Select page
4-46 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Previous
Use this button to display the previous set of values, if the list of values is longer than
the window.
Next
Use this button to display the next set of values, if the list of values is longer than the
window.
Send Email page
Dialog reference 4-47
Send Email page
Use this page to send an exported worksheet as an attachment to an email message.
The worksheet will be sent in the file format that you selected in the "Choose export
type page" page.
For more information, see:
"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
"What are the implications of using different export formats?"
"Choose export type page"
Sender
Use this field to enter the email address details of the sender.
Recipient
Use this field to enter the email address details of the recipient.
CC
Use this field to enter the email address details of any recipients that you want to
include in your c.c. list.
BCC
Use this field to enter the email address details of any hidden recipients that you want
to include in your b.c.c. list.
Subject
Use this field to enter the text that will be displayed in the subject line of the email
message.
Body
Use this field to enter the email message text.
View Attachment
Use this field to display the worksheet details in whatever export format you specified
in the "Choose export type page".
Finish
Use this button to send the email message to the specified recipients.
Table / Crosstab Layout page
4-48 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Table / Crosstab Layout page
This page is displayed when you click the Layout and More links at the top of a
worksheet.
This page enables you to rearrange items on a table or crosstab using either the Layout
tool or the arrow icons. This page also enables you to specify whether to show or hide
page items.
Layout
The Layout tool enables you to rearrange table or crosstab items using the drop down
lists.
Use the drop down lists to select values that determine whether to move a selected
table or crosstab item or swap one item with another, and where and what to move or
swap. You can continue to move or swap table or crosstab items using the drop down
lists until you have achieved an acceptable table or crosstab layout.
For more information about using the drop down lists on this page, see the description
under the Layout heading in "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
Show Page Items
Use this check box to show or hide page items in the worksheet.
<Arrow icons>
Use the arrow icons as an additional method of rearranging worksheet items.
Discoverer Viewer displays the arrow icons in a sample layout that indicates the
relative positions of worksheet page items, column headers, and rows when you have
made changes to the table or crosstab layout.
Use the arrow icons to do the following (for both tables and crosstabs):
? move a page item to a column
? move a column to a page item
? move a column to the right or to the left of the adjacent column
Use the arrow icons to do the following (for crosstabs only):
? move a page item to a row
? move a page item to a column
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum, Cost) to a page item
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum) to a row
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum) to below the adjacent column
? move a column to a row
? move a column to above the adjacent column
? move a column to below the adjacent column
When you are satisfied with the layout of your table or crosstab, click Apply to display
the table or crosstab using the settings you have just specified.
Worksheet Display page
Dialog reference 4-49
Worksheet Display page
This page displays the worksheet data.
Use this page to work with worksheet data and graphs (e.g. to save, print, export and
email worksheets and graphs, change the layout, and apply formatting). This page
also enables you to select other worksheets to display from the current workbook.
For more information, see:
? "How to change the layout of a worksheet"
? "How to sort items and measures in a worksheet"
? "Table / Crosstab Layout page"
For more information about the links, tools, and controls displayed on this page, use
the links below.
"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"
? "Actions"
? "Worksheets"
"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"
? "<Hide/Show arrow icons>"
? "<Parameter tools>"
? "Page Items"
? "<Drill arrow icons>"
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
? "Table/Crosstab"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Format"
? "Stoplight"
? "Sort"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Rows and Columns"
"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"
? "Graph"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Sort"
? "Graph"
? "Saved Selections"
Worksheet Display page
4-50 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? "Data"
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
Dialog reference 4-51
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
Discoverer displays the following links on each worksheet page:
? "Actions"
? "Worksheets"
Actions
Use the following links to carry out actions in the current worksheet:
? Rerun Query
Use this link to query the database and display the data for the current worksheet.
This action does not undo any changes made to the worksheet that have not yet
been saved.
Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections.
To query the database for worksheets created using OLAP connections, you must
open the worksheet again.
? Save
Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database. This link is only
displayed if you own the workbook.
? Save as
Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database using a different name.
? Revert to saved
Use this link to query the database and revert all changes made to the worksheet
that occurred since the last time the worksheet was saved to the database. For
example, if you drill into the worksheet and then apply a cell format, the Revert to
saved link would undo both these changes.
? Printable page
Use this link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" where you
to can set appropriate print options and generate and preview a PDF version of
the current worksheet for printing.
? Export
Use this link to export the current worksheet for users to open using other
applications. A number of different formats are available.
For more information, see "Choose export type page".
? Send as email
Use this link to send the current worksheet as email, by exporting it to a specified
format and then sending it as an attachment to a specified recipient.
For more information, see "Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)".
? Link layout
Use this link to link the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you
select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab can be displayed in
the graph.
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
4-52 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP
connections.
? Unlink layout
Use this link to unlink the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you
select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab will not be
displayed in the graph.
Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP
connections.
? Worksheet options
Use this link to display the "Worksheet Options page", where you can select
display options to use in worksheets. For example, whether to display or hide the
worksheet title.
Worksheets
Use these links to display another worksheet from the current workbook.
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
Dialog reference 4-53
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
You can use the following graph tools in a worksheet:
? "Graph"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Sort"
? "Graph"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Data"
Graph
Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph data.
Tools
Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph tools.
Layout
Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet graph data.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Use the drop down lists to:
? move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet
Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to
move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to
using the third drop down list.
? swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another
Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row,
column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to
swap with from the third drop down list.
Sort
Use this tool to sort the graph data based on selected criteria in a worksheet. The
changes made here do not affect settings made by the Table/Crosstab sort tool.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Sort
Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the
worksheet data.
? Based on
Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order
for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.
? For
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
4-54 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting
based on measure values.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? Order
Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the
Sort drop down list.
? Go
Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.
? More
Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how
Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.
Note: This link is not displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Graph
Use this tool to select the graph type and specify how the graph is displayed as
follows:
? Type
Use the first drop down list to select the graph type (e.g. Pie).
Use the second drop down list to select the graph subtype (e.g. Multiple Pie).
? Width
Use this field to change the display width of the graph. If you change the width,
Discoverer will scale the graph height maintaining the height-to-width aspect
ratio.
? 3D Effect
Use this check box to give the graph the appearance of depth.
? Gradient
Use this check box to display the chart using a graded shading effect.
Saved Selections
Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in
the worksheet graph.
Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a
saved selection.
? Action
Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the
members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.
– Add
Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.
– Keep
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
Dialog reference 4-55
Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were already
present in the current selection and discards all other members.
– Remove
Removes from the current selection any members that are specified in the
saved selection.
– Replace with (Default value)
Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved
selection.
? Saved Selection
Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.
? Go
Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.
Data
Use this tool to include in the graph either all the data in the worksheet, or just the
rows and columns that are currently being displayed.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? All data
Use this radio button to include in the graph all the worksheet data.
? Displayed data
Use this radio button to include in the graph only worksheet data from the rows
and columns that are currently being displayed in the worksheet. For example, if
Discoverer Viewer is currently displaying rows 50 to 75 and columns 10 to 15, only
the data in these currently displayed rows and columns will be included in the
graph.
? Go
Use this button to apply the settings to the graph in the current worksheet.
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
4-56 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
You can use the following controls and tools in a worksheet page:
? "<Hide/Show arrow icons>"
? "<Parameter tools>"
? "Page Items"
? "<Drill arrow icons>"
<Hide/Show arrow icons>
Use the Hide/Show arrow icons to hide or show information in the current worksheet.
For example, click the arrow next to the word Crosstab to show (or hide) the crosstab.
For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
<Parameter tools>
If the worksheet uses parameters, the following controls are available:
? Parameters
Use the arrow icon to display or hide the current parameter values.
? <flashlight icon>
Use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" where you can
search for and select parameter values to apply to the worksheet. For more
information, see the "Edit Parameters page". Click Go to apply the changes.
Page Items
Discoverer displays page item selectors above each view of the worksheet data (e.g.
crosstab, graph). The page item selectors enable you to select items to apply to the
whole worksheet (e.g. if the Page Items list displays departments, select a department
from the list to display data for the selected department).
Use the drop down list to choose a page item value to apply to a worksheet.
Up/Down links
Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more rows than
it can display in one page of data.
Use the drop down list to select a value that determines how to display subsequent
worksheet rows. For example, if you selected the value 3 rows, Discoverer Viewer
would display the next 3 rows of data.
Left/Right links
Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more columns
than it can display in one page of data.
Use the drop down list to choose a value that determines how to display subsequent
worksheet columns. For example, if you selected the value 3 columns, Discoverer
Viewer would display the next 3 columns of data.
<Drill arrow icons>
Discoverer Viewer enables you to drill into items to display additional data.
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
Dialog reference 4-57
Use the drill arrow icons to display lower or higher levels of detail when using
relational and OLAP connections as follows:
? When using a connection to a relational datasource, use a drill arrow icon to
display a popup drill menu from where you can choose one of the following drill
options:
? Collapse
Use this option to drill up and hide the drill items displayed at this level of the
drill hierarchy. Collapse also hides all drill items from lower levels in the drill
hierarchy.
? All Hierarchies
Use this popup menu to display a further popup menu of all the hierarchies
created in the current business area (e.g. a date hierarchy). You can choose a
hierarchy and then choose the hierarchy item you want to display in the
worksheet.
? Drill to Related
Use this popup menu to drill to related items from folders in the current
business area that are not already included in the worksheet.
If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the
tab key. When you press enter the "Drill page" is displayed. Use the Drill page to
review the drill options and apply a new drill.
? When using a connection to an OLAP datasource, use a drill arrow icon to drill up
or down the drill hierarchy to display different levels of detail as follows:
? Expand
Use this option to drill down to display data at the next level in the drill
hierarchy.
? Collapse
Use this option to drill up and hide data from the current level in the drill
hierarchy, and from all lower levels in the drill hierarchy.
If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the
tab key. When you press enter Discoverer will drill up or down depending on the
following conditions:
? If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has not been expanded to a lower
level of detail, Discoverer Viewer will drill down to display data at the next
level down in the drill hierarchy.
? If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has already been expanded to a
lower level of the drill hierarchy, then Discoverer Viewer will hide the data at
this level and all lower levels.
About drilling out to view files created in other applications
Use the drill-out icon in a data cell to view files created in other applications. For
example, clicking the symbol for a MS Word file launches MS Word within the browser
and displays the file.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
4-58 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
When a query has run, Discoverer displays the worksheet data as either a table or a
crosstab, depending on how the worksheet was created:
? A table arranges items in columns. Items appear as column headings along the top
axis. A table is typically used to list all information that fits the query criteria (e.g.
sales transactions for the last month).
Note: Tables are only displayed in worksheets that use relational data.
? A crosstab arranges items or measures in rows and columns. A crosstab is
typically used to display summary information and shows how one item or
measure relates to another (e.g. sales by region by month).
Note: Crosstabs can be displayed in worksheets that use both OLAP and relational
data.
Table/Crosstab
Use the arrow icon to display or hide table or crosstab data.
Tools
Use the arrow icon to display or hide the table or crosstab tools.
Discoverer provides the following table/crosstab tools:
? "Layout"
? "Format"
? "Stoplight"
? "Sort"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Rows and Columns"
Layout
Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet data.
Use the drop down lists to:
? move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet
Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to
move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to
using the third drop down list.
? swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another
Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row,
column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to
swap with, from the third drop down list.
Use the More link to display the "Table / Crosstab Layout page", which enables you to
rearrange the layout of worksheet data.
Format
Use this tool to format selected worksheet data cells.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
Dialog reference 4-59
? <bold>, <italic> and <underline> buttons
Use these buttons to apply bold, italic and underline formats to the selected
worksheet cells.
? Number
Use this field to select a number format from the drop down list, to format the data
in the worksheet (e.g. currency, percentages).
Use the Go button to apply the number formatting to the selected cells.
? Background
Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a background color.
Use the Go button to apply the background color to the selected cells.
? Font
Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a font color.
Use the Go button to apply the font color to the selected worksheet text.
? More
Use this link to display the "Format Cells page" where you specify format options
for selected crosstab worksheet cells.
? Create Conditional Format
Use this link to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", where you can
create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet values.
? Conditional Formats
Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where
you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.
Stoplight
Use this tool to define a stoplight format to categorize data for the current worksheet.
Discoverer can apply one of three stoplight colors to worksheet data depending on the
value of the data. The stoplight colors represent unacceptable, acceptable, and
desirable data ranges.
? Format
Use this field to specify what to apply the stoplight format to (e.g. selected cells, all
worksheet cells).
? Unacceptable
Use this field to enter a value that specifies the unacceptable values of the
stoplight range. When the value of worksheet data is less than or equal to this
value, Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon.
To change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon
and select a new color from the color palette.
? Acceptable
Discoverer determines this range as falling between the unacceptable and
desirable values. When worksheet data values falls within this range, Discoverer
displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To change the
color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and select a new
color from the color palette.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
4-60 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? Desirable
Use this field to enter a value that specifies the desirable values of the stoplight
range. When the value of worksheet data is greater than or equal to this value,
Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To
change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and
select a new color from the color palette
? Go
Use this button to apply the stoplight settings for the specified data values in the
current worksheet.
? Conditional Formats
Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where
you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.
Sort
Use this tool to sort the worksheet data based on selected criteria in a worksheet.
Note: This tool is displayed with table worksheets and with worksheets created using
OLAP connections.
? Sort
Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the
worksheet data.
? Based on
Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order
for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? For
Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting
based on measure values.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? Order
Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the
Sort drop down list.
? Go
Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.
? More
Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how
Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.
Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Saved Selections
Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in
the worksheet.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
Dialog reference 4-61
Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a
saved selection.
? Action
Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the
members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.
– Add
Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.
– Keep
Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were already
present in the current selection and discards all other members.
– Remove
Removes any members from the current selection that are specified in the
saved selection.
– Replace with (Default value)
Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved
selection.
? Saved Selection
Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.
? Go
Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.
Rows and Columns
Use this tool to set the number of rows and columns you want to display on each page.
You can change the default number of rows and columns that Discoverer displays here
(for more information, see "Preferences page").
? Rows
Use this field to set the maximum number of rows of data that Discoverer will
display on a page.
? Columns
Use this field to set the maximum number of columns of data that Discoverer will
display on a page.
? Go
Use this button to apply the numbers of rows and columns that you want to
display on each page in the current worksheet.
Worksheet List page
4-62 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet List page
This page enables you to search for and select a worksheet to display, from the list of
available workbooks. A workbook contains worksheets that display related data, but
combined using different perspectives. For example, a workbook may show the sales
history for Product A. However, one worksheet could show sales for last month,
another worksheet could show sales compared to the same month five years ago, and
another could show sales per region. All three worksheets contain sales data related to
Product A, but each is organized to show a different perspective.
For more information, see:
? "How to open a Discoverer worksheet"
Search
You can select workbooks either from a list of available database workbooks or from a
list of scheduled workbooks that have already run (scheduled workbooks are not
available for OLAP connections).
Use the Search drop down list to display the available Database Workbooks or
Scheduled Workbooks.
? Database Workbooks
Discoverer will query the database to display the latest data, and the results are
not stored.
? Scheduled Workbooks (not available with OLAP connections)
Discoverer has already run the query at a predetermined time and the results have
been stored in the database.
Use the Search field to refine the list of workbooks to display in the Result List. Enter
partial or full details for any matching workbook names you want to display and click
the Go button. The Search field is case insensitive.
Note: Wildcards such as " * ? % " etc. are unnecessary and should not be used in the
search.
Result List
The list of workbooks displayed in this area will include workbook names that match
the details entered in the Search field.
Expand All/Collapse All
Use these links to display or hide all workbook and worksheet details.
Use the Expand link to display workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.
Use the Collapse All link to hide workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.
Discoverer Workbooks
Use this link to display all Discoverer workbooks.
Note: Discoverer only displays this link after you use the target icon in the Focus
column to display the details of a specific workbook (for more information, see the
Focus column).
Worksheet List page
Dialog reference 4-63
Focus
Use the target icon to hide details for all folders/workbooks except the one selected.
Name
Use the arrow icons to display or hide workbook and worksheet details.
Use a link in the Name column to display a worksheet.
Description
This column displays the description of the workbook.
Owner
This column displays the name of the owner of the workbook.
Last modified
This column displays the date that the workbook was last modified.
Worksheet Options page
4-64 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Options page
This page enables you to change some settings related to the current worksheet.
Display Options
Title
Use this check box to display the title in the worksheet.
Table/Crosstab
Use this check box to display the table or crosstab data in the worksheet (displayed
with Oracle Applications or relational database connections).
Use this radio button to display the crosstab data (displayed with worksheets created
using OLAP connections).
Graph
Use this check box to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with Oracle
Applications or relational database connections).
Use this radio button to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with
worksheets created using OLAP connections).
Both
Use this radio button to display the graph and the crosstab data in the worksheet (only
displayed with OLAP connections).
Text Area
Use this check box to display the text area in the worksheet.
Sheet Options
Show axis labels
Use this check box to display crosstab header labels in the worksheet.
Show null values as
Where no data is returned for a field in a worksheet you can define here how the data
is displayed. For example, if you enter 'Zero' in this field, worksheets will display the
word 'Zero' where no data is returned.
Show values that cannot be aggregated as:
When a worksheet tries to aggregate an item that cannot be aggregated (for example
Rank), you can define here how the data is displayed. For example, if you enter 'N/A'
in this field, worksheets will display the text 'N/A' where the data cannot be
aggregated.
Index-1
Index
C
cells
formatting, 3-8
changing layout
in worksheets, 3-18
conditional formats
activating and deactivating, 3-10
changing the precedence of, 3-11
creating, 3-11
deleting, 3-13
editing, 3-13
using, 3-9
conditional header format
creating, 3-12
what is it?, 3-10
connecting directly
about starting Discoverer Viewer, 2-5
connections
about (see Discoverer connections), 2-1
crosstab worksheets, 1-6
cube
about components, 1-6
D
database accounts
about, 2-8
dimension
about dimension attributes, 1-7
about hierarchies, 1-7
Discoverer
about, 1-1
changing passwords, 2-12
components, 1-1
how to change passwords, 2-12
how to exit, 2-7
how to start, 2-2, 2-3
Discoverer connections
about, 2-1
about public, 2-12
changing EULs, 2-13
creating, 2-8
deleting, 2-11
editing, 2-10
Discoverer portlets
error workaround when launching worksheets in
Viewer with parameter LOVs, 4-19
Discoverer Viewer
about, 1-1
new features, 1-4
why use, 1-2
drill page
dialog information, 4-18
how to display, 4-56
drilling
differences between relational and OLAP
connections, 4-56
drilling down in worksheets, 3-17
drilling up in worksheets, 3-18
in Discoverer Viewer, 3-17
E
email
sending worksheets in an email, 3-8
email worksheet
in html format, 4-5
End User Layer
about, 2-8
EUL
about, 2-8
exiting Discoverer
how to exit, 2-7
export
configuring a client machine to open exported
Excel files, 3-7
export formats
the implications of using different export
formats, 3-5
export worksheet
in html format, 4-5
F
format
formatting worksheet items and cells, 3-8
frequently asked questions, 2-7
G
graphs
Index-2
displaying and hiding, 3-15
editing, 3-14
using in Discoverer Viewer, 3-14
H
html worksheets
note about exporting and emailing, 4-5
I
indexes and values
using in parameters, 3-15
items
formatting, 3-8
M
memory
workaround when more memory is required to
print worksheets with many columns, 4-38
multiple browser windows
opening, 2-2
N
new features
about, 1-4
O
opening
a worksheet, 3-1
P
parameter values
applying different parameter values to
worksheets, 3-16
parameters
LOV error workaround when launching
Discoverer portlet worksheets in
Viewer, 4-19
using in Discoverer Viewer, 3-15
using indexes and values in, 3-15
precedence of a conditional format
changing, 3-11
preview worksheet
before printing, 3-4
printing
worksheets workaround when additional memory
is required to print many columns, 4-38
S
sample pdf
previewing, 3-4
saved selections
applying, 3-19
saving worksheets, 3-3
Single Sign-on
about, 2-13
passwords and Discoverer passwords, 2-13
sorting
items and measures in a worksheet, 3-16
starting Discoverer
how to start, 2-2, 2-3
starting Discoverer Viewer
connecting directly, 2-5
stoplight format
creating, 3-12
what is it?, 3-10
T
table worksheets, 1-5
W
why use Discoverer Viewer?, 1-2
workbooks
about, 1-5
worksheets
about, 1-5
about crosstab, 1-6
about table, 1-5
applying different parameter values to, 3-16
changing the layout, 3-18
drilling down, 3-17
drilling up, 3-18
exporting, 3-5
how to save, 3-3
opening, 3-1
printing, 3-4
sorting items and measures, 3-16
types of, 1-5
doc_414477002.pdf
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer is an intuitive ad-hoc query, reporting, analysis, and Web publishing toolset that gives business users immediate access to information in databases.
Oracle® Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer
User’s Guide
10g Release 2 (10.1.2.1)
B13987-04
July 2005
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide, 10g Release 2 (10.1.2.1)
B13987-04
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dealing with any third party.
Perspective® for Java licensed from Three D Graphics, Inc. Copyright © 1997, 2002, Three D Graphics, Inc.
iii
Contents
Preface................................................................................................................................................................ vii
Intended Audience..................................................................................................................................... vii
Documentation Accessibility.................................................................................................................... vii
Related Documents ................................................................................................................................... viii
Conventions ............................................................................................................................................... viii
JGoodies License Agreement................................................................................................................... viii
Part I Conceptual and task information
1 Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer
What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer? ............................................................................ 1-1
Why use Discoverer Viewer? ................................................................................................................. 1-2
Easy-to-use Interface.......................................................................................................................... 1-3
Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop ....................................................... 1-3
Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer .................................................................... 1-3
Database Security............................................................................................................................... 1-3
Integration and Customization........................................................................................................ 1-3
JavaScript Enhanced User Interface ................................................................................................ 1-3
National Language Support ............................................................................................................. 1-4
Publish to Oracle Portal..................................................................................................................... 1-4
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2
(10.1.2) ......................................................................................................................................................... 1-4
What are workbooks? .............................................................................................................................. 1-5
What are worksheets?.............................................................................................................................. 1-5
About Discoverer worksheet types....................................................................................................... 1-5
About table worksheets..................................................................................................................... 1-5
About crosstab worksheets............................................................................................................... 1-6
What are the components of a cube? .................................................................................................... 1-6
What are measures? ........................................................................................................................... 1-6
What are dimensions and dimension members? .......................................................................... 1-6
What are dimension hierarchies?..................................................................................................... 1-7
What are dimension attributes? ....................................................................................................... 1-7
2 Starting Discoverer Viewer
What is a Discoverer connection? ......................................................................................................... 2-1
About starting Discoverer Viewer ........................................................................................................ 2-2
How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page................................................................ 2-2
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection ....................................................... 2-3
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly................................................................................. 2-5
How to exit Discoverer Viewer.............................................................................................................. 2-7
Frequently asked questions ................................................................................................................... 2-7
What is the End User Layer (EUL)?................................................................................................. 2-8
iv
What are database accounts?............................................................................................................ 2-8
How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?................................ 2-8
How do I edit a Discoverer connection?...................................................................................... 2-10
How do I delete a Discoverer connection?.................................................................................. 2-11
What are public connections?........................................................................................................ 2-12
What are user-defined connections? ............................................................................................ 2-12
When and why do I need to change my password?.................................................................. 2-12
How do I change the password for a connection? ..................................................................... 2-12
How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?....................................... 2-13
What is Single Sign-On?................................................................................................................. 2-13
What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?........................ 2-13
3 Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer
How to open a Discoverer worksheet .................................................................................................. 3-1
How to save worksheets.......................................................................................................................... 3-3
How to preview worksheets before printing...................................................................................... 3-4
How to print worksheets ........................................................................................................................ 3-4
Exporting Discoverer worksheets ......................................................................................................... 3-5
How to export Discoverer worksheets............................................................................................ 3-5
What are the implications of using different export formats?..................................................... 3-5
How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files....................... 3-7
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email............................................................................... 3-8
How to format worksheet items and cells........................................................................................... 3-8
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer ....................................................................................... 3-9
What is a conditional format? .......................................................................................................... 3-9
What is a stoplight format?............................................................................................................ 3-10
What is a conditional header format? .......................................................................................... 3-10
How to activate and deactivate conditional formats ................................................................. 3-10
How to change the precedence of conditional format............................................................... 3-11
How to create a conditional format .............................................................................................. 3-11
How to create a stoplight format .................................................................................................. 3-12
How to create a conditional header format................................................................................. 3-12
How to edit conditional formats................................................................................................... 3-13
How to delete conditional formats ............................................................................................... 3-13
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer................................................................................................... 3-14
About using graphs ........................................................................................................................ 3-14
How to edit a graph........................................................................................................................ 3-14
How to display or hide a graph.................................................................................................... 3-15
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer ........................................................................................... 3-15
About using indexes and values in parameters ......................................................................... 3-15
How to apply different parameter values to worksheets ......................................................... 3-16
About error when using lists of values........................................................................................ 3-16
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet............................................................................. 3-16
About drilling in Discoverer Viewer................................................................................................. 3-17
How to drill down in worksheets ...................................................................................................... 3-17
How to drill up in worksheets............................................................................................................ 3-18
How to change the layout of a worksheet ........................................................................................ 3-18
v
How to apply saved selections............................................................................................................ 3-19
Part II Reference information
4 Dialog reference
About Viewer page................................................................................................................................... 4-3
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)......................................................................... 4-4
Choose export type page......................................................................................................................... 4-5
Component Disabled page..................................................................................................................... 4-6
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page........................................................................................ 4-7
Create Conditional Cell Format page................................................................................................... 4-9
Create Conditional Header Format page .......................................................................................... 4-14
Create Stoplight Format page ............................................................................................................. 4-16
Drill page ................................................................................................................................................ 4-18
Edit Parameters page ............................................................................................................................ 4-19
Error page................................................................................................................................................ 4-21
Export Ready page................................................................................................................................. 4-22
Format Cells page.................................................................................................................................. 4-23
Format Worksheet data links page..................................................................................................... 4-26
Logged Out page.................................................................................................................................... 4-27
Multiple Sort page ................................................................................................................................ 4-28
PDF Ready page..................................................................................................................................... 4-29
PDF Sample Ready page...................................................................................................................... 4-30
Preferences page .................................................................................................................................... 4-31
Printable Page Options page: Content tab ....................................................................................... 4-34
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab.................................................................................. 4-37
Query Cancelled page .......................................................................................................................... 4-40
Query Confirmation needed page ..................................................................................................... 4-41
Query Progress page............................................................................................................................. 4-42
Save Warning page................................................................................................................................ 4-43
Save Workbook As page ...................................................................................................................... 4-44
Search and Select page ......................................................................................................................... 4-45
Send Email page .................................................................................................................................... 4-47
Table / Crosstab Layout page .............................................................................................................. 4-48
Worksheet Display page ...................................................................................................................... 4-49
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links) ............................................................. 4-51
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools) ............................................................................................ 4-53
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls).............................................................. 4-56
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)............................................................................. 4-58
Worksheet List page.............................................................................................................................. 4-62
Worksheet Options page...................................................................................................................... 4-64
Index
vi
vii
Preface
Welcome to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer - the tool that enables you
to analyze business data.
Intended Audience
Use this guide when you want to use Discoverer to view data to support business
decisions and you want to know how to:
? use existing workbooks to find the information you are interested in
? format the information to meet your requirements
? analyze the information in different ways
? share the information with other users
Documentation Accessibility
Our goal is to make Oracle products, services, and supporting documentation
accessible, with good usability, to the disabled community. To that end, our
documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive
technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to
facilitate access by the disabled community. Accessibility standards will continue to
evolve over time, and Oracle is actively engaged with other market-leading
technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be
accessible to all of our customers. For more information, visit the Oracle Accessibility
Program Web site at
http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/
Accessibility of Code Examples in Documentation
Screen readers may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The
conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an
otherwise empty line; however, some screen readers may not always read a line of text
that consists solely of a bracket or brace.
Accessibility of Links to External Web Sites in Documentation
This documentation may contain links to Web sites of other companies or
organizations that Oracle does not own or control. Oracle neither evaluates nor makes
any representations regarding the accessibility of these Web sites.
viii
TTY Access to Oracle Support Services
Oracle provides dedicated Text Telephone (TTY) access to Oracle Support Services
within the United States of America 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For TTY
support, call 800.446.2398.
Related Documents
You can access the documents referenced in this guide, and other information about
Oracle Business Intelligence (e.g. whitepapers, best practices, documentation updates,
other collateral) on Oracle Technology Network at:
http://www.oracle.com/technology
Conventions
Conventions used in this manual are shown in the table below:
JGoodies License Agreement
Oracle Business Intelligence includes the JGoodies software, whose License Agreement
follows:
Copyright© 2003 JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
? Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.
? Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list
of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
materials provided with the distribution.
? Neither the name of JGoodies nor the names of its contributors may be used to
endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior
written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
Convention Meaning
boldface Boldface type indicates graphical user interface elements associated
with an action, or terms defined in text or the glossary.
italic Italic type indicates book titles, emphasis, or placeholder variables for
which you supply particular values.
monospace Monospace type indicates commands within a paragraph, URLs, code
in examples, text that appears on the screen, or text that you enter.
< > Angle brackets enclose user-supplied names or values.
[] Square brackets enclose optional clauses from which you can choose
one or none.
Menu name |
Command
Text in this format conveys a sequence of menu choices, e.g. choose the
menu, then the command under that menu.
ix
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
x
Part I
Conceptual and task information
This section contains conceptual and task information about Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Viewer.
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-1
1
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Viewer
This chapter introduces you to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer, and
contains the following topics:
? "What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer?"
? "Why use Discoverer Viewer?"
? "What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g
Release 2 (10.1.2)"
? "What are workbooks?"
? "What are worksheets?"
? "About Discoverer worksheet types"
? "What are the components of a cube?"
What is Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer?
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer is an intuitive ad-hoc query, reporting,
analysis, and Web publishing toolset that gives business users immediate access to
information in databases.
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer enables business users at all levels of the
organization to make faster and more informed business decisions. Using any
standard Web browser, you have secure and immediate access to data from both
relational and multidimensional data sources. Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
provides a business view to hide the complexity of the underlying data structures,
enabling you to focus on solving business problems.
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer comprises a number of integrated components
that work together with the Oracle database to give you a complete and integrated
Business Intelligence solution.
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
1-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Figure 1–1 The Discoverer BI toolset
Which Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer component you use will depend on
what you want to do. For example:
? if you want to create new worksheets and analyze data from both relational and
multi-dimensional data sources across the Web, you will use Discoverer Plus
(Relational and OLAP)
? if you want to create new worksheets and analyze data from relational data
sources using a Windows application on a PC, you will use Discoverer Desktop
? if you want to analyze data in existing worksheets, you will use Discoverer Viewer
or Discoverer portlets (that have been added to an Oracle Portal page using
Discoverer Portlet Provider)
? if you want to display Discoverer worksheets as gauges in dashboard-style
portals, you will use Discoverer Portlet Provider and Discoverer portlets
? if you want to manage the end user view of relational data, you will use
Discoverer Administrator
The Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer components use definitions of Discoverer
objects stored in the Discoverer End User Layer or the Discoverer Catalog.
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
Decision makers today need a business intelligence solution to track up-to-the-minute
company information and key performance indicators. Part of Oracle Business
Intelligence, OracleBI Discoverer Viewer is an intuitive ad hoc query, reporting and
analysis tool that gives business users immediate access to information from data
warehouses, datamarts and online transactional processing systems.
Using Discoverer Viewer, business users can easily turn data into information and
publish it seamlessly throughout the enterprise using a familiar and intuitive user
interface, the Web browser.
Reasons why you use Discoverer Viewer are as follows:
? "Easy-to-use Interface"
Why use Discoverer Viewer?
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-3
? "Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop"
? "Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer"
? "Database Security"
? "Integration and Customization"
? "JavaScript Enhanced User Interface"
? "National Language Support"
? "Publish to Oracle Portal"
Easy-to-use Interface
Discoverer Viewer is easy to use and allows you to interact directly with data using
familiar terminology and a Web browser. Anyone familiar with using a browser will
quickly be able to use Discoverer Viewer.
Consistency with Discoverer Plus and Discoverer Desktop
Existing business views of the database are immediately available to Discoverer
Viewer users. Any reports (workbooks) created using Discoverer Plus or Discoverer
Desktop can be run from Discoverer Viewer immediately.
Familiar Browser Facilities with Discoverer Viewer
All the usual facilities of your Web browser are available:
? bookmark your favorite reports
? use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate
? use the browser Print function for print output
? launch registered applications to process data exported using Discoverer Viewer
Database Security
Discoverer Viewer uses the existing database security as defined within Discoverer
Administrator. No additional setup is required, and no one can view data they are not
authorized to see. When used with Oracle Applications, Discoverer Viewer uses the
Oracle Applications security model, including the use of roles and responsibilities.
Discoverer Viewer is the only business intelligence product to integrate directly with
the Oracle Applications security model.
Integration and Customization
Discoverer Viewer can be used as a standalone business intelligence tool or can be
used to integrate database output into your Web site and portal. In addition,
Discoverer Viewer is easily customized to fit in with your Web site look and feel, to
incorporate your company's logo or other artwork, or to build custom Discoverer
applications for the Web. For more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Configuration Guide.
JavaScript Enhanced User Interface
Discoverer Viewer uses JavaScript to enhance the user interface. To benefit from this
enhanced user interface, you must have JavaScript and Cookie support enabled in
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2)
1-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
your browser. For more information on JavaScript and Cookie support in your
browser, see the browser's documentation.
National Language Support
Discoverer Viewer supports many different languages. You can specify your preferred
language by choosing from a drop down list on either the Connect page or the Options
page. The drop down list on the Connect page defaults to your preferred language (as
set in your browser). For more information on setting your preferred language, see
your browser's documentation.
Publish to Oracle Portal
Using Oracle Portal, you can publish Discoverer workbooks and worksheets to an
enterprise information portal quickly and easily. Oracle Portal's intuitive user interface
guides you through the publishing process step by step, enabling non-technical
business users to create powerful business intelligence portals with ease.
What are the new features in Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2)
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 10g Release 2 (10.1.2) contains the
following new and improved features:
? Native support of the database OLAP option - Discoverer Viewer now enables you
to analyze multidimensional databases.
? Single Sign-on support for VPDs - Single Sign-On IDs (if used) are propagated to
the Virtual Private Database policy being used (for more information, see the
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide).
? Email support - Send a worksheet as an attachment to an email message (for more
information, see "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email").
? Save to database - Save worksheets to the database (for more information, see
"How to save worksheets").
? Customization - Customize Viewer’s look and feel and layout using Oracle
Application Server Control (for more information, see the Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide.
? Enhanced drilling - Drill to related data, and drill directly into graph data to
display other Discoverer worksheets or Internet URLs (for more information, see
"About drilling in Discoverer Viewer").
? Enhanced printing - Define advanced page setup, print preview, generate a
sample, and print to PDF format (for more information, see "How to preview
worksheets before printing" and "How to print worksheets").
? New export formats - Export to Excel Web Query (*.iqy) format to run queries in
Microsoft Excel sheets, and export to PDF format (for more information, see
"Exporting Discoverer worksheets").
? Enhanced worksheet formatting - Define conditional formatting and stoplight
formatting (for more information, see "Using conditional formatting in
Discoverer").
? Enhanced parameter handling - Search and select parameters from lists of values,
include mandatory or optional parameters, use indexes and values (for more
information, see "Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer").
About Discoverer worksheet types
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-5
? Enhanced graphing capability - New graph types, predefined graph styles, drill in
graphs (for more information, see "Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer").
? Single Sign-On support for Oracle Applications users - Create and use private
connections, and connect directly to an Oracle Applications environment using
authenticated OracleAS Single Sign-On users (for more information, see "About
starting Discoverer Viewer").
What are workbooks?
Workbooks are Discoverer files that contain worksheets displaying data retrieved from
the database. If you are familiar with spreadsheet applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel),
think of a workbook as a spreadsheet file. Discoverer workbooks are stored in the
database (for relational data) or the Discoverer Catalog (for multidimensional data).
Workbooks typically contain data that is related in some way but organized to show
different perspectives.
What are worksheets?
Worksheets contain the data that you want to analyze, together with a number of
Discoverer components to help you analyze the data. For example, a worksheet can
contain parameters, totals, percentages, exceptions, and calculations.
If you are familiar with spreadsheet applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel), think of a
workbook as a spreadsheet file and worksheets as different sheets in that spreadsheet
file.
About Discoverer worksheet types
In Discoverer you can display data in two different ways:
? in a table worksheet - see "About table worksheets"
? in a crosstab (i.e. cross-tabular) worksheet - see "About crosstab worksheets"
About table worksheets
A table worksheet lists data in rows and columns. The figure below shows an example
table worksheet analyzing profit values for cities within a region.
Figure 1–2 A table worksheet
Note: The table worksheet style is only used for analyzing relational data.
What are the components of a cube?
1-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
About crosstab worksheets
A crosstab worksheet (short for cross-tabulated worksheet) relates two different sets of
data and summarizes their interrelationship in terms of a third set of data. The figure
below shows an example crosstab analyzing profit values for regions by department.
Figure 1–3 A crosstab worksheet
Key to figure:
a. Top axis, containing the Region item.
b. Left axis, containing the Department item.
c. Data points, containing profit sum figures for each region in each department.
The region and department items are displayed as rows and columns on the crosstab.
Each row and column intersection shows a data point, which in this case is the profit
total for a particular region and a particular department.
What are the components of a cube?
A cube in a multidimensional data source has the following components:
? A measure, which is the name given to the data itself.
? One or more dimensions. Dimension is the name given to the parts of the cube
that categorize the data, such as Product, Geography, and Time. Dimensions have
dimension members, dimension hierarchies, and attributes.
The cube contains a measure value for each possible combination of the different
dimensions. It is therefore very quick for applications such as Discoverer Plus OLAP to
find the value for sales of a particular product in a particular city in a particular year.
What are measures?
In OLAP metadata, measures represent data that can be examined and analyzed in
crosstabs and graphs. Examples include Sales, Cost, and Profit.
What are dimensions and dimension members?
Measures have dimensions that categorize the data in the measure. For example, a
Sales measure might have Product, Time, and Geography as its dimensions. When a
measure has a particular dimension, the measure is said to be dimensioned by that
dimension. For example, Sales is dimensioned by Product. The group of dimensions
for a measure constitute the dimensionality of that measure. For example, the
dimensionality of Sales is Product, Time, and Geography.
Each element in a dimension is a dimension member. For example, January 2001,
February 2001, March 2001, Quarter 1 2001, and the year 2001 are likely members of
the Time dimension.
What are the components of a cube?
Introducing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer 1-7
What are dimension hierarchies?
A dimension hierarchy describes a hierarchical relationship between two or more
dimension members.
Individual dimension members might be related to each other in a hierarchical way.
For example, a specific day belongs to a particular month, which in turn is within a
particular year. To reflect such relationships, dimension members are organized into
dimension hierarchies.
A dimension hierarchy is a logical structure that uses ordered levels as a means of
organizing and aggregating data. For example, the Time dimension might have a
hierarchy to aggregate data from the Month level to the Quarter level to the Year level.
A dimension can have more than one hierarchy. For example, as well as the
Month-Quarter-Year dimension hierarchy, the Time dimension might also have a
Day-Month-Year dimension hierarchy. Note that where multiple dimension
hierarchies exist for the same dimension, one dimension hierarchy must be specified as
the default hierarchy.
What are dimension attributes?
A dimension attribute describes a characteristic that is shared by dimension members.
Dimension attributes enable you to select data based on similar characteristics. For
example, a Product dimension might have a Color attribute that enables you to search
for all red products.
What are the components of a cube?
1-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-1
2
Starting Discoverer Viewer
This chapter explains how to start Discoverer Viewer, and contains the following
topics:
? "What is a Discoverer connection?"
? "About starting Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page"
? "How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection"
? "How to start Discoverer by connecting directly"
? "How to exit Discoverer Viewer"
? "Frequently asked questions"
What is a Discoverer connection?
A Discoverer connection stores login details that enable you to connect to Discoverer
Viewer. Each connection stores the following information:
? database user name
? database password
? database name
? (optional) Oracle Applications responsibility
? language
? EUL (relational data only)
Discoverer login details are saved automatically when you create a connection. From
then on, you can start Discoverer Viewer simply by clicking on a connection name in
the Discoverer connections list that is displayed when you run Discoverer Viewer.
The Discoverer manager can also create public connections. Public connections enable
you to start Discoverer and access workbooks without having to create your own
connections.You cannot edit or delete public connections. Only the Discoverer
manager can create, edit, and delete public connections.
Notes
? You can also start Discoverer Viewer without creating a connection, by connecting
directly (for more information, see "How to start Discoverer by connecting
directly").
About starting Discoverer Viewer
2-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? For more information about saving login information in a private connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
? If you require login details to enable you to create your own Discoverer Viewer
connections, contact the Discoverer manager.
About starting Discoverer Viewer
The table below show the different ways in which you can start Discoverer Viewer.
Depending on the internet browser you are using and how your company’s network
server is configured, you might see a dialog about security when you first start
Discoverer Viewer. This security dialog appears when Discoverer Viewer requests
extra permissions to access the Discoverer server or local devices (e.g. printers). If you
do not want to see the dialog every time you connect, select the option "Always trust
content from Oracle Corporation." Click Yes (or OK or Grant depending on browser)
to continue starting Discoverer Viewer.
When you start Discoverer Viewer, you cannot open multiple browser windows (e.g.
for Internet Explorer) and continue to use Discoverer Viewer in the new browser
windows. Most Web browsers enable you to open multiple browser windows in
parallel (e.g. by using Ctrl + N). To use Discoverer Viewer in multiple browser
windows you have to use a new connection for each new browser window.
How to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page
You display the Discoverer Viewer connections page to select a connection (i.e. a
stored set of database login details) to start Discoverer Viewer or to connect to
Discoverer Viewer directly. You can also use the Discoverer Viewer connections page
to edit and delete Discoverer connections.
To display the Discoverer Viewer connections page:
1. Launch a Web browser.
2. Go to the Discoverer web address given to you by the Discoverer manager.
To start Discoverer Viewer: Use this method when:
use an existing pre-defined connection
(known as a public connection) created by
the Discoverer manager
the Discoverer manager has created login
details for you so that you do not have to
supply login details yourself (for more
information, see "How to start Discoverer
Viewer using an existing connection")
use an existing user-defined connection
(known as a private connection) that you
created yourself
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
using login details that you saved
previously (for more information, see "How
to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing
connection")
create a new user-defined connection
(known as a private connection)
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
using a new login (for more information, see
"How do I create and save login information
in a Discoverer connection?")
connect directly by entering login details
(which are not saved in a connection)
you want to connect to Discoverer Viewer
but you do not want to save the login details
for use later (for more information, see
"How to start Discoverer by connecting
directly")
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-3
Hint: The Discoverer web address might be:
? the default web page that you access when you start a browser
? an internet address (URL) that you enter in the address field in a browser (e.g.
a typical URL might be
http://machinename.myorganization.com:7777/discoverer/viewer)
? a link from a portal or other internet or intranet site that you are using
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed.
A list of the existing Discoverer connections is displayed in the Connection
column.
Notes
? For information on how to create and save a private Discoverer connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
? If this page does not display any connections or the Create Connection button:
– you can connect to Discoverer by entering connection details in the Connect
Directly area (for more information, see "How to start Discoverer by
connecting directly")
– Discoverer has not been associated with an infrastructure (for more
information, ask the Discoverer manager)
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
When you start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection, you can use one of
the following:
? an existing public connection created by the Discoverer manager
? an existing private connection that you created earlier
To start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection:
How to start Discoverer Viewer using an existing connection
2-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page").
2. Select the name of a connection name in the Connection column to start
Discoverer Viewer.
Hint: To confirm that you are using the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
Note: If you have already used Oracle’s Single Sign-On functionality to establish a
database connection, you will not be prompted for password information when
you start Discoverer Viewer.
Discoverer Viewer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables
you to locate and select a worksheet to open.
You can open any worksheet accessible to the database username used in the
current connection. If you cannot see the worksheet that you want to open, you
might need to use a different connection.
3. Select the + icon next to a workbook to display the worksheets contained in that
workbook (or select the icon in the Focus column next to a workbook).
4. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer Viewer displays the selected worksheet.
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-5
You can now begin to analyze data using Discoverer Viewer’s powerful analysis
tools.
Notes
? For information on how to create and save a private Discoverer connection, see
"How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?".
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
You start Discoverer by connecting directly when you want to connect to Discoverer
but you do not want to save the login details for use later.
To start Discoverer by connecting directly:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page").
2. Select the Connect Directly link to display the Connect Directly area.
How to start Discoverer by connecting directly
2-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
3. Enter login details using the fields provided (e.g. User Name, Password,
Database).
4. Click Go to start Discoverer.
Discoverer Viewer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables
you to locate and select a worksheet to open.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-7
5. Select the + icon next to a workbook to display the worksheets contained in that
workbook (or select the icon the Focus column next to a workbook).
6. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer Viewer displays the selected worksheet.
You can now begin to analyze data using Discoverer’s powerful analysis tools.
How to exit Discoverer Viewer
When you have finished using Discoverer Viewer to analyze data, exit the application.
To exit Discoverer Viewer:
1. Select the Exit link in the header area or footer area of the Discoverer Viewer page.
Frequently asked questions
This section answers frequently asked questions about starting Discoverer Viewer, and
contains the following topics:
? "What is the End User Layer (EUL)?"
? "What are database accounts?"
? "How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?"
? "How do I edit a Discoverer connection?"
? "How do I delete a Discoverer connection?"
Frequently asked questions
2-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? "What are public connections?"
? "What are user-defined connections?"
? "When and why do I need to change my password?"
? "How do I change the password for a connection?"
? "How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?"
? "What is Single Sign-On?"
? "What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?"
What is the End User Layer (EUL)?
The EUL is an intuitive, business-focused view of the a relational database that uses
terms that you are familiar with and can easily understand. The EUL insulates you
from the complexity usually associated with databases. This enables you to focus on
business issues instead of data access issues.
The Discoverer manager creates the EUL so that you see a user-friendly view of the
database when you use Discoverer.
If you start Discoverer using a public connection, the Discoverer manager specifies an
EUL for you. If you create your own connection, you select the EUL yourself, or accept
the default EUL assigned to you (for more information, see "How do I create and save
login information in a Discoverer connection?").
What are database accounts?
To use Discoverer, you need a database account that enables you to connect to
Discoverer. You store database account details in a Discoverer connection along with
EUL and language settings.
Note: If your organization uses Single Sign-On (a system for enabling users to log in
once to access many different applications), you also need a Single Sign-On account. If
you are not sure whether your organization uses Single Sign-On, contact the
Discoverer manager. For more information, see "What is Single Sign-On?".
A database account comprises two pieces of information:
? A username - a short name by which you are identified by the database. For
example, video5, or marketing.
? A password - a secret key that you use to authenticate your username. An initial
password is created for you by the database administrator. To keep your
organization’s data secure, do not tell another person what your password is, or
write down your password so that other people can read it (for more information,
see "When and why do I need to change my password?").
How do I create and save login information in a Discoverer connection?
You create and save login information in a new private Discoverer connection when
you want to start Discoverer using login details that you have not saved previously.
To create and save login information in a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer connections page (for more information, see "How to
display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Click Create Connection to display the Create Connection: Connection Details
page.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-9
3. Choose the type of user you want to connect as:
? to create a relational connection, select OracleBI Discoverer from the Connect
to drop down list
? to create a multidimensional connection, select OracleBI Discoverer for OLAP
from the Connect to drop down list
? to create a connection to access data in an Oracle Applications environment,
select Oracle Applications from the Connect to drop down list
4. Enter a connection name by which you want to identify the new connection in the
Connection Name field.
The connection name is displayed in the Connections column on the Connect to
OracleBI Discoverer page.
5. (optional) Enter a description of the connection in the Connection Description
field.
For example, you might want to add the names of the workbooks that the
connection will be used to access.
6. Select the language that you want to use from the Locale drop down list.
7. Specify the username, password, and database details for the connection that you
want to create.
Hint: If you are not sure what username, password, and database details to enter,
contact the Discoverer manager.
Frequently asked questions
2-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list (and
you logged in as a Single Sign-On user), Discoverer displays only the Database
field. You specify a username and password (if required) in subsequent pages.
8. Save the details by doing one of the following:
? Click Apply to save the details you have specified and return to the
Connections list.
? Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have specified and start
Discoverer Viewer using the login details specified.
Note: If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list (and
you logged in as a Single Sign-On user), Discoverer displays the Select Username
page or the Enter Username and Password page.
9. If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list, do the
following:
a. Select a username (if the flashlight icon is displayed) or enter a username in
the User Name field.
Note: The User Name field is only displayed for a SSO user with more than
one associated Oracle Applications username, or for a non-SSO Oracle
Applications user.
b. Enter a password in the Password field (not displayed for a SSO user, if you
selected a username using the flashlight icon).
c. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
10. If you selected Oracle Applications in the Connect To drop down list and the user
has more than one Oracle Applications Responsibility, Discoverer displays the
Select Oracle Applications Responsibility page. Do the following:
a. Select a responsibility from the Oracle Applications drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
11. (relational data only) If the username has access to more than one End User Layer,
the Create Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
If you clicked Apply, the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. The
new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To
start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new
connection name in the Connection list.
If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to
select a workbook and worksheet to open.
How do I edit a Discoverer connection?
You edit a Discoverer connection when you want to change the login details stored in
that connection. For example, you might want to change the username that you use to
start Discoverer Viewer.
To edit a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-11
2. Select the pencil icon in the Update column next to the name of the connection that
you want to edit.
Hint: To confirm that you are using the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
The Update Connection page is displayed.
3. Change the connection details as required.
4. Save the details by doing one of the following:
? Click Apply to save the details you have entered and return to the
Connections list.
? Click Apply and Connect to save the details you have entered and start
Discoverer Viewer using the login details you specified.
5. If the username has access to more than one End User Layer, the Create
Connection: End User Layer page is displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Apply to save the details that you specified.
If you clicked Apply, the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer Viewer page is displayed.
The new connection that you have created is included in the list of connections. To
start Discoverer Viewer using the connection that you have created, click the new
connection name in the Connection list.
If you clicked Apply and Connect, Discoverer Viewer starts and prompts you to select
a workbook and worksheet to open.
Notes
? You can only edit private connections that you have created yourself. You cannot
edit public connections created by the Discoverer manager.
How do I delete a Discoverer connection?
You delete a Discoverer connection when you want to remove login details
permanently. For example, you might want to delete a connection that you no longer
need.
To delete a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the trash can icon in the Delete column next to the name of the connection
that you want to delete to display the Confirmation dialog.
Hint: To confirm that you are deleting the correct connection, click Show in the
Details column to display more information about a connection. To hide additional
information, click Hide.
3. Click Yes at the confirmation page to delete the connection and return to the
Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page.
Notes
? You can only delete private connections that you have created yourself. You
cannot delete public connections created by the Discoverer manager.
Frequently asked questions
2-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
What are public connections?
Public connections are Discoverer logins created by the Discoverer manager. Public
connections enable you to start Discoverer Viewer and access workbooks without
having to create your own connections.
You cannot edit or delete public connections. Only the Discoverer manager can create,
edit, and delete public connections.
What are user-defined connections?
User-defined connections (also known as private connections) are Discoverer logins
that you create yourself. You can edit and delete private connections. Only you can
access, edit, and delete the private connections that you create.
When and why do I need to change my password?
Typically you will have to change your password periodically to maintain data
security.
Your system manager specifies how long you can keep the same password before it
expires. In other words, how long you can keep the password before you have to
change it.
You will know your password has expired if you start Discoverer Viewer and are
prompted to enter a new password. When you connect to Discoverer Viewer, you
might be warned that your password will expire in a specified number of days. If you
do not change the password in this period, you are prompted to enter a new password
when the password expires.
It is also important to change your password if you think that someone else has found
out what the password is.
How do I change the password for a connection?
You change the password for a connection when the password:
? has expired
? is about to expire
? has become known by another user
To change the password for a connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the
password.
3. Click Change Database Password.
4. In the Password field, enter the current database password for the current
username.
5. In the New Password field, enter a new database password for the current
username.
6. In the Verify Password field, re-enter the new database password for the current
username.
7. Click Finish.
Frequently asked questions
Starting Discoverer Viewer 2-13
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. You can now use the
connection to start Discoverer Viewer.
Notes
? If any of the password details that you entered were invalid, an error message is
displayed with advice on which value to change.
How do I change the End User Layer for a Discoverer connection?
You change the End User Layer (EUL) for a Discoverer connection when you want the
connection to start Discoverer using a different EUL (for more information, see "What
is the End User Layer (EUL)?").
To change the EUL for a Discoverer connection:
1. Display the Discoverer Viewer connections page (for more information, see "How
to display the Discoverer Viewer connections page".
2. Select the Update icon next to the connection for which you want to change the
End User Layer.
3. In the Password field, enter a valid password for the Discoverer connection.
4. Click Continue.
5. If the username for the current Discoverer connection has access to more than one
End User Layer, the Select End User Layer for Discoverer Connection page is
displayed. Do the following:
a. Select an End User Layer from the End User Layer drop down list.
b. Click Finish.
The Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page is displayed. You can now use the
connection to start Discoverer.
Notes
? If the username does not have access to more than one End User Layer, you cannot
change the default End User Layer.
? If the password that you entered was invalid, an error message is displayed with
advice on which value to change.
What is Single Sign-On?
Single Sign-On is a feature that enables users to log in once to access many different
applications.
What is the difference between Single Sign-On and Discoverer passwords?
If your organization uses Single Sign-On, your Discoverer password is separate to
your Single Sign-On password:
? your Single Sign-On password authenticates your Single Sign-On username
? your Discoverer password authenticates your Discoverer username
? with a single Sign-on connection, you can connect using many different Discoverer
connections
Frequently asked questions
2-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-1
3
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer
This chapter explains how to analyze data with Discoverer Viewer, and contains the
following topics:
? "How to open a Discoverer worksheet"
? "How to save worksheets"
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
? "Exporting Discoverer worksheets"
? "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email"
? "How to format worksheet items and cells"
? "Using conditional formatting in Discoverer"
? "Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer"
? "Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to sort items and measures in a worksheet"
? "About drilling in Discoverer Viewer"
? "How to drill down in worksheets"
? "How to drill up in worksheets"
? "How to change the layout of a worksheet"
? "How to apply saved selections"
? "About using indexes and values in parameters"
How to open a Discoverer worksheet
You open a Discoverer worksheet to analyze the data in that worksheet. You can
display one worksheet at a time (though you can create multiple Discoverer Viewer
browser sessions).
To open a Discoverer worksheet:
1. Start Discoverer Viewer (for more information, see Chapter 2, "Starting Discoverer
Viewer").
Discoverer starts and displays the "Worksheet List page", which enables you to
locate and select a worksheet to open.
How to open a Discoverer worksheet
3-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
2. Select the + icon next to the workbook containing the worksheet you want to open
to display the worksheets in that workbook (or select the icon the Focus column
next to a workbook).
3. Select the name of the worksheet you want to analyze in the Name column.
Discoverer displays the selected worksheet.
How to save worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-3
You can now begin to analyze the worksheet data using Discoverer’s powerful
analysis tools.
How to save worksheets
If you have made changes to a worksheet (e.g. you have re-sorted data or repositioned
worksheet items), you can save these changes. If you are logged in to Discoverer as the
owner of the workbook that contains the worksheet, you can overwrite the original
worksheet. If you are not logged in as the owner of the workbook that contains the
worksheet, you can save a copy of the worksheet.
If you change a worksheet and then switch to a different worksheet, Discoverer
prompts you to save the changes you have made or discard the changes.
To save a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to save.
If you own the worksheet, both the Save and Save As options are available. If you
do not own the worksheet, only the Save As option is available.
2. Save the worksheet as follows:
If you own the worksheet, do one of the following:
? to save changes to the worksheet, select the Save link
? to save the worksheet in a workbook with a different workbook name, select
the Save As link to display the Save Workbook As page and specify a new
workbook name
How to preview worksheets before printing
3-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
If you do not own the worksheet, to save the worksheet in a workbook as a
different workbook name, select the Save As link to display the Save Workbook As
page and specify a new workbook name.
Discoverer saves the worksheet in the database in the current workbook. If you use the
Save As option, workbooks are always stored in the root folder.
How to preview worksheets before printing
You preview a worksheet before printing to confirm that the settings in the Print
Options page produce the output you expect. For example, you might want to check
that margins, spacing, and set up options are correct before printing the worksheets.
You preview a Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the worksheet.
Discoverer generates either a sample PDF version of the worksheet, or a full PDF
version of the worksheet. The sample PDF version of the worksheet contains data that
represents the first 50 rows of data. The full PDF version of the worksheet contains all
the rows of data.
To preview a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to preview.
2. Select the Printable Page link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content
tab".
3. (optional) Use the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" to change the print
settings, if required.
4. Click Preview Sample to generate a sample PDF version of the worksheet and
display the "PDF Sample Ready page".
5. Click Open PDF to view sample to display the sample PDF version of the
worksheet in a separate browser window.
You can view, print or save a copy of the sample PDF file from the separate
browser window.
How to print worksheets
You print a worksheet in Discoverer Viewer by generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the worksheet and printing the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
Discoverer displays the PDF version of the worksheet for you to preview before you
print it (for more information, see "How to preview worksheets before printing").
To print a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to print.
2. Select the Printable Page link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content
tab".
3. (optional) Use the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" to change the print
settings, if required.
4. (optional) If you want to preview a sample PDF version of the worksheet before
printing the full worksheet, follow the steps in "How to preview worksheets
before printing".
5. Click Printable PDF to display the "PDF Ready page".
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-5
6. Select the Click to view or save link to display the full PDF version of the
worksheet in a separate browser window.
Note: You can now view, print, or save the PDF file.
7. In the separate browser window displaying the PDF file, choose File | Print to
display the operating system print dialog and print the PDF file.
Discoverer prints the PDF version of the worksheet.
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
This section explains how to export worksheets in different formats, and contains the
following topics:
? "How to export Discoverer worksheets"
? "What are the implications of using different export formats?"
? "How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
How to export Discoverer worksheets
You export worksheet data so that you can use the data in a Discoverer worksheet in a
different application. For example, you might want to produce a Discoverer worksheet
in Microsoft Excel format.
To export a Discoverer worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to export (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Export link in the Actions area to display the "Choose export type page".
3. Select an export type from the drop down list and click Export to display the
"Export Ready page".
4. Click the Click to view or save button to display the exported file in the
application associated with that file type.
Discoverer displays the exported file in the application associated with that type of
export file (e.g. a browser, Microsoft Excel).
5. (optional) If you want to save the exported file, save the file in the application
used for that type of export file (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
What are the implications of using different export formats?
When you have exported a worksheet to a specified export file format, you might
notice differences when you open the exported file in the associated application. These
differences are described in the following topics:
? "What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the XLS file
format?"
? "What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the CSV file
format?"
What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the XLS file
format?
When you export relational worksheet data to the XLS file format, Discoverer:
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
3-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? sets the MimeType of the worksheet output to application/vnd.ms-excel
? requests the file name to be <worksheet_name>.xls
? formats worksheet output to be readable by Microsoft Excel
On a machine where Microsoft Excel is installed, the operating system typically
associates the XLS file with Microsoft Excel.
Note: When you export a worksheet to the XLS file format, it is recommended that you
save the XLS file and then open the saved XLS file in Microsoft Excel.
For more information about exporting worksheet data, see "Choose export type page".
What does Discoverer do when you export worksheet data using the CSV file
format?
When you export worksheet data to the CSV file format, Discoverer:
? sets the MimeType of the worksheet output to application/csv
? requests the file name to be <worksheet_name>.csv
Note: The Discoverer server does not format the worksheet output to be readable
by Microsoft Excel (because CSV files are often used for other purposes, and to
impose Microsoft Excel-specific formatting might be inappropriate).
On a machine where Microsoft Excel is installed, the operating system does not
necessarily associates the CSV file with Microsoft Excel:
Note: Although you might be able to open a CSV file using Microsoft Excel, it is
recommended that you export the worksheet to the XLS file format and then open the
XLS file in Microsoft Excel.
For more information about exporting worksheet data, see "Choose export type page".
About exporting Discoverer worksheets to Microsoft Excel Web Query format
Microsoft Excel Web Query is an external data format in Microsoft Excel that enables
you to include dynamic relational data from an Internet or Intranet URL (e.g. a
Discoverer worksheet) in a Microsoft Excel worksheet. For example, you might want
to create a Microsoft Excel worksheet that contains a Discoverer sales report for a
range of dates that you specify when you open the worksheet in Microsoft Excel. The
Microsoft Excel worksheet stores the query used to obtain the Discoverer data, so that
the data can be refreshed automatically.
Discoverer enables you to export Discoverer data to Microsoft Excel Web Query format
by selecting Web Query for Microsoft Excel 2000+ (*.iqy) from the list of export types.
End users can then access dynamic Discoverer worksheets in Microsoft Excel. You can
export data to Microsoft Excel Web Query format from both Discoverer Plus and
Discoverer Viewer.
Notes
? Web Query for Microsoft Excel 2000+ (*.iqy) format is not available in a Single
Sign-On environment. Contact the Discoverer manager or Oracle administrator for
more information.
? To access Discoverer reports exported to Microsoft Excel Web Query format,
Microsoft Excel end users require Microsoft Excel 2000 (or later) and Microsoft
Internet Explorer 5.0 (or later).
Exporting Discoverer worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-7
? You can only export numeric and textual data into Microsoft Excel Web Query
format. You cannot export Discoverer graphs into Microsoft Excel Web Query
format.
? Once you have imported a Discoverer report to Microsoft Excel, refresh the sheet
in Excel when you want to display up-to-date data. Please refer to Microsoft Excel
documentation for more information about how to refresh data in Microsoft Excel.
Note: For more information about exporting worksheet data to Microsoft Excel Web
Query format, Refer to Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus User’s Guide.
How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files
To enable your client machine to automatically open exported Excel files, you need to
configure settings as described in the following topics:
? "How to configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you to
open or save the export file"
? "How to configure Internet Explorer to display the Download complete dialog"
? "How to configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an
exported Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel"
How to configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you
to open or save the export file
To configure Microsoft Windows to display a dialog that prompts you to open or save
the export file:
1. Choose Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options from the Windows Start menu.
2. Display the list of Windows File Types.
3. Select the File Type for which you want to display a prompt dialog to open or save
the export file.
4. Click Advance to display the Edit File Type dialog.
5. Select the Confirm open after download check box (a MIME type property of the
file type).
6. Click OK.
How to configure Internet Explorer to display the Download complete
dialog
To configure Internet Explorer to display a Download Complete dialog when the
export is complete:
1. Open Internet Explorer and choose Tools | Internet Options | Advanced tab.
2. Select the Notify when downloads complete check box.
3. Click OK.
How to configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an
exported Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel
Excel will not allow you to open a Discoverer worksheet exported to an XLS file if the
macro security level in Excel is set to High. Excel displays an alert and prevents you
from opening the worksheet.
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email
3-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
To configure the macro security level setting to enable you to open an exported
Discoverer worksheet in Microsoft Excel:
1. Open Microsoft Excel and select Tools | Macro | Security Level tab.
2. Select the Medium radio button.
3. Click OK.
How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email
You can send a copy of the currently displayed worksheet to one or more email
recipients in a range of formats.
To send a Discoverer worksheet in an email:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to send (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Send as email link in the Actions area to display the "Choose
attachment type (send as email attachment)".
3. Select an export type from the drop down list and click Next to display the "Send
Email page".
4. Use the "Send Email page" to enter the email addresses of the intended email
recipients, and create the email message.
5. (optional) If you want to display the attached worksheet file, click View
Attachment, to display the worksheet in an appropriate software package (e.g.
Microsoft Excel).
6. Click Finish to send the email.
Note: Discoverer sends the email using the IMAP settings specified by the Discoverer
manager.
Note: Discoverer sends the email as a Zip file using the IMAP settings specified by the
Discoverer manager.
How to format worksheet items and cells
You format worksheet items and cells to change their appearance (e.g. text font, text
color, background color). On table worksheets, you format worksheet items, but not
individual worksheet cells. On crosstab worksheets, you can format worksheet items
and individual worksheet cells.
Hint: You can select more than one worksheet item or cell by pressing the Ctrl key and
clicking another worksheet item or cell.
To format worksheet items:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to edit (for more information, see "How to
open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select one or more worksheet items or cells by selecting the grab handle of
worksheet items to highlight them.
Hint: You can select more than one item by pressing Ctrl and selecting another
item.
3. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
4. Use the formatting tools to format the selected worksheet items.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-9
For example, you might:
? click the B, i, or U buttons to format the text as bold, italic, or underlined
? select the color palette icons next to the Background and Font tools to display
a color palette
? select the More link to display the "Format Cells page", which enables you to
specify font, border, and number format options for the selected worksheet
items
Note: Number format options are only available for OLAP worksheets.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Conditional formatting is the use of conditional formats and stoplight formats to
highlight worksheet values. This section explains how use conditional formatting in
Discoverer Viewer, and contains the following topics:
? "What is a conditional format?"
? "What is a stoplight format?"
? "How to activate and deactivate conditional formats"
? "How to create a conditional format"
? "How to create a stoplight format"
? "How to create a stoplight format"
? "How to create a conditional header format"
? "How to edit conditional formats"
? "How to delete conditional formats"
What is a conditional format?
A conditional format enables you to highlight worksheet values that meet a specific
condition. For example, you might want to highlight profit values greater than 30,000.
Note: In Discoverer Desktop, conditional formats are known as exceptions.
In the example below, a conditional format highlights Profit SUM values greater than
30,000. The Profit SUM figures for Cincinnati and Louisville are displayed with a blue
background because they are greater than 30,000.
Figure 3–1 A Discoverer worksheet using a conditional format
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
3-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
What is a stoplight format?
A stoplight format (or traffic light format) enables you to categorize numeric
worksheet values as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable using different colors. The
default stoplight format uses the familiar red, yellow, and green color scheme to
represent unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable values.
For example, you might want to categorize performance based on profit values where:
? values less than or equal to 10,000 are unacceptable, and are shown in red
? values between 10,001 and 29,999 are acceptable, and are shown in yellow
? values equal to or greater than 30,000 are desirable, and are shown in green
In the example below, a stoplight format based on the above values is used to
categorize Profit SUM values. Values in the unacceptable category are show in red (e.g.
Chicago and Dallas). Values in the acceptable category are shown in yellow (e.g. St.
Louis and Washington). Values in the desirable category are shown in green (e.g.
Cincinnati and Louisville).
Figure 3–2 A Discoverer worksheet using a stoplight format
What is a conditional header format?
A conditional header format enables you to change the appearance of selected
worksheet item headings. For example, you might want to display the heading for
items Year and Region with a blue background, leaving the items Profit SUM with the
default white background.
How to activate and deactivate conditional formats
You activate a conditional format to apply that format to the currently displayed
worksheet. For example, you might want to use an existing conditional format to
highlight percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue
background.
You deactivate a conditional format to remove that format from the currently
displayed worksheet. For example, you might want to remove a conditional format
that highlights percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue
background. You can always activate the conditional format later.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
To activate and deactivate a conditional format:
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-11
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. To activate a conditional format, select the check box in the Display column next
to the format you want to activate.
5. To deactivate a conditional format, clear the check box in the Display column next
to the format you want to deactivate.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to change the precedence of conditional format
When two formats specify different settings for the same cell, the most recently created
format takes precedence. For example, when you set the background color for a
column to blue, and then set the background color for a row to red, the intersecting cell
has a red background.
The order of the formats in the Conditional Formats <Crosstab | Table> page
determines which format applies in the case of a conflict. The higher format in the list
takes precedence over lower formats.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
To change the precedence of a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Click the Move Up icon next to the conditional format that you want to apply.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a conditional format
You create a conditional format to highlight worksheet values that meet a specific
condition. For example, you might want to highlight percentage values greater than
75% by displaying them with a blue background.
For more information, see "What is a conditional format?".
Note: To categorize worksheet values as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable
using color and text formatting, you create a stoplight format and not a conditional
format (for more information, see "How to create a stoplight format").
To create a conditional format?
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
3-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Create Conditional Format link to display the "Create Conditional Cell
Format page".
4. Use the "Create Conditional Cell Format page" to select the worksheet item that
you want to format, and specify format colors and styles.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a stoplight format
You create a stoplight format when you want to categorize numeric worksheet values
as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable using text and color formatting. For
example, you might want to display low cost values in green, medium cost values in
yellow, and high cost values in red.
For more information, see "What is a stoplight format?".
To create a stoplight format?
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Stoplight link to display stoplight formatting tools above the worksheet
data.
3. Use the Format drop down list to specify whether to apply the format to all cells,
selected cells, or to cells for an item or measure.
4. Enter threshold values in the Unacceptable and Desirable fields.
Note: Threshold values are inclusive. For example, if you select 30,000 in the
Desirable field, you apply this category to value equal to or greater than 30,000.
5. (optional) Select the color palette icons next to the Unacceptable, Acceptable, and
Desirable fields to display a color palette and change the color for that category.
6. Click Go to apply the stoplight format to the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to create a conditional header format
You create a conditional header format to change the look and feel of particular
worksheet item headings. For example, you might want to change the background
color of the worksheet item header for a Region item to blue.
For more information, see "What is a conditional header format?".
To create a conditional header format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display stoplight formatting tools above the worksheet
data.
Using conditional formatting in Discoverer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-13
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Click Create Conditional Header Format to display the "How to create a
conditional header format".
5. Use the "Create Conditional Header Format page" to select the worksheet item
that you want to format, and specify format colors and styles.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
7. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to edit conditional formats
You edit a conditional format to change how it works. For example, you might want to
change the color of the Acceptable stoplight category from yellow to orange.
To edit a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Select the pencil icon in the Edit column next to the format you want to change to
display the edit page for that type of format.
5. Make the necessary changes to the formats.
6. Click Apply to save the changes and close the edit page.
7. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
How to delete conditional formats
You delete a conditional format to remove it permanently from the currently displayed
worksheet. For example, you might want to delete a conditional format that highlights
percentage values greater than 75% by displaying them with a blue background.
Hint: If you think you might want to use the conditional format again, consider
deactivating the conditional format rather than deleting it (for more information, see
"How to activate and deactivate conditional formats").
To delete a conditional format:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Format link to display formatting tools above the worksheet data.
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer
3-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
3. Select the Conditional Formats link to display the "Conditional Formats
(Table/Crosstab) page".
4. Select the trash can icon in the Delete column next to the conditional format you
want to delete.
Hint: To remove all formatting applied using the Formatting toolbar from the
current worksheet, click Clear All Formatting, and click Yes at the confirmation
page.
5. Click Apply to save the changes and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the formatting tools.
Using graphs in Discoverer Viewer
The following topics explain how to use graphs in Discoverer Viewer:
? "About using graphs"
? "How to edit a graph"
? "How to display or hide a graph"
About using graphs
You can edit a graph in Discoverer Viewer by:
? changing the graph type
? changing the graph size
? enabling and disabling graph gradients
? enabling and disabling 3D effects
? changing the data area that is plotted on the graph
For more information about editing graphs, see "How to edit a graph".
Notes
? Graphs created in Discoverer Plus (Relational and OLAP) are displayed in
Discoverer Viewer. Graphs created in Discoverer Desktop are not displayed in
Discoverer Viewer.
How to edit a graph
You edit a graph to change the style or appearance of the graph. For example, you
might want to change the graph type from pie graph to bar graph.
To edit a graph:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
If the worksheet contains a graph that is hidden, display the graph (for more
information, see "How to display or hide a graph").
2. Select the Graph link to display graph tools above the graph.
3. Use the graph tools to edit the graph as follows:
? to change the graph type, select a graph type from the Type drop down list
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-15
? to change the graph style, select a graph style from the drop down list next to
the Type drop down list
? to change the graph size, change the values in the Height and Width fields
? to specify whether the 3D or gradient effect is applied, use the 3D Effect and
Gradient check boxes.
4. Click Apply to close the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page" and display
the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: Select the minus (-) icon next to the Tools label to hide the graph tools.
How to display or hide a graph
You display a graph to plot the currently displayed worksheet data in a graph. For
example, you might want to plot the worksheet data in a pie chart.
You hide a graph to remove it from the worksheet.
To display or hide a graph:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Worksheet options link to display the "Worksheet Options page".
3. To display the graph for the current worksheet, select the Graph check box.
4. To hide the graph for the current worksheet, clear the Graph check box.
5. Click Apply to close the "Worksheet Options page" and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the format changes you have specified.
Hint: You can also use the Graph plus (+) and minus (-) icons to expand and collapse
the graph.
Using parameters in Discoverer Viewer
The following topics explain how to use parameters in Discoverer Viewer for
worksheets containing relational data:
? "About using indexes and values in parameters"
? "How to apply different parameter values to worksheets"
Note: Discoverer worksheets containing OLAP data do not contain parameters.
About using indexes and values in parameters
Discoverer enables end users to display and select parameter values with index
numbers (e.g. (1) January, (2) February) or without index numbers (e.g. January,
February). Indexes are set up by the Discoverer manager to improve query
performance for specific End User Layer (EUL) items, when these items are used as
parameters. For more information about selecting parameters, see "Edit Parameters
page".
The <Index and Value> drop down list options enables you to choose whether you
want to enter parameter values as index numbers or values. For example, if you want
a parameter field called Month to be set to the value January, you could do either of
the following:
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet
3-16 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? select Index from the <Index and Value> drop down list and enter the index
number that represents January (e.g. 1)
? select Value from the <Index and Value> drop down list and enter the text value
that represents January (e.g. January)
Either of the above values will produce the same result in the worksheet.
Note: Parameters do not apply with OLAP connections.
How to apply different parameter values to worksheets
You apply a different parameter value to a worksheet to refine the worksheet data. For
example, you might want to display data for a different month.
To apply a different parameter value to a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
When you display a worksheet that contains active parameters, Discoverer
prompts you to specify parameter values for each active parameter.
2. Select the Rerun Query link in the Actions area (or select Refresh in the browser) to
display the "Edit Parameters page".
3. Use the "Edit Parameters page" to specify the new parameter values.
For example, you might enter New York for a City parameter to display worksheet
data for New York.
4. Click Apply to close the "Edit Parameters page" and display the worksheet.
Discoverer applies the changes you have specified.
About error when using lists of values
If you have a Discoverer worksheet portlet with parameters that use lists of values
(LOVs), then you will get a "404 Not Found" error in the following situations:
? When you click "Analyze" in a Discoverer Portlet, to launch OracleBI Discoverer
Viewer.
How to sort items and measures in a worksheet
You can change the order in which items and measures are displayed by using the Sort
tool.
Note: Sort tools are not available for crosstab worksheets based on relational data.
Crosstab worksheets based on relational data are sorted by the worksheet creator in
either Discoverer Plus or Discoverer Desktop.
To sort items and measures in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Sort link to display the sort tools above the worksheet data.
3. The available sort tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a table worksheet containing relational data, use the Sort and Order fields
to select sort options, or select the More link to display the "Multiple Sort
page", which enables you to do more complex sorting
How to drill down in worksheets
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-17
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, use the Sort, Based On,
and Order fields to select sort options
Discoverer sorts the worksheet data according to the sort options you have
specified.
About drilling in Discoverer Viewer
Discoverer enables you to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily using a
powerful set of drilling tools.
The table below lists the types of drill supported by Discoverer:
How to drill down in worksheets
You drill to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily. For example, you might drill
down into a worksheet item to see data in more detail.
To drill down in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. The available drill tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a worksheet containing relational data, you:
– Select a drill icon next to the item heading of the worksheet item you want
to drill down into.
– Select a level of detail below the current level of detail (indicated by a dot).
For example, to drill down from Region to City, select the City option.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drill level you selected.
For example, if you drill down from Region to City, Discoverer adds city
data to the worksheet.
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, you:
– Select a Drill Expand (+) icon next to the worksheet value you want to
drill down into.
Drill type Description Drill icon used in worksheets
Drill up and down Drill up and down a drill
hierarchy created by the
Discoverer manager.
You can drill up and down
in both worksheet data and
graph data.
Drill to a related item Drill to a related worksheet
item.
You can drill to a related
item in worksheet data, but
not graph data.
Drill out Drill out to a worksheet,
Internet URL, or file.
You can drill out in
worksheet data, but not
graph data.
How to drill up in worksheets
3-18 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Discoverer displays the next level of data in the data hierarchy. For exam-
ple, if you drill into the 2005 value, you might display quarterly data for
2005.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drilling options you have
specified.
Note: For information about drilling in graphs, refer to the Discoverer Plus Help
systems.
How to drill up in worksheets
You drill to navigate worksheet data quickly and easily. For example, you might drill
up from a worksheet item to consolidated data.
To drill up in a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. The available drill tools depend on the type of data source, as follows:
? on a worksheet containing relational data, you:
– Select a drill icon next to the item heading of the worksheet item you want
to drill up to.
– Select a level of detail above the current level of detail (indicated by a dot).
For example, to drill up from City to Region, select the Region option.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drill level you selected.
For example, if you drill up from City to Region, Discoverer removes City
data from the worksheet.
? on a worksheet containing multidimensional data, you:
– Select a Drill Collapse icon (-) next to the worksheet value you want to
drill up from.
Discoverer collapses the worksheet value. For example, if you collapse the
2005 value, you remove quarterly data for 2005.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the drilling options you have
specified.
Note: For information about drilling in graphs, refer to the Discoverer Plus Help
systems.
How to change the layout of a worksheet
You can change the layout of a worksheet by using the Layout tool. For example, you
might want to analyze a worksheet in a new way by moving a worksheet item called
Year from the left axis to the top axis.
To change the layout of a worksheet:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Layout link to display layout tools above the worksheet.
To do more complex layout changes, select the More link to display the
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
How to apply saved selections
Analyzing data with Discoverer Viewer 3-19
3. Use the layout tools or options on the "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab
tools)" to change the worksheet layout.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to the layout options you have
specified.
How to apply saved selections
A saved selected is a predefined selection of members for a dimension. It can be
specified as members themselves, or as criteria for selecting members (e.g. last three
months, top 10 cities based on shoe sales). You can apply saved selections to
worksheets containing data from multidimensional (OLAP) data sources.
To apply a saved selection:
1. Display the worksheet that you want to analyze (for more information, see "How
to open a Discoverer worksheet").
2. Select the Saved Selections link to display the saved selection tools above the
worksheet.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to drilling options you specified.
3. Use the Dimension drop down list to select dimension whose members you want
to update.
4. Use the Action drop down list to specify whether to replace the current set of
dimension members with those in the saved selection, whether to add the
members from the saved selection to the current members, whether to remove the
members in the saved selection from the current selection, or whether to keep only
the dimension members in the current selection that are also in the saved selection.
5. Use the Saved Selection list to specify the saved selection to apply.
6. Click Go to apply the saved selection.
Discoverer updates the worksheet according to saved selections you have applied.
How to apply saved selections
3-20 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Part II
Reference information
This section contains general reference information including descriptions of all Oracle
Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer pages.
Dialog reference 4-1
4
Dialog reference
This chapter contains comprehensive reference information for each page in
Discoverer Viewer.
"About Viewer page"
"Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)"
"Choose export type page"
"Component Disabled page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
"Drill page"
"Edit Parameters page"
"Error page"
"Export Ready page"
"Format Cells page"
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Logged Out page"
"Multiple Sort page"
"PDF Ready page"
"PDF Sample Ready page"
"Preferences page"
"Printable Page Options page: Content tab"
"Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab"
"Query Cancelled page"
"Query Confirmation needed page"
"Query Progress page"
"Save Warning page"
"Save Workbook As page"
4-2 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
"Search and Select page"
"Send Email page"
"Table / Crosstab Layout page"
"Worksheet Display page"
"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
"Worksheet List page"
"Worksheet Options page"
About Viewer page
Dialog reference 4-3
About Viewer page
This page gives a brief overview of OracleBI Discoverer Viewer and displays the
component version numbers of Discoverer Viewer, the PDF generator, and the
Discoverer Server. You might use the component version numbers to determine the
versions being used if any upgrades or patches are made following release.
Component Versions
Viewer
This field displays the version number of Discoverer Viewer.
This field displays the version number of the PDF generator that is used to generate
PDFs through Discoverer Viewer (using the Printable page option).
Server
This field displays the version number of the OracleBI Discoverer Server.
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)
4-4 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)
Use this page to select an export file format that you want to use when you export a
worksheet into a specified format to send as an email attachment. When a worksheet is
received as an email attachment, it can be opened in other applications.
For more information, see:
? "How to send Discoverer worksheets in an email"
Choose export type
Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the
worksheet.
Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see
"What are the implications of using different export formats?".
For more information about how the behavior of exported worksheets depends on
how helper applications (e.g. MS Word, Excel) are specified in your operating system,
see "Choose export type page".
Next
Use the Next button to export the worksheet to the specified format and display the
"Send Email page".
Choose export type page
Dialog reference 4-5
Choose export type page
Use this page to select the export format that you want to use when you export a
worksheet into a specified file format to open in other applications.
You can export the current worksheet in a variety of formats. The worksheet is
exported exactly as it is displayed prior to export. In other words, all the drills, page
items and query parameters that are defined in the worksheet are exported.
For more information, see:
"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
Choose export type
Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the
worksheet.
Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see
"What are the implications of using different export formats?".
Note: If you select the html export format, Discoverer automatically creates a Zip file
containing the HTML file to be exported. Some SMTP servers might be configured to
prevent users from sending email messages that contain Zip file attachments.
Export
Use the Export button to export the worksheet into the specified format and display
the "Export Ready page".
Component Disabled page
4-6 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Component Disabled page
This page displays error messages that indicate whether the Discoverer Viewer
component has been disabled, or whether Discoverer Viewer has not been started or
has been stopped.
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
Dialog reference 4-7
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
Use this page to manage the conditional formats and stoplight formats that you apply
to a worksheet. For example, you might want to activate a conditional format that
highlights costs that are greater than 100,000.
For more information, see:
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
<Conditional formats>
Use these lists to create, manage and edit conditional and stoplight formats.
Hint: Use the check box in the Display column to activate and deactivate a format.
Note: You can have conditional formats and stoplight formats active on the same
worksheet item at the same time.
Hide data values for Stoplight Formats
Use this check box to specify whether to display worksheet values for the worksheet
item that is being formatted. For example, you might select this check box if you want
to create a worksheet that displays formatting colors but not the values themselves.
Create Stoplight Format
Use this button to display the "Create Stoplight Format page", which enables you to
create a new stoplight format to categorize worksheet numeric values into acceptable,
desirable, and unacceptable categories.
Create Conditional Cell Format
Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", which enables
you to create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet numeric values.
Create Conditional Header Format
Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Header Format page", which
enables you to create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet header values.
Display
Use these check boxes to display the conditional format in the current worksheet.
Note: If more than one Display check box is selected (e.g. when there are multiple
stoplight formats and/or multiple conditional cell formats):
? Discoverer Viewer first applies the stoplight formats first in the order in which
they are listed.
? Discoverer Viewer then applies conditional formats that don’t conflict with the
stoplight formats.
? Where a conflict exists between conditional formats and stoplight formats,
Discoverer Viewer applies the stoplight formats.
Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page
4-8 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? You can change the order in which the formats are applied by using the icons in
the Move Up and Move Down columns.
Name
This read-only field displays the name of the conditional format.
Attributes
This read-only field shows what the format looks like.
Move Up
Use the move up icon in this column to move a conditional format up in the list of
conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format up one row at a time.
Clicking the icon in the Move Up column enables you to change the order in which the
stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.
Move Down
Use the move down icon in this column to move a conditional format down in the list
of conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format down one row at a time.
Clicking the icon in the Move Down column enables you to change the order in which
the stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.
Edit
Use this icon to display either the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", the "Create
Stoplight Format page" page, or the "Create Conditional Header Format page". these
pages enable you to edit the format that is selected in the <Conditional formats list>.
Delete
Use this icon to delete the selected conditional format.
Clear All Formatting
Use this button to deselect all of the Display check boxes and to remove all formatting
entries that were defined using the Toolbar (for more information, see "Worksheet
Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)").
Notes
? If you save a workbook in Discoverer Viewer, Discoverer Viewer does not save
any conditional or stoplight formatting information for future use.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-9
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Use this page to create a conditional cell format that will display worksheet data cells
in a specified format, depending on a condition that you define on this page.
For example, to format the background of worksheet data cells in blue if the item
Profit SUM is greater than $10,000, you might:
? Select Profit Sum from the Item field.
? Select Greater Than (>) from the Operator drop down list.
? Enter 10,000 in the Value field.
? Select a blue color from the Background color picker.
This page is also displayed as:
Edit Conditional Cell Format page
For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to enter a name for the conditional cell format. Discoverer Viewer
generates a default name, which you can edit.
Item
Use this drop down list to select the item or measure to which you want to apply a
conditional format. You must select a numeric item (e.g. Profit).
Operator
Use this drop down list to select the operator (e.g. >, <, =) that will act on the value
specified in the Value field for the selected item or measure.
Value
Use this field to enter a value to apply to the selected item or measure. The value you
enter in this field is applied to the selected item or measure, and is subject to the
operator that you select. You must enter a number in this field.
Dimension
Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
can apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Apply Format to Members
Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension members (e.g. 2002, East,
Boston) to which the format will apply.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
4-10 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Edit
Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more
dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if
the member is City, you could select a specific city (e.g. Paris) to apply the conditional
format to that city when the condition becomes true.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit,
Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed.
Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:
? When you have selected more than one range of cells.
In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension
members for the cells.
? When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a
hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected
one of these rows.
For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In
outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo
would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is
too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no
value for cities.
? When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.
For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up
so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not
appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill
down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
conditional cell format.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
conditional cell format.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the conditional cell format.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional cell
format.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional cell format.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-11
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet
cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Number
This area displays different content for different number categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Negative Numbers
Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This drop down
list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Decimal Places
Use this drop down list to specify the desired number of decimal places. This drop
down list is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent categories.
? Scale
Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example,
when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed
as 10. This drop down list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Currency Symbol
Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option
does not convert one currency to another. Therefore be careful to apply the
appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency
category.
? Show <letter> for <Scale>
Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells.
For example, Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check box is
Create Conditional Cell Format page
4-12 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
labeled Show 'K' for Thousands If you select this check box and apply the
settings, the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This check box
is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value
other than None.
? Use 1000 Separator
Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For
example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value
10000 is displayed as 10,000. This check box is displayed only for the Number
category and is locale (or language) dependent.
? Insert
Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the
item to the Edit Custom Format field. This drop down list is displayed only for the
Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting, you can enter an Oracle
number format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by
using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the
settings in the selected category are applied.
Date
This area displays different contents for different date categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which Category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Date Options
Use this list to select a format for dates. This list is displayed for the Date category.
? Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for time values. This list is displayed for the Time
category.
? Date Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This list is displayed for
the Date & Time category
? Insert
Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the
Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting, you can enter an Oracle date
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by using the
Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in
the selected category are applied.
Create Conditional Cell Format page
Dialog reference 4-13
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Create Conditional Header Format page
4-14 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Create Conditional Header Format page
Use this page to create a conditional header format that will display a header cell in a
specified format depending on a condition that you define on this page.
For example, to format the header cell text of the Year column in blue if the Year is
2000, you might:
? Select Year from the Dimension drop down list.
? Select the Selected Calendar Year check box.
? Move 2000 from the Available field to the Selected field.
? Select a blue color from the Font color picker.
This page is also displayed as:
Edit Header Format page
For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:
"Create Conditional Cell Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to enter a name for the conditional header cell format. Discoverer Viewer
generates a default name, which you can edit.
Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed with crosstab worksheets.
Apply format to
Use these radio buttons to specify the header values to apply the conditional header
format to as follows:
? Entire <Table/Crosstab> or Any <Dimension>
Use this radio button to apply the current format to any value. For example, if the
selected dimension was Region, the current format would be applied to the header
in any region in the worksheet (e.g. East, West, or Central).
? Selected <Columns> or Selected <Dimensions>
Use this radio button to apply the current format to one or more available values.
For example, if the selected dimension is Region, the values for Region might be
East, West, and Central.
Use this drop down list to select an item or measure to apply a conditional format to.
Available/Selected
The Available field shows the members in the worksheet. The Selected field shows
those members to which the conditional format will apply.
Use these fields to move the members to and from the Available and Selected fields.
Create Conditional Header Format page
Dialog reference 4-15
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
conditional header format.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
conditional header format.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the conditional header format.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional header
format.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional header format.
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected header cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected header cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Create Stoplight Format page
4-16 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Create Stoplight Format page
Use this page to create a new stoplight format for a worksheet item. For example, you
might want to categorize sales figures as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable.
This dialog is also displayed as:
Edit Stoplight format page
For more information, see:
"What is a conditional format?"
"What is a stoplight format?"
"Format Worksheet data links page"
"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
"Create Conditional Header Format page"
"Create Stoplight Format page"
Name
Use this field to specify a name for the stoplight format. The name you specify is used
to identify the conditional format on other pages. If you want to use the name that
Discoverer Viewer has created, you use the value already in the field.
Thresholds
Use these fields to specify the ranges for the unacceptable and desirable categories.
? Unacceptable
Use this field to enter the threshold for the unacceptable category. For example,
enter 5000 to treat values of 5000 or less as unacceptable.
? Acceptable
This read-only field is populated automatically based on the values that you enter
in the Unacceptable and Desirable fields.
? Desirable
Use this field to enter the threshold for the desirable category. For example, enter
30000 to treat values of 30000 or more as desirable.
Color
Use these icons to display the color picker, which enables you to change the color of
unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable values in all stoplight formats.
Dimension
Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (e.g. Year, Region, City) to which you
can apply the conditional format.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Apply Format to Members
Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension values (e.g. 2002, East, Boston)
to which the format will apply.
Create Stoplight Format page
Dialog reference 4-17
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Edit
Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more
dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if
the member is City, you could select a specific city (e.g. Paris) to apply the conditional
format to that city when the condition becomes true.
Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.
Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit,
Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed.
Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:
? When you have selected more than one range of cells.
In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension
members for the cells.
? When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a
hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected
one of these rows.
For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In
outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo
would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is
too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no
value for cities.
? When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.
For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up
so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not
appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill
down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page
Apply format to
Use these radio buttons to specify the data points to apply the stoplight format to as
follows:
? All Data Points
Use this radio button to apply the current stoplight format to all Data Point values.
? Selected Data Points
Use this radio button to apply the current format to one or more available Data
Points. For example, if the selected data point is Profit Sum, the current format
would be applied to all cells in the Profit Sum column.
Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.
Available/Selected
The Available field shows the Data Points in the worksheet. The Selected field shows
those Data Points to which the stoplight format will apply.
Use these fields to move the Data Points to and from the Available and Selected
fields.
Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.
Drill page
4-18 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Drill page
This page displays the information to enable you to perform a drill by specifying the
drill details and applying the drill to the current worksheet.
Note: This page is not displayed when using an OLAP connection.
Hint: To display this page you use the Tab key to highlight a worksheet cell heading
that has an arrow icon (i.e. a drill icon) then use the Return button.
For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)".
From
This read-only area displays the name of the item being drilled from (e.g. Product
Type).
To
This area displays fields that enable you to select the Type of drill, the hierarchy and
the item you want to drill to.
Type
Use this drop down list to select the Type of drill that you want to use (e.g. Up/Down,
Related Item).
Hierarchy
Use this drop down list to select the hierarchy that is being drilled into.
Apply
Use this drop down list to apply the drill details specified on this page and display the
result of the drill in the worksheet.
Edit Parameters page
Dialog reference 4-19
Edit Parameters page
Use this page to specify parameter values. Parameter values are typically used to:
? provide input to conditions that are used to filter worksheets (e.g. when prompted
to choose a month, you might enter January to analyze January data only)
? provide input to calculations (e.g. when prompted to choose a rolling average
value, you might enter the number 3 to calculate a three month rolling average)
Parameters Needed
This area contains one or more fields into which you enter parameter values. Each
field has a prompt (typically an instruction or question) telling you what value to
enter. For example, if the prompt is 'Please choose a month', enter 'January' to analyze
performance figures for January.
Note: Parameters that are required are shown with an asterisk.
To select parameters to apply to the current worksheet, you:
? use the Go button to display the worksheet using the default parameter values
currently displayed
? use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" where you can
search for and select parameter values from a list of values (LOV)
? enter a value into a text field and click the Go button
Discoverer Viewer might display an <Index and Value> drop down list for a
parameter (for more information, see "About using indexes and values in
parameters").
Note: You specify in Discoverer Plus whether or not the <Index and Value> drop
down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Plus User’s Guide).
Go
Click this button to display the worksheet.
Notes
? You can enter the following reserved words into a parameter field:
? SYSDATE or TODAY
Enter the reserved word SYSDATE or TODAY into a parameter field (must be
of data type DATE) to display worksheet data that matches the system or
today’s date.
? USER
Enter the reserved word USER into a parameter field (must be of the same
data type as the data type of the parameter) to display worksheet data that
matches the current database user.
? NULL
Enter the reserved word NULL into a parameter field (must be of data type
DATE, STRING or NUMERIC) to display worksheet data where the item that
this parameter is based upon has a NULL value.
Edit Parameters page
4-20 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note that the reserved word must have the same data type as the parameter (e.g.
SYSDATE or TODAY can only be used with a parameter that has the data type
DATE).
Note: You can enter reserved words using upper or lower case letters. However,
you must not enter any additional text or text symbols. For example, you cannot
use NULL% or ’NULL’. Discoverer would treat NULL% as a text string and not as
a reserved word.
? If a Discoverer List Of Worksheets portlet includes a worksheet that has
parameters with lists of values (LOV) (where a default value is not specifed for
each parameter), Discoverer displays a "404 Not Found" error when you do the
following:
1. Select the List Of Worksheets portlet link to display the worksheet in
Discoverer Viewer.
2. Click on the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to display
the parameter values from a LOV.
To resolve this issue after launching Discoverer Viewer, run the worksheet again
by pressing the Go button (you might need to enter some parameter values before
pressing Go), then use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to
search for, and select parameter values from a LOV.
Note: This issue does not arise when a default value is specified for each
parameter.
Error page
Dialog reference 4-21
Error page
This page displays text that describes the error encountered and enables you to
reconnect to Discoverer using the Connect button.
Error Encountered
Connect
Use this button to reconnect to Discoverer.
Hint: You might be able to use the Back button of the Browser to display the previous
page that caused Discoverer to display this error page. However, this might not
resolve the problem and if not, you should use the Connect button on this page to
connect to Discoverer again.
Export Ready page
4-22 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Export Ready page
This page enables you to display and save the exported document in the format that
you chose in the "Choose export type page".
Click to view or save
Use this button to open the exported document in the appropriate helper application.
For example, if you export a worksheet in PDF format, if you click this button
Discoverer will display the exported document using Adobe Acrobat. You can then
use Adobe Acrobat to view or save the exported worksheet.
The behavior that occurs after you click the Click to view or save button depends on
the helper applications (e.g. Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, Excel) that are specified in your
operating system for different file types (i.e. MIME Type settings).
Any of the following behaviors might occur after you click the Click to view or save
button:
? the worksheet opens in an application embedded in the browser
? the worksheet opens in an application
? the operating system displays a dialog where you can save the worksheet in the
exported format
Note: Before you can open worksheets in Discoverer Viewer, you must have made
the recommended configuration settings to your operating system, browser (e.g.
Internet Explorer) and spreadsheet application (e.g. Microsoft Excel). For more
information, see "How to configure a client machine to automatically open
exported Excel files".
Format Cells page
Dialog reference 4-23
Format Cells page
Use this page to specify font, border, and number format options for selected cells in a
crosstab worksheet.
For more information about worksheet formatting, see:
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
"What is a conditional format?"
"What is a stoplight format?"
Bold
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the
selected worksheet cells.
Italic
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the
selected worksheet cells.
Underline
Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format
from the selected worksheet cells.
Background
Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the selected worksheet
cells.
Font
Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the selected worksheet cells.
Border
Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the
selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Style
Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Line color
Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for
the selected worksheet cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Outline, Bottom, top, Left, Right
Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet
cells.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Format Cells page
4-24 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Number
This area displays different content for different number categories.
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Negative Numbers
Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This field is
displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Decimal Places
Use this drop down list to specify the example that has the desired number of
decimal places. This field is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent
categories.
? Scale
Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example,
when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed
as 10. This field is displayed for Number and Currency categories.
? Currency Symbol
Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option
does not convert one kind of currency to another. You should be careful to apply
the appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency
category.
? Show <letter> for <Scale>
Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells.
For example, when Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check
box is labeled Show 'K' for Thousands. If the you select this check box and apply
the settings, then the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This
field is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value
other than None.
? Use 1000 Separator
Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For
example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value
10000 is displayed as 10,000. This field is displayed only for the Number category,
and is locale (or language) dependent.
? Insert
Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the
item to the Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed only for the Custom
category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting you can enter an Oracle number
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using
the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Format Cells page
Dialog reference 4-25
Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the
settings in the selected category are applied.
Date
This area displays different content for different date categories.
Categories
Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate
controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be
displayed:
Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:
? Date Options
Use this list to select a format for dates. This field is displayed for the Date
category.
? Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for time values. This field is displayed for the Time
category.
? Date Time Options
Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This field is displayed for
the Date & Time category
? Insert
Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the
Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
? Edit Custom Format
If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting you can enter an Oracle date
format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using
the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.
Note: Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in
the selected category are applied.
Notes
? This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you
cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (e.g. #330033
for the color black)
Format Worksheet data links page
4-26 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Format Worksheet data links page
Use the following links to display help pages that contain information about the
following Discoverer Viewer Formatting pages:
? "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"
? "Create Conditional Cell Format page"
? "Create Stoplight Format page"
? "Format Cells page"
Logged Out page
Dialog reference 4-27
Logged Out page
This page is displayed when you click the Exit link in a worksheet and Discoverer logs
you out and closes your session.
Click here to log in again
Use this link to display the Connect to OracleBI Discoverer page where you can
reconnect to Discoverer.
Multiple Sort page
4-28 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Multiple Sort page
This page enables you to specify how Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in
worksheet columns.
First Sort, Second Sort, Third Sort
These rows determine the priority in which sorts are applied to the displayed data.
Column Header
Use the drop down list to select the column that you want to sort by.
Sort Order
Use this drop down list to select a value that determines the order in which Discoverer
will display column values.
Discoverer displays different values in this drop down list depending on whether the
data type of the selected Column Header is numeric or alphanumeric, as follows:
? Ascending or Descending
These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is numeric
(e.g. Profit Sum, Year).
? No Sort Order
This sort option is displayed for all column data types (i.e. for both numeric and
alphanumeric data).
? A-Z or Z-A
These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is
alphanumeric (e.g. Region, City).
Sort Type
Use this drop down list to select a value that determines whether or not Discoverer
displays the Column Header data sorted in groups. For example, if you selected
Group from this drop down list and Department was already selected from the
Column Header drop down list, Discoverer will display data grouped by Department.
Note: Discoverer enables you to apply the Group value only when you select Group
from the drop down list in the First Sort row.
Discoverer displays the following values in the drop down list:
? Normal
Discoverer displays data sorted by the selected Column Header.
? Group
Discoverer displays data in groups based on the value selected in Column Header.
Hide Column
Use this check box for Discoverer to sort the table based on the values selected, but not
to display any data for this column.
PDF Ready page
Dialog reference 4-29
PDF Ready page
This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the
worksheet is complete.
Use the link on this page to display a PDF version of the entire worksheet. The PDF
version was generated using the options specified on the "Printable Page Options
page: Content tab" and "Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can
use the printable PDF version of the worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Click to view or save
Use this link to display the printable PDF version of the worksheet.
When you display the printable PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save
a copy as a PDF file.
Return to worksheet
Use this button to close the PDF Ready page and display the current worksheet.
PDF Sample Ready page
4-30 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
PDF Sample Ready page
This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the first 50
rows of the worksheet is complete. You can use this preview PDF output to confirm
that the settings you specified have produced the output you expected.
Use the link on this page to display a preview PDF version of the worksheet (based on
the first 50 rows of data in the worksheet). The preview PDF is generated using the
options specified on the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" and "Printable
Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can use the preview PDF version of the
worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Open PDF to view sample
Use this link to display the preview PDF version of the worksheet.
When you display the preview PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save
a copy as a PDF file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate and display a printable PDF version of the entire
worksheet.
Preferences page
Dialog reference 4-31
Preferences page
Use this page to specify the following settings for Discoverer Viewer:
? "Query Governor"
? "Measure Unit"
? "Summary Data"
? "Fan Trap Detection"
Query Governor
The Query Governor preferences enable you to set limits on the amount of time a
query should take to complete. Use these preferences to limit the time you wait for
Discoverer to run a query. These preferences set time and size limits on data as it is
being retrieved from the database.
Warn me if predicted query time exceeds:
Select this option for Discoverer to display a message if the estimated query
completion time exceeds the number of seconds that you specify here.
Prevent queries from running longer than:
Select this option for Discoverer to cancel a query that runs longer than the time
specified here. Discoverer will display a message informing you if the query exceeds
the specified time, then Discoverer cancels the query. Select this option if long running
queries might affect server performance.
Limit retrieved query data to:
This option sets the maximum number of rows to retrieve for a query. If the database
contains more rows than the number required for the query, Discoverer displays a
message informing you that not all data is retrieved, and therefore the displayed data
might not be complete.
Retrieve data incrementally in groups of:
Set this option when the database contains large tables with many rows that might
take a long time to retrieve. With an entry made here Discoverer retrieves rows of data
in increments rather than all at the same time. The smaller the number of rows to
retrieve as a group, the faster the initial retrieval. The default data group size of 100
rows, equates to the first 10 pages of data at 10 rows per page. You can set the number
of rows per page in the "Worksheet Display page" page.
Cancel list-of-values retrieval after:
Use this field to define the maximum time you want to wait while Discoverer retrieves
the values in a list of values.
Measure Unit
PDF measure unit
Use the drop down list to select a unit of measure to display PDF files (i.e. inches and
centimeters).
Preferences page
4-32 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Axis Label
Show Axis Label
Use the drop down list to select whether to display axis labels (i.e. Always, Never,
Worksheet) as follows:
? Always
Axis labels are always shown in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The
saved worksheet value is overridden.
? Never
Axis labels are hidden in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The saved
worksheet value is overridden.
? Worksheet
Axis labels are shown or hidden in crosstab worksheets depending on how they
were last saved.
Summary Data
Using summary data loads data more quickly for the work you do most often. When
you request data for a worksheet, Discoverer first checks summary tables set up by the
Discoverer manager to see if their saved data satisfies your request and, if it does,
loads the appropriate data quickly. If the summary tables' data does not satisfy your
request, Discoverer then redirects the request to the rest of the database and runs the
query using the data in the database.
The preferences that are available to you here depend on whether your database
supports materialized views.
For databases that support materialized views, the following options are available:
Always, when available
Select this option if time-sensitive data is not important for data analysis. Discoverer
Viewer retrieves and displays saved data from the materialized views regardless of
whether the data is current.
Only when summary data is not out of date (stale)
Select this option when time-sensitive data is necessary for worksheets. If the data in
the materialized views is out of date (stale), Discoverer Viewer does not use the
materialized views to fulfill your query request. Instead Discoverer Viewer redirects
your query request to the full database and uses the latest data for the worksheet.
Never
Select this option if you always want Discoverer Viewer to ignore the Summary Tables
and use the latest data.
Warning: Do not use summary tables if you normally work with the most current data
in the database. The saved data in the summary tables remains constant until updated
with new data. summary tables should be updated periodically to incorporate new
data. The Database administrator creates summary tables based on the type of data
and the type of queries you use most often. Normally, summary tables are used for the
queries that take a long time to aggregate and display data. Other queries that require
less time to aggregate and join data might not need summary tables. See your
Database administrator if you want to use summary tables
Preferences page
Dialog reference 4-33
Fan Trap Detection
A fan-trap occurs when the data items in two folders are not directly related (such as
with a Customer ID), but do have a relationship based on the data items in a third
folder.
Discoverer automatically detects and resolves potential fan trap queries into multiple
SQL statements to obtain normal expected results. Where Discoverer cannot resolve a
fan trap, Discoverer prevents the worksheet from running and displays a warning
message dialog.
If you disable fan trap detection, Discoverer still detects potential fan trap
configurations, and resolves them by generating the correct SQL and displaying
correct worksheet data. If Discoverer cannot resolve a fan trap, it displays the
worksheet data and does not display a warning message dialog. The result of
disabling fan trap detection might result in a query based on an unresolvable fan trap
configuration, generating potentially misleading results.
For more information about fan traps, see the Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus
User’s guide.
Enable fan-trap detection
Use this check box to enable fan trap detection.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
4-34 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
Use this page to choose the content options to use for generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.
You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (i.e. the first 50 rows of
data) or to generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having created a
PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample
Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
General Options
Use these options to specify general settings that apply to the entire worksheet.
Page items
Use these radio buttons to specify how to select page items when Discoverer displays
more than one page of data.
? Print current selection of page items
Use this radio button to generate a PDF version for the currently displayed page
items.
? Print all combinations of page items
Use this radio button to generate a PDF version for all page item combinations.
Note: If you select both this radio button and the Print Graph check box,
Discoverer displays a different graph for each page item combination.
Show page items
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print page items when Discoverer displays
more than one page of data.
? On the first page
Use this radio button to print page items only on the first page.
? Never
Use this radio button to not print page items on any pages.
Show title
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print the worksheet title.
? On the first page
Use this radio button to print the worksheet title only on the first page.
? Never
Use this radio button to not print the worksheet title on any pages.
Data
Use these radio buttons to specify how to print the worksheet data.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
Dialog reference 4-35
? Print all rows and columns
Use this radio button to print all data (including data that is currently not
displayed).
? Print only the rows and columns that are displayed in the crosstab or table
Use this radio button to print only the current window of data (e.g. if Discoverer
Viewer is currently displaying rows 50-75 and columns 10-15, then only these rows
and columns will be printed).
Use the following settings to specify general options that apply to the whole
worksheet.
? Print Header
Use this check box to specify whether to print the header.
? Print Footer
Use this check box to specify whether to print the footer.
Table/Crosstab Options
Use these options to specify table or crosstab settings that apply to the whole
worksheet.
? Print Table/Crosstab
Use this check box to specify whether to print the table or crosstab.
? Repeat header cells on every page
Use this check box to specify whether to print repeats of header cells after each
page break.
Graph Options
Use these options to specify graph settings that apply to the worksheet. Discoverer
only displays these options if there is a graph.
? Print graph
Use this check box to specify whether to print the graph.
? Print gradients
Select this check box to specify whether to print the graph with gradients. A
gradient is a variation in color tone that can occur across any area in a worksheet.
Hint: Only use this setting if the printer quality is good. If the printer quality is
good, gradients are more likely to be clearly visible on paper.
Clear this check box to not print the graph with gradients.
Graph size
If you specify that you want to print the graph, specify the graph size by selecting one
of the following controls.
? Actual size
Use this radio button to print the graph with the height and width that is currently
specified in Discoverer Viewer.
? Specified size
Use this radio button to print the graph with a height and width that you specify.
Printable Page Options page: Content tab
4-36 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? Width
Use this field to change the width of the graph.
? Height
Use this field to change the height of the graph.
Note: The default unit of measure (e.g. centimeters, inches) used to print graphs, is
configured by the Discoverer manager (for more information, see the Oracle Business
Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide).
Preview sample
Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the
worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you
specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF
file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save
or print the file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer
displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the file.
Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional
memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To
work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print
again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide. For more information about
changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Dialog reference 4-37
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Use this page to choose the sizing options to use for generating a Portable Document
Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.
You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (i.e. the first 50 rows of
data) or generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having generated a
PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample
Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
For more information, see:
? "How to preview worksheets before printing"
? "How to print worksheets"
Paper Setup
Use these settings to specify the paper size and page orientation for the PDF version
that you use for printing.
? Size
Use this drop down list to choose the paper size from a list of available paper
sizes.
The paper size that you specify here is represented in the preview or printable
PDF version of the worksheet that is generated. When you subsequently print the
PDF version of the worksheet it will appear the same as when viewed in the PDF
version.
Note: The list of available paper sizes displayed here is configured by the
Discoverer manager.
Orientation
Use these radio buttons to specify the orientation for the PDF version that you use for
printing.
? Portrait
Use this radio button to specify the portrait orientation for printing.
? Landscape
Use this radio button to specify the landscape orientation for printing.
Margins
Use these fields to specify the size of the page margins for the PDF version that you
use for printing. Page margins define the width of the border that surrounds the area
where data is printed in a worksheet page. When page margins become narrower, the
area where data is printed becomes greater, enabling more data to fit into on each page
? Top
Use this field to specify the size of the top margin.
? Bottom
Use this field to specify the size of the bottom margin.
? Left
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
4-38 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Use this field to specify the size of the left margin.
? Right
Use this field to specify the size of the right margin.
Note: The default unit of measure (e.g. centimeters, inches) used to print worksheets,
is configured by the Discoverer manager.
Scaling
Use this drop down list to choose the percentage amount to change the size of the
worksheet relative to its original size, for the PDF version that you use for printing.
For example to fit a large worksheet onto a single page you might make it smaller by
using this control.
After you have specified graph and column sizes (i.e. in the "Printable Page Options
page: Content tab" and on this page), scaling can take effect. For example, if the
original graph size is specified as 4 cm by 6 cm and you want the graph size to become
2 cm by 3 cm you can choose the 50% from the list to reduce the relative size of the
graph to 50% of its original size.
Column Sizes
Use these settings to change the width of the columns in your worksheet and specify
whether to wrap the text when it exceeds the specified width, for the PDF version that
you use for printing.
? Column size (e.g. Pixels)
Use each field to enter a number to change the width of the corresponding
column.
Discoverer displays default values for column sizes as follows:
If a column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, that size is displayed here.
If no column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, the default size is calculated
based on the first few hundred rows of data.
? Always wrap text when size exceeds column width
Select this check box to wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a
column. The default value for this check box is to be selected.
Clear this check box to not wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a
column.
Note: When you clear this check box and text is wider than the width of a column,
Discoverer truncates the text.
Preview
Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the
worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you
specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF
file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save
or print the preview PDF file.
Printable PDF
Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer
displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.
Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab
Dialog reference 4-39
Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional
memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To
work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print
again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in
Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Configuration Guide. For more information about
changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".
Query Cancelled page
4-40 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Query Cancelled page
This page is displayed when you cancel a query from the "Query Progress page". This
page will display a text message explaining that this query has been cancelled. You can
rerun the query from this page.
Rerun
Use this button to rerun the query.
Query Confirmation needed page
Dialog reference 4-41
Query Confirmation needed page
This page is displayed when the query estimate is greater than the time set in the Warn
me if predicted query time exceeds: field in the "Preferences page".
Run Now
Use this button to confirm that you want to run the query now.
Query Progress page
4-42 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Query Progress page
Discoverer displays the Query Progress page while a query is running. During this
time you can view the query progress, refresh the query or cancel it.
Note: Discoverer does not display this page with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
Query Progress Indicator
When a query is running, Discoverer displays the query progress while the query
either progresses or is cancelled.
? Estimated Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS
? Elapsed Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS
Cancel
This button cancels the query that is currently running.
Refresh
Use this button to refresh the query. This may be necessary if your browser either does
not update automatically, or is configured so that it will not update automatically.
When might Discoverer display query progress?
Query progress might be displayed when:
? a query runs for more than two seconds
? running a new query
? re-running a query
? drilling
? changing page items
? changing the layout
Save Warning page
Dialog reference 4-43
Save Warning page
This page is displayed when you modify an open worksheet (e.g. drill, change
worksheet options, change the visible rows and columns) and click the Exit, Connect,
or Workbooks link.
Cancel
Use this button to return to the worksheet.
No
Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (i.e. Exit,
Connect, Workbooks), and not save the changes you made.
Yes
Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (i.e. Exit,
Connect, Workbooks), and save the changes you made.
Save Workbook As page
4-44 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Save Workbook As page
This page is displayed when you use the Save as link in the "Worksheet Display page".
This page enables you to save the current workbook and all its worksheets to the
database using a name that you enter.
Workbook Name
Use this field to enter a name that you want to use to save the current workbook.
Search and Select page
Dialog reference 4-45
Search and Select page
Use this page to search lists of values and select the values that you want. For
example, when you choose a parameter that has a long list of values, you might want
to search for values that begin with the letter C, and then select just the values CPM
and CPN and CPO.
For more information about parameters, see:
"Edit Parameters page"
Search in
Use this drop down list (when available) to specify whether you want to display and
select parameter values with or without index numbers (for more information, see
"About using indexes and values in parameters").
Note: You determine in Discoverer Plus whether or not the <Index and Value> drop
down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Business Intelligence
Discoverer Plus User’s Guide).
Search by
Use this drop down list to specify how you want to match values. For example, choose
Starts With and enter 'T' as a Search for value to list only items beginning with the
letter 'T'.
Search for
Use this field to enter the text that you want to match against. For example, enter 'T'
here and choose Starts With in the Search by drop down list to list only items
beginning the letter 'T'.
Go
Use this button to start the search according to the search criteria that you have
specified and display matching values in the Available values list below. If you click
Go when the Search for field is empty, the first group of values in the list is displayed.
Case Sensitive
Use this check box to specify whether you want to match upper and lower case letters
exactly when searching (e.g. when selected, the search term 'New York' would find
'New York', but would not find 'NEW YORK', 'new york', or 'new York').
Available Values
This list displays values that match the search criteria that you have specified, or
values displayed by default when the dialog is first displayed. Use this list to choose
values that you want to select. To choose values, move values from the Available
Values list to the Selected Values list.
Note: You can select more than one value by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking another
value.
Selected Values
Use this list to see which values are currently selected. To deselect values, move values
from the Selected values list to the Available values list.
Search and Select page
4-46 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Previous
Use this button to display the previous set of values, if the list of values is longer than
the window.
Next
Use this button to display the next set of values, if the list of values is longer than the
window.
Send Email page
Dialog reference 4-47
Send Email page
Use this page to send an exported worksheet as an attachment to an email message.
The worksheet will be sent in the file format that you selected in the "Choose export
type page" page.
For more information, see:
"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"
"What are the implications of using different export formats?"
"Choose export type page"
Sender
Use this field to enter the email address details of the sender.
Recipient
Use this field to enter the email address details of the recipient.
CC
Use this field to enter the email address details of any recipients that you want to
include in your c.c. list.
BCC
Use this field to enter the email address details of any hidden recipients that you want
to include in your b.c.c. list.
Subject
Use this field to enter the text that will be displayed in the subject line of the email
message.
Body
Use this field to enter the email message text.
View Attachment
Use this field to display the worksheet details in whatever export format you specified
in the "Choose export type page".
Finish
Use this button to send the email message to the specified recipients.
Table / Crosstab Layout page
4-48 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Table / Crosstab Layout page
This page is displayed when you click the Layout and More links at the top of a
worksheet.
This page enables you to rearrange items on a table or crosstab using either the Layout
tool or the arrow icons. This page also enables you to specify whether to show or hide
page items.
Layout
The Layout tool enables you to rearrange table or crosstab items using the drop down
lists.
Use the drop down lists to select values that determine whether to move a selected
table or crosstab item or swap one item with another, and where and what to move or
swap. You can continue to move or swap table or crosstab items using the drop down
lists until you have achieved an acceptable table or crosstab layout.
For more information about using the drop down lists on this page, see the description
under the Layout heading in "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
Show Page Items
Use this check box to show or hide page items in the worksheet.
<Arrow icons>
Use the arrow icons as an additional method of rearranging worksheet items.
Discoverer Viewer displays the arrow icons in a sample layout that indicates the
relative positions of worksheet page items, column headers, and rows when you have
made changes to the table or crosstab layout.
Use the arrow icons to do the following (for both tables and crosstabs):
? move a page item to a column
? move a column to a page item
? move a column to the right or to the left of the adjacent column
Use the arrow icons to do the following (for crosstabs only):
? move a page item to a row
? move a page item to a column
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum, Cost) to a page item
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum) to a row
? move a measure (e.g. Profit Sum) to below the adjacent column
? move a column to a row
? move a column to above the adjacent column
? move a column to below the adjacent column
When you are satisfied with the layout of your table or crosstab, click Apply to display
the table or crosstab using the settings you have just specified.
Worksheet Display page
Dialog reference 4-49
Worksheet Display page
This page displays the worksheet data.
Use this page to work with worksheet data and graphs (e.g. to save, print, export and
email worksheets and graphs, change the layout, and apply formatting). This page
also enables you to select other worksheets to display from the current workbook.
For more information, see:
? "How to change the layout of a worksheet"
? "How to sort items and measures in a worksheet"
? "Table / Crosstab Layout page"
For more information about the links, tools, and controls displayed on this page, use
the links below.
"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"
? "Actions"
? "Worksheets"
"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"
? "<Hide/Show arrow icons>"
? "<Parameter tools>"
? "Page Items"
? "<Drill arrow icons>"
"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"
? "Table/Crosstab"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Format"
? "Stoplight"
? "Sort"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Rows and Columns"
"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"
? "Graph"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Sort"
? "Graph"
? "Saved Selections"
Worksheet Display page
4-50 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? "Data"
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
Dialog reference 4-51
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
Discoverer displays the following links on each worksheet page:
? "Actions"
? "Worksheets"
Actions
Use the following links to carry out actions in the current worksheet:
? Rerun Query
Use this link to query the database and display the data for the current worksheet.
This action does not undo any changes made to the worksheet that have not yet
been saved.
Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections.
To query the database for worksheets created using OLAP connections, you must
open the worksheet again.
? Save
Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database. This link is only
displayed if you own the workbook.
? Save as
Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database using a different name.
? Revert to saved
Use this link to query the database and revert all changes made to the worksheet
that occurred since the last time the worksheet was saved to the database. For
example, if you drill into the worksheet and then apply a cell format, the Revert to
saved link would undo both these changes.
? Printable page
Use this link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" where you
to can set appropriate print options and generate and preview a PDF version of
the current worksheet for printing.
? Export
Use this link to export the current worksheet for users to open using other
applications. A number of different formats are available.
For more information, see "Choose export type page".
? Send as email
Use this link to send the current worksheet as email, by exporting it to a specified
format and then sending it as an attachment to a specified recipient.
For more information, see "Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)".
? Link layout
Use this link to link the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you
select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab can be displayed in
the graph.
Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)
4-52 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP
connections.
? Unlink layout
Use this link to unlink the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you
select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab will not be
displayed in the graph.
Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP
connections.
? Worksheet options
Use this link to display the "Worksheet Options page", where you can select
display options to use in worksheets. For example, whether to display or hide the
worksheet title.
Worksheets
Use these links to display another worksheet from the current workbook.
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
Dialog reference 4-53
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
You can use the following graph tools in a worksheet:
? "Graph"
? "Tools"
? "Layout"
? "Sort"
? "Graph"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Data"
Graph
Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph data.
Tools
Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph tools.
Layout
Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet graph data.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Use the drop down lists to:
? move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet
Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to
move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to
using the third drop down list.
? swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another
Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row,
column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to
swap with from the third drop down list.
Sort
Use this tool to sort the graph data based on selected criteria in a worksheet. The
changes made here do not affect settings made by the Table/Crosstab sort tool.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Sort
Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the
worksheet data.
? Based on
Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order
for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.
? For
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
4-54 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting
based on measure values.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? Order
Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the
Sort drop down list.
? Go
Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.
? More
Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how
Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.
Note: This link is not displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Graph
Use this tool to select the graph type and specify how the graph is displayed as
follows:
? Type
Use the first drop down list to select the graph type (e.g. Pie).
Use the second drop down list to select the graph subtype (e.g. Multiple Pie).
? Width
Use this field to change the display width of the graph. If you change the width,
Discoverer will scale the graph height maintaining the height-to-width aspect
ratio.
? 3D Effect
Use this check box to give the graph the appearance of depth.
? Gradient
Use this check box to display the chart using a graded shading effect.
Saved Selections
Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in
the worksheet graph.
Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a
saved selection.
? Action
Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the
members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.
– Add
Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.
– Keep
Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)
Dialog reference 4-55
Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were already
present in the current selection and discards all other members.
– Remove
Removes from the current selection any members that are specified in the
saved selection.
– Replace with (Default value)
Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved
selection.
? Saved Selection
Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.
? Go
Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.
Data
Use this tool to include in the graph either all the data in the worksheet, or just the
rows and columns that are currently being displayed.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? All data
Use this radio button to include in the graph all the worksheet data.
? Displayed data
Use this radio button to include in the graph only worksheet data from the rows
and columns that are currently being displayed in the worksheet. For example, if
Discoverer Viewer is currently displaying rows 50 to 75 and columns 10 to 15, only
the data in these currently displayed rows and columns will be included in the
graph.
? Go
Use this button to apply the settings to the graph in the current worksheet.
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
4-56 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
You can use the following controls and tools in a worksheet page:
? "<Hide/Show arrow icons>"
? "<Parameter tools>"
? "Page Items"
? "<Drill arrow icons>"
<Hide/Show arrow icons>
Use the Hide/Show arrow icons to hide or show information in the current worksheet.
For example, click the arrow next to the word Crosstab to show (or hide) the crosstab.
For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".
<Parameter tools>
If the worksheet uses parameters, the following controls are available:
? Parameters
Use the arrow icon to display or hide the current parameter values.
? <flashlight icon>
Use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" where you can
search for and select parameter values to apply to the worksheet. For more
information, see the "Edit Parameters page". Click Go to apply the changes.
Page Items
Discoverer displays page item selectors above each view of the worksheet data (e.g.
crosstab, graph). The page item selectors enable you to select items to apply to the
whole worksheet (e.g. if the Page Items list displays departments, select a department
from the list to display data for the selected department).
Use the drop down list to choose a page item value to apply to a worksheet.
Up/Down links
Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more rows than
it can display in one page of data.
Use the drop down list to select a value that determines how to display subsequent
worksheet rows. For example, if you selected the value 3 rows, Discoverer Viewer
would display the next 3 rows of data.
Left/Right links
Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more columns
than it can display in one page of data.
Use the drop down list to choose a value that determines how to display subsequent
worksheet columns. For example, if you selected the value 3 columns, Discoverer
Viewer would display the next 3 columns of data.
<Drill arrow icons>
Discoverer Viewer enables you to drill into items to display additional data.
Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)
Dialog reference 4-57
Use the drill arrow icons to display lower or higher levels of detail when using
relational and OLAP connections as follows:
? When using a connection to a relational datasource, use a drill arrow icon to
display a popup drill menu from where you can choose one of the following drill
options:
? Collapse
Use this option to drill up and hide the drill items displayed at this level of the
drill hierarchy. Collapse also hides all drill items from lower levels in the drill
hierarchy.
? All Hierarchies
Use this popup menu to display a further popup menu of all the hierarchies
created in the current business area (e.g. a date hierarchy). You can choose a
hierarchy and then choose the hierarchy item you want to display in the
worksheet.
? Drill to Related
Use this popup menu to drill to related items from folders in the current
business area that are not already included in the worksheet.
If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the
tab key. When you press enter the "Drill page" is displayed. Use the Drill page to
review the drill options and apply a new drill.
? When using a connection to an OLAP datasource, use a drill arrow icon to drill up
or down the drill hierarchy to display different levels of detail as follows:
? Expand
Use this option to drill down to display data at the next level in the drill
hierarchy.
? Collapse
Use this option to drill up and hide data from the current level in the drill
hierarchy, and from all lower levels in the drill hierarchy.
If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the
tab key. When you press enter Discoverer will drill up or down depending on the
following conditions:
? If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has not been expanded to a lower
level of detail, Discoverer Viewer will drill down to display data at the next
level down in the drill hierarchy.
? If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has already been expanded to a
lower level of the drill hierarchy, then Discoverer Viewer will hide the data at
this level and all lower levels.
About drilling out to view files created in other applications
Use the drill-out icon in a data cell to view files created in other applications. For
example, clicking the symbol for a MS Word file launches MS Word within the browser
and displays the file.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
4-58 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
When a query has run, Discoverer displays the worksheet data as either a table or a
crosstab, depending on how the worksheet was created:
? A table arranges items in columns. Items appear as column headings along the top
axis. A table is typically used to list all information that fits the query criteria (e.g.
sales transactions for the last month).
Note: Tables are only displayed in worksheets that use relational data.
? A crosstab arranges items or measures in rows and columns. A crosstab is
typically used to display summary information and shows how one item or
measure relates to another (e.g. sales by region by month).
Note: Crosstabs can be displayed in worksheets that use both OLAP and relational
data.
Table/Crosstab
Use the arrow icon to display or hide table or crosstab data.
Tools
Use the arrow icon to display or hide the table or crosstab tools.
Discoverer provides the following table/crosstab tools:
? "Layout"
? "Format"
? "Stoplight"
? "Sort"
? "Saved Selections"
? "Rows and Columns"
Layout
Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet data.
Use the drop down lists to:
? move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet
Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to
move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to
using the third drop down list.
? swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another
Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row,
column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to
swap with, from the third drop down list.
Use the More link to display the "Table / Crosstab Layout page", which enables you to
rearrange the layout of worksheet data.
Format
Use this tool to format selected worksheet data cells.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
Dialog reference 4-59
? <bold>, <italic> and <underline> buttons
Use these buttons to apply bold, italic and underline formats to the selected
worksheet cells.
? Number
Use this field to select a number format from the drop down list, to format the data
in the worksheet (e.g. currency, percentages).
Use the Go button to apply the number formatting to the selected cells.
? Background
Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a background color.
Use the Go button to apply the background color to the selected cells.
? Font
Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a font color.
Use the Go button to apply the font color to the selected worksheet text.
? More
Use this link to display the "Format Cells page" where you specify format options
for selected crosstab worksheet cells.
? Create Conditional Format
Use this link to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", where you can
create a new conditional format to highlight worksheet values.
? Conditional Formats
Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where
you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.
Stoplight
Use this tool to define a stoplight format to categorize data for the current worksheet.
Discoverer can apply one of three stoplight colors to worksheet data depending on the
value of the data. The stoplight colors represent unacceptable, acceptable, and
desirable data ranges.
? Format
Use this field to specify what to apply the stoplight format to (e.g. selected cells, all
worksheet cells).
? Unacceptable
Use this field to enter a value that specifies the unacceptable values of the
stoplight range. When the value of worksheet data is less than or equal to this
value, Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon.
To change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon
and select a new color from the color palette.
? Acceptable
Discoverer determines this range as falling between the unacceptable and
desirable values. When worksheet data values falls within this range, Discoverer
displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To change the
color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and select a new
color from the color palette.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
4-60 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
? Desirable
Use this field to enter a value that specifies the desirable values of the stoplight
range. When the value of worksheet data is greater than or equal to this value,
Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To
change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and
select a new color from the color palette
? Go
Use this button to apply the stoplight settings for the specified data values in the
current worksheet.
? Conditional Formats
Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where
you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.
Sort
Use this tool to sort the worksheet data based on selected criteria in a worksheet.
Note: This tool is displayed with table worksheets and with worksheets created using
OLAP connections.
? Sort
Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the
worksheet data.
? Based on
Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order
for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? For
Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting
based on measure values.
Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP
connections.
? Order
Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the
Sort drop down list.
? Go
Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.
? More
Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how
Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.
Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections.
Saved Selections
Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in
the worksheet.
Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)
Dialog reference 4-61
Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.
? Dimension
Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a
saved selection.
? Action
Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the
members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.
– Add
Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.
– Keep
Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were already
present in the current selection and discards all other members.
– Remove
Removes any members from the current selection that are specified in the
saved selection.
– Replace with (Default value)
Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved
selection.
? Saved Selection
Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.
? Go
Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.
Rows and Columns
Use this tool to set the number of rows and columns you want to display on each page.
You can change the default number of rows and columns that Discoverer displays here
(for more information, see "Preferences page").
? Rows
Use this field to set the maximum number of rows of data that Discoverer will
display on a page.
? Columns
Use this field to set the maximum number of columns of data that Discoverer will
display on a page.
? Go
Use this button to apply the numbers of rows and columns that you want to
display on each page in the current worksheet.
Worksheet List page
4-62 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet List page
This page enables you to search for and select a worksheet to display, from the list of
available workbooks. A workbook contains worksheets that display related data, but
combined using different perspectives. For example, a workbook may show the sales
history for Product A. However, one worksheet could show sales for last month,
another worksheet could show sales compared to the same month five years ago, and
another could show sales per region. All three worksheets contain sales data related to
Product A, but each is organized to show a different perspective.
For more information, see:
? "How to open a Discoverer worksheet"
Search
You can select workbooks either from a list of available database workbooks or from a
list of scheduled workbooks that have already run (scheduled workbooks are not
available for OLAP connections).
Use the Search drop down list to display the available Database Workbooks or
Scheduled Workbooks.
? Database Workbooks
Discoverer will query the database to display the latest data, and the results are
not stored.
? Scheduled Workbooks (not available with OLAP connections)
Discoverer has already run the query at a predetermined time and the results have
been stored in the database.
Use the Search field to refine the list of workbooks to display in the Result List. Enter
partial or full details for any matching workbook names you want to display and click
the Go button. The Search field is case insensitive.
Note: Wildcards such as " * ? % " etc. are unnecessary and should not be used in the
search.
Result List
The list of workbooks displayed in this area will include workbook names that match
the details entered in the Search field.
Expand All/Collapse All
Use these links to display or hide all workbook and worksheet details.
Use the Expand link to display workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.
Use the Collapse All link to hide workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.
Discoverer Workbooks
Use this link to display all Discoverer workbooks.
Note: Discoverer only displays this link after you use the target icon in the Focus
column to display the details of a specific workbook (for more information, see the
Focus column).
Worksheet List page
Dialog reference 4-63
Focus
Use the target icon to hide details for all folders/workbooks except the one selected.
Name
Use the arrow icons to display or hide workbook and worksheet details.
Use a link in the Name column to display a worksheet.
Description
This column displays the description of the workbook.
Owner
This column displays the name of the owner of the workbook.
Last modified
This column displays the date that the workbook was last modified.
Worksheet Options page
4-64 Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Viewer User’s Guide
Worksheet Options page
This page enables you to change some settings related to the current worksheet.
Display Options
Title
Use this check box to display the title in the worksheet.
Table/Crosstab
Use this check box to display the table or crosstab data in the worksheet (displayed
with Oracle Applications or relational database connections).
Use this radio button to display the crosstab data (displayed with worksheets created
using OLAP connections).
Graph
Use this check box to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with Oracle
Applications or relational database connections).
Use this radio button to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with
worksheets created using OLAP connections).
Both
Use this radio button to display the graph and the crosstab data in the worksheet (only
displayed with OLAP connections).
Text Area
Use this check box to display the text area in the worksheet.
Sheet Options
Show axis labels
Use this check box to display crosstab header labels in the worksheet.
Show null values as
Where no data is returned for a field in a worksheet you can define here how the data
is displayed. For example, if you enter 'Zero' in this field, worksheets will display the
word 'Zero' where no data is returned.
Show values that cannot be aggregated as:
When a worksheet tries to aggregate an item that cannot be aggregated (for example
Rank), you can define here how the data is displayed. For example, if you enter 'N/A'
in this field, worksheets will display the text 'N/A' where the data cannot be
aggregated.
Index-1
Index
C
cells
formatting, 3-8
changing layout
in worksheets, 3-18
conditional formats
activating and deactivating, 3-10
changing the precedence of, 3-11
creating, 3-11
deleting, 3-13
editing, 3-13
using, 3-9
conditional header format
creating, 3-12
what is it?, 3-10
connecting directly
about starting Discoverer Viewer, 2-5
connections
about (see Discoverer connections), 2-1
crosstab worksheets, 1-6
cube
about components, 1-6
D
database accounts
about, 2-8
dimension
about dimension attributes, 1-7
about hierarchies, 1-7
Discoverer
about, 1-1
changing passwords, 2-12
components, 1-1
how to change passwords, 2-12
how to exit, 2-7
how to start, 2-2, 2-3
Discoverer connections
about, 2-1
about public, 2-12
changing EULs, 2-13
creating, 2-8
deleting, 2-11
editing, 2-10
Discoverer portlets
error workaround when launching worksheets in
Viewer with parameter LOVs, 4-19
Discoverer Viewer
about, 1-1
new features, 1-4
why use, 1-2
drill page
dialog information, 4-18
how to display, 4-56
drilling
differences between relational and OLAP
connections, 4-56
drilling down in worksheets, 3-17
drilling up in worksheets, 3-18
in Discoverer Viewer, 3-17
E
sending worksheets in an email, 3-8
email worksheet
in html format, 4-5
End User Layer
about, 2-8
EUL
about, 2-8
exiting Discoverer
how to exit, 2-7
export
configuring a client machine to open exported
Excel files, 3-7
export formats
the implications of using different export
formats, 3-5
export worksheet
in html format, 4-5
F
format
formatting worksheet items and cells, 3-8
frequently asked questions, 2-7
G
graphs
Index-2
displaying and hiding, 3-15
editing, 3-14
using in Discoverer Viewer, 3-14
H
html worksheets
note about exporting and emailing, 4-5
I
indexes and values
using in parameters, 3-15
items
formatting, 3-8
M
memory
workaround when more memory is required to
print worksheets with many columns, 4-38
multiple browser windows
opening, 2-2
N
new features
about, 1-4
O
opening
a worksheet, 3-1
P
parameter values
applying different parameter values to
worksheets, 3-16
parameters
LOV error workaround when launching
Discoverer portlet worksheets in
Viewer, 4-19
using in Discoverer Viewer, 3-15
using indexes and values in, 3-15
precedence of a conditional format
changing, 3-11
preview worksheet
before printing, 3-4
printing
worksheets workaround when additional memory
is required to print many columns, 4-38
S
sample pdf
previewing, 3-4
saved selections
applying, 3-19
saving worksheets, 3-3
Single Sign-on
about, 2-13
passwords and Discoverer passwords, 2-13
sorting
items and measures in a worksheet, 3-16
starting Discoverer
how to start, 2-2, 2-3
starting Discoverer Viewer
connecting directly, 2-5
stoplight format
creating, 3-12
what is it?, 3-10
T
table worksheets, 1-5
W
why use Discoverer Viewer?, 1-2
workbooks
about, 1-5
worksheets
about, 1-5
about crosstab, 1-6
about table, 1-5
applying different parameter values to, 3-16
changing the layout, 3-18
drilling down, 3-17
drilling up, 3-18
exporting, 3-5
how to save, 3-3
opening, 3-1
printing, 3-4
sorting items and measures, 3-16
types of, 1-5
doc_414477002.pdf