Tuesday, April 23, 2013

OBIEE11g:Error: "Access denied for user to path

OBIEE11g:Error: "Access denied for user to path /users/xxxx" when accessing User Folders under Catalog Root as BI Administrator


Cause: The 'User Folders' under the Catalog Root already has Full Control permissions for the BI Administrator role for the user when the user is logged into OBI as biadmin and is accessing the Catalog page in Admin View.
The issue occurs because the permissions are not applied to sub-folders and sub-folder items within the actual user's folders in 'User Folders'.

Fix:



  1. Login as biadmin user and in the global header click on Catalog. Catalog page will be displayed.
  2. Select the Admin View from the drop down in the Catalog page.



  3. Under Catalog Root, click on User Folders(root folder of users, not folders inside the User Folders), and click on "Permissions for User Folders" (under Tasks).
  4. You should already see BI Administrator Role with Full Control permissions.
    Select 'Apply permissions to sub-folders' and 'Apply permissions to items within folder'. Click Ok.




  1. Now try to access any of the user's folder under User Folders.
    biadmin user or any other user who has BI Administrator Role should be able to access individual user folders under the 'User Folders' in this Admin View.

The same functionality using Catalog Manager


  1. Open the catalog offline mode using Catalog Manager
  2. Select the specific folder and right click and select Permissions
    Select 'Apply Recursively' then 'Replace All'. Click Ok.




Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy

Monday, April 22, 2013

OBIEE 11.1.1.7 New Features

Here is a list of all the new features introduced with OBIEE 11.1.1.7, the information has been extracted out from several locations within the Oracle BI 11g New Features Oracle Link  suite and summarized so that it is easier to read and with all new features in listed one place. 

The list covers new features for BI Presentation Layer, BI Mobile, BI Server, Server Administrators and BI Publisher. If you notice any other additional 11.1.1.7.


Presentation Features 


1) Recommended Visualizations Feature for Creating Views 
When you create a view, you can choose a recommended view type based on the data in your analysis and, optionally, what you want to use it for (for example, to analyze trends). 
You can choose a suggested "Best Visualization" as well as a "Recommended Subtype". Or you can instead choose the "Recommended Visualization" option, for which you specify your intent for the new view. 


2) Breadcrumbs 

Breadcrumbs have been added to help users understand their current location within Oracle BI content and the path that they have used to navigate Oracle BI content. 
Breadcrumbs display at the bottom of the page, and users can click a breadcrumb or the breadcrumb overflow button to navigate to a specific location on their breadcrumb trail. 

3) Enhancement to Dashboards 

The ability to create custom print layouts for high-fidelity printing of dashboard pages (i.e. automatic creation BI Publisher reports) 
A new default style called FusionFX (instead of "blaf") 
The addition of the Freeze Column option to the Column Properties menu. This option allows you to freeze a column at an edge (top or left) of a dashboard layout 
The addition of "Size" and "Page Size" options that allow you to control the position and size of columns and sections 
The ability to export an entire dashboard or a single dashboard page to Microsoft Excel 2007+ 
A new "Replace Analysis in <Dashboard>" option added to Answers to replace an analysis on a dashboard 
A new "Return to <Dashboard>" option within Answers to return to a dashboard from the Analysis editor 


4) Enhancements to Graphs 

3 new graph types: Waterfall graph, Stacked graph and 100% Stacked graph (the latter two are subtypes of Bar and Area graphs) 
Zoom to data range. This option lets the system evaluate the range of values on an axis, and choose appropriate minimum and maximum values for the scale. This is useful when graphing a set of large values that are all within a small percentage of each other 
Hide sliders in graph views that listen to master-detail events. For graphs in master-detail relationships, if you want to simplify the appearance of an analysis or dashboard, you can hide the slider that is created to accommodate detail columns 

5) Enhancements to Views
 

A new view type named performance tile. This view type displays a single aggregate measure value in a manner that is both visually simple and prominent 
Action links in trellis views. In simple trellis views, action links can now be used on inner graphs per unit, including the context of the outer edges. Action links can also be used in legends and in axis labels. In advanced trellis views, action links can be used in microcharts, where the microchart functions as a single unit (such as an aggregate number), including the context of the outer edges 
For map views, you can now vary the width of a line by measure to accentuate a feature 
You can link a map view as a detail in a master-detail relationship 
Auto Correct option for Map views (as errors in Map views can occur for various reasons). If the issue appears to be related to missing layers, maps, or styles, then it might be possible to correct the map by replacing the missing map view components with similar items that exist in the spatial metadata 
Legend and formatting highlighting 
Null suppression at view and analysis levels. You can set null suppression options at the view level (which overrides the analysis level) for data views including: table, pivot table, trellis (both simple and advanced), graph, gauge, and funnel views when the entire row or column contains nulls 
Ability to include or exclude calculated items and groups at the view level for columns and column headers. Specifically, two new options have been added: Include Custom Member and Exclude Custom Member 


For tables, pivot tables, and advanced trellises:
 

The ability to specify the method to be used to browse data — either scrolling or paging controls 

Resize rows and columns 
Row count. If your table or pivot table view contains a grand total or subtotal on the row edge, the display totals, that is the grand total and subtotals, are now included in the Rows per Page count for content paging. In prior releases, if you had the Rows per Page count set to 10 for example, the table or pivot table would display more than 10 records if display totals were shown in the view results 
For right-click interactions, the ability to specify whether the Hide Columns interaction is available at runtime 


6) Enhancements to Prompts
 :

This release includes an enhancement to the SQL Results prompt option. If you are working with double columns, you can now write the SQL statement so that filtering is done on code values rather than display values 
An enhancement to the prompt constraint option. The prompts designer can now limit a column prompt value list by more than one column 
This release includes enhancements to the parameters for prompted links 



7) New Menu Options for Exporting Views and Results


This release adds the Excel 2007+ and Powerpoint 2007+ options for exporting views and results


8) Total Member Placement for Hierarchical Columns


This release includes an enhancement that allows placement of total members on a hierarchy


9) Browse Catalog Search Results by Object Attributes


The capability to use full-text search to find catalog objects and then filter the search results by attributes. This search is available when the administrator integrates Oracle BI Enterprise Edition with Oracle Endeca Server. After the full-text search results are returned, the Catalog area displays a list of matching items, and the Search pane displays the search results grouped by attribute (that is, Type, Name, Path, and Created By)


10) Navigate from the Total or Grand Total in a Table or Pivot Table


If an analysis contains a total or grand total and the associated attribute or hierarchical column contains an action link or a conditional action link, the action link (or conditional action link) is applied to both the column and the total or grand total






11) New BI Desktop Tools Available for Download 

Oracle Hyperion Smart View for Office 
Oracle Hyperion Financial Reporting Studio (if Essbase is installed) 
Oracle Essbase Studio Console (if Essbase is installed) 
Oracle Essbase Administrative Services Console (if Essbase is installed) 


12) Enhancement to Favorites

This release provides the capability to organize your favorites from the Category Tree area and the Selected Category area in the Manage Favorites dialog. In previous releases, you could organize favorites from the Category Tree area, only


13) Integration of Oracle BI EE with Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System


With this release, OBIEE is integrated with Enterprise Performance Management Workspace (as part of the installation process)

Recommended Visualizations Feature for Creating Views


Breadcrumbs

Enhancement to Dashboards

Enhancements to Graphs


Enhancements to Views

Enhancements to Prompts

New Menu Options for Exporting Views and Results

Total Member Placement for Hierarchical Columns

Browse Catalog Search Results by Object Attributes

Navigate from the Total or Grand Total in a Table or Pivot Table

New BI Desktop Tools Available for Download

Enhancement to Favorites

Integration of Oracle BI EE with Oracle Enterprise Performance Management System

BI Mobile Features


14) Maximize views with double-tap gesture


With this new feature, you can access on your iPad more data—even within dense dashboards—without the restrictions of the smaller form factor. You expand an individual view by double-tapping on it. The individual view then displays within the full screen of the iPad. This maximizing of views can be done on views accessed within a dashboard, and also when viewing an analysis independent of a dashboard. See "Working with Analyses and Dashboards."


15) New view and graph types


The following new graph types are supported with BI Mobile: Performance tiles, Waterfall graphs, 100% stacked graph, Stacked graph


16) Fixed headers


In analyses with fixed headers, you can use a single-finger drag gesture to scroll through data in all directions

17) Changing Orientation


It is now possible to change between landscape and portrait orientation while viewing Oracle BI content


18) Breadcrumbs


You can see the navigation path you have taken while moving through the catalog as a trail of breadcrumbs (near the top of the screen by the Back arrow). In this way, you can see your current location and how you got there, then decide whether to use the Back arrow to navigate in reverse, or to use the Home icon to quickly return to the Home screen


19) Security toolkit


The Oracle Business Intelligence Mobile Security Toolkit provides the ability to generate a signed version of the Oracle BI Mobile HD application. The toolkit includes the instructions and necessary content to build this application making use of Apple's Xcode and the IOS SDKs. The Oracle BI Mobile Security Toolkit will be updated on a regular basis in order to synchronize with the Oracle BI Mobile HD application available on the Apple App store. See "Using the Security Toolkit for Mobile Device Management."
20) Viewing of Oracle BI Publisher reports in dashboards

21) Integrated Full-Text Catalog Search

As in the desktop version of Oracle BI EE, you can use full-text search to find catalog objects in Oracle BI Mobile based on attributes such as author and column name. This search is available after the administrator integrates Oracle BI Enterprise Edition with Oracle Endeca Server

BI Server Features


22) Changing the Repository Password From the Command Line


You can now change the repository password from the command line using the obieerpdpwdchg utility

23) New Options to Enforce Consistent Versions in Multiuser Development Environments

You can now add options to the multiuser development option file to enforce Administration Tool, MUD protocol, and RPD version consistency among MUD developers


24) New Utilities Available to Generate and Compare Logical Column Type Information

You can use the Administration Tool utilities Generate Logical Column Type Document and Compare Logical Column Types to generate a list of logical column types, and then compare it with logical column types in a subsequent version of the repository. You can also use the command-line utility biservergentypexml to generate the list of logical column types


25) Additional Database Support for Cardinality Estimates in Oracle BI Summary Advisor


The Prefer Optimizer Estimates feature, which improves performance by using cardinality estimates during the Summary Advisor process, is now available for Microsoft SQL Server and IBM DB2


26) Oracle BI Summary Advisor Measure Subset Recommendations


Oracle BI Summary Advisor now recommends only aggregates that contain specific measures that are both present in the analyzed query workload, and that can optimize the query workload if aggregates are created



27) Model Check Manager Enhancements

Model Check Manager now runs parallel queries against the database for better performance. In addition, you can now check models from the command line using the validaterpd utility with the -L option

28) Access to Apache Hadoop Data Sources

Oracle BI EE now supports Apache Hadoop as a data source


29) Support for Multi-Source Session Variables

Oracle BI EE now supports session variables that can be populated from multiple data sources and retain values from all source systems

30) NUMERIC Data Type Support for Oracle Database and TimesTen

You can now change a configuration setting to enable NUMERIC data type support for Oracle Database and TimesTen

31) Ability to Map Flex Object Changes Using the biserverextender Utility

You can now use the biserverextender utility to import flex object changes from ADF data sources and map them to the Business Model and Mapping layer and Presentation layer

32) Support for Servlet Communication Between the Oracle BI Server and Oracle OLAP

The Oracle BI Server now uses a servlet for communication with Oracle OLAP data sources, rather than relying on the JavaHost service

Features for Administrators

33) Support for Oracle Endeca Server

You can configure Oracle Endeca Server as a search engine for full-text searching

34) Support for Multitenancy

You can configure Oracle BI EE so that it supports the use of multiple tenants (Dont confuse with multi-instance installs!)

BI Publisher Features 

Connect Directly to Oracle BIEE Subject Areas to Create Reports 
Excel Template Builder Enhancements (supports automatic insertion of fields and repeating groups) 
Layout Editor Enhancements (Time series axis formatting, Hide axis option, Independent axis formatting) 
Enhanced Create Report Guide 
PDF to PCL Conversion for Embedding PCL Commands in RTF Templates 
Support for PDF 1.7 Specification 
MDX Query Builder 
Support for Local XML File Data Source 
Support for CSV File as a Data Source 
Support for Endeca as a Data Source 
Support for Private Data Sources 
Enhancements for Sample Data Usability 


Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy

Friday, April 19, 2013

Pivot Custmization

 Pivot Tables Changing Column Indent Background Color

 
 
In OTN forum so many developers are asking pivot table indent background color change.
 
Here am going to provide solution.
 
Please follow the steps.
 
1. open your report --> Go to Criteria --> Click Result --> Add Static text view and apply the below html code and click the html option in the static view.
 
 
 
<style>.PTCC {background-color:white;border-top:white;border-bottom:white;border-left:white;border-right:white}</style>


 
 
 
 
 
Save the Dashboard and see the output like below.
 
 
 
 

 
Hope this help's
 
Thanks,
Satya
 


 

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Could not create a system user connection to Oracle BI Server during start-up

 Could not create a system user connection to Oracle BI Server during start-up. Please check the error message and try again



Step 1 : Refresh GUID

a)Check if any error message regarding GUID mismatch is seen in the sawlogn located in
 C:\OBI11g\instances\instance3\diagnostics\logs\OracleBIPresentationServicesComponent\coreapplication_obips1 folder

If yes follow these steps to refresh GUID as documented in Oracle Fusion Middleware Administrator's Guide.

Refresh the User GUIDs

1. Open the NQSConfig.INI file for editing. For more information, see "Where are Configuration Files Located?" in Oracle Fusion Middleware System Administrator's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition.

2. Locate the setting FMW_UPDATE_ROLE_AND_USER_REF_GUIDS = NO and change its value to YES.

3. Modify the instanceconfig.xml file to instruct Oracle BI Presentation Server to refresh GUIDs on restart. Edit the file to add the last line in the following instruction.

 <ps:Catalog xmlns:ps="oracle.bi.presentation.services/config/v1.1">
 <ps:UpgradeAndExit>false</ps:UpgradeAndExit>
<ps:UpdateAccountGUIDs>UpdateAndExit<ps:UpdateAccountGUIDs>

4. From a terminal window, stop and restart the managed processes using the opmnctl parameters stopall and startall. You can use the parameter status to verify process status throughout.

The following components are involved: Oracle BI Presentation Server, Oracle BI Server, Oracle BI Scheduler, Oracle BI Cluster Controller, and Oracle BI JavaHost.

5. Edit the NQSConfig.INI file to reset the FMW_UPDATE_ROLE_AND_USER_REF_GUIDS = YES to NO and restart the Oracle BI Servers.

6. Remove, set to none, or comment out the line (see UpgradeAndExit in the following example) added to the instanceconfig.xml file (that instructs Oracle BI Presentation Server to refresh GUIDs on restart).

 <ps:Catalog xmlns:ps="oracle.bi.presentation.services/config/v1.1">
<ps:UpgradeAndExit>false</ps:UpgradeAndExit>
 <ps:UpdateAccountGUIDs>none</ps:UpdateAccountGUIDs>

7. Restart the Presentation Server for the instanceconfig.xml file that was updated.

8. Make sure Oracle WebLogic Server and the system components are also running, if they are not running, restart them.

b) Relogin as the problematic user to verify if you still see the “Unable to Sign In” error

Step 2 : Delete user from rpd if present

a)Launch admin tool and open rpd in OFFLINE Mode

b)Click Manage > Identity > Users tab to verify if you see this user present

Note : Normally you will only see list of users when you open rpd in ONLINE mode. Unless 
the users were created manually in rpd, no users should be visible in OFFLINE mode

c)If the user is present, delete this user entry from rpd

d)save rpd and deploy this changed rpd using EM

e)restart OBI Server component

f)relogin as the problematic user to see if you still see “Unable to Sign In” error

Step 3 : Delete the cacheduserinfo file from webcatalog

If Step1 and Step2 does not work, then do the following

Note : In the example below, catalog name is SampleApp and the user who gets “invalid Login” error is Administrator user.


a)Take a backup of your webcatalog

b)Navigate to
 C:\OBIEE11G\instances\instance2\bifoundation\OracleBIPresentationServicesComponent\coreapplication_obips1\catalog\SampleApp\root\users\Administrator\_prefs
c)Delete the files name cacheduserinfo and cacheduserinfo.atr
d)Launch OBIEE 11.1.1.3 and test by logging in as the specific user.


Hope this help's

Thanks,
Satya

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Failes To start Manged Process

OPMNCTL Failed to Start Managed Process After Maximum Retry Limit on Solaris 10, OBIEE 11g 

If you've happened to glance at Oracle Technical Network, it appears that alot of practitioners are encountering an issue when upgrading their 11g platform to the newest 11.1.1.6.4 version if they're using a Solaris or Linux distribution.

After upgrading to 11.1.1.6.4 some users encounter the following error(s) when trying to start their BI services using opmnctl (Oracle Process Manager and Notification Server) with the 'opmnctl startall' command:
=====================================================================
Response: 1 of 5 processes started.

ias-instance id=instance1
++++++++++++++++++

ias-component/process-type/process-set:
coreapplication_obis1/OracleBIServerComponent/coreapplication_obis1/

Error
--> Process (index=1,uid=1445883997,pid=18522)
failed to start a managed process after the maximum retry limit


Log:
/u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/instances/instance1/diagnostics/logs/OracleBIServerComponent/coreapplication_obis1/console~coreapplication_obis1~1.log


ias-component/process-type/process-set:
coreapplication_obips1/OracleBIPresentationServicesComponent/coreapplication_obips1/


Error
--> Process (index=1,uid=1445883998,pid=0)
Executable file does not have execute permission
/u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/Oracle_BI1/bifoundation/web/bin/sawserver
failed to start a managed process after the maximum retry limit
Executable file does not have execute permission
/u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/Oracle_BI1/bifoundation/web/bin/sawserver

Log:
none

ias-component/process-type/process-set:
coreapplication_obisch1/OracleBISchedulerComponent/coreapplication_obisch1/

Error
--> Process (index=1,uid=1445884000,pid=18523)
failed to start a managed process after the maximum retry limit
Log:
/u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/instances/instance1/diagnostics/logs/OracleBISchedulerComponent/coreapplication_obisch1/console~coreapplication_obisch1~1.log

ias-component/process-type/process-set:
coreapplication_obiccs1/OracleBIClusterControllerComponent/BIClusterController/

Error
--> Process (index=1,uid=1445884001,pid=0)
Executable file does not have execute permission
/u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/Oracle_BI1/bifoundation/server/bin/nqsclustercontroller
failed to start a managed process after the maximum retry limit 

The important things to note are:
You may encounter all, some, or just 1 of your bi_services which fail to start. In the above example, the following services failed to start:
BI Server
BI Publisher
BI Cluster Controller
BI Scheduler
There are actually two issues:
Managed Processes failed to start after the maximum retry limit
Certain executable files do not have the execute permission enabled

Issue 1: Fix Maximum Retry Limit

This can be easily resolved by setting the ulimit at the user level to : ulimit -d unlimited , as outlined in Oracle's note ID: 1292887.1 . Anyone who has worked in OBIEE 10g should be familiar with this as it is required in 10g's installation process as well.

Issue 2: Enable read access on executable files

If you tried re-running opmnctl startall after resolving issue 1, you'll notice that the BI services still fail to run despite increasing the maximum retry limit. Upon examining the log files as outlined in the above error:

u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/instances/instance1/diagnostics/logs/OracleBIServerComponent/coreapplication_obis1/console~coreapplication_obis1~1.log
u01/app/oracle/obiee11g/instances/instance1/diagnostics/logs/OracleBISchedulerComponent/coreapplication_obisch1/console~coreapplication_obisch1~1.log

You'll notice that OPMNCTL still fails because it can't execute: nqsserver, nqscheduler and nqsclustercontroller. Below is the log from the above bullet point #1 :

/export/obiee/11g/Oracle_BI1/bifoundation/server/bin/biserver.sh: nqsserver: cannot execute
12/11/06 15:48:06 Start process

/export/obiee/11g/Oracle_BI1/bifoundation/server/bin/biserver.sh: nqsserver: cannot execute

During the 11.1.1.6.4 upgrade on your Solaris or Linux box, these files became read only!

How to resolve this read only issue:

Navigate to your $ORACLE_HOME/bifoundation/server/bin folder and make the the following files executable by using the chmod +x command: nqscheduler, nqsclustercontroller, nqsserver. These files should have read/write privileges as outlined in the image below:





Now when you run opmnctl startall, all services should execute successfully:




Important:
After the upgrade, it is critical that you follow Oracle's recommended start up & shutdown sequence for weblogic & OBIEE 11g

Start up:


$DOMAIN_HOME/bin/startWebLogic.sh (Weblogic)

$WL_HOME/server/bin/startNodeManager.sh (Node Manager)

$DOMAIN_HOME/bin/startManagedWebLogic.sh bi_server1 http://server.domain:7001 (Managed erver)


$ORACLE_INSTANCE/bin/opmnctl startall (OPMN) 

Shutdown:


$ORACLE_INSTANCE/bin/opmnctl stopall (OPMN)


$DOMAIN_HOME/bin/stopManagedWebLogic.sh bi_server1 t3://host.domain:7001 username password (Managed Server)


$DOMAIN_HOME/bin/stopWebLogic.sh username password t3://host.domain:7001 (Admin Server)

Thanks,


Satya Ranki Reddy

Ticker option

How to use Ticker option on  OBIEE 10g / 11G



OBIEE 11G :

If want to add images in the ticker and depending upon the image click it has to navigate to separate reports. I am using <a href> inside the column formula-

'<a href="../analytics/saw.dll?Answers&Action=results&path=Pathofreport1">
<img src="../analytics/res/s_blafp/images/report_account_appl.jpg" width="150" height="40" />
</a>
<BR>
<a href="../analytics/saw.dll?Answers&Action=results&path=Pathofreport2">
<img src="../analytics/res/s_blafp/images/report_activities.jpg" width="150" height="40" />
</a>'

Check the HTML in the Data format.
And if the image still doesnt appear then restart the Services. And blue border should appear around the image.
Then just have the ticker and it works as expected.











Paths for Custom Images in 11g

Drive:\Oracle\Middleware\Oracle_BI1\bifoundation\web\app\res\s_blafp\images

Drive:\Oracle\Middleware\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\bi_server1\tmp\_WL_user\analytics_11.1.1\7dezjl\war\res\s_blafp\images

Drive:\Oracle\Middleware\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\AdminServer\tmp\.appmergegen_1291264099332\analytics.ear\ukjjdc\res\s_blafp\images



OBIEE 10g  :

Upload the images to following two folders

D:\ORAHome\j2ee\home\applications\analytics\analytics\res\s_oracle10\images (Oracle application server install)

D:\OracleBI\web\app\res\s_oracle10\images (OBIEE install)
 



After adding images to the folders you need to restart the presentation services

. In answers, edit the title view and add the following

fmap:images/your_namename.gif

In dashboard you can use the same with image or link and fmap:impages/your_gif.gif


Hope this help's
Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy








Convert to windows serivice

OBIEE 11.1.1 - How to Install Windows Services For OBIEE 11g AdminServer And BI Managed Server



Following Fusion Middleware 11g components are configured by default as MS Windows Services:
Weblogic Node Manager

(configured as a MS Windows Service if Custom Install route is chosen when installingWeblogic)
FMW 11g Process Manager (OPMN)

(installed as a MS Windows Service if a System Component Instance is configured) 

This article shows how to install the WebLogic AdminServer and BI Managed Server as MS Windows Service for the OBIEE 11g installation.

Pre-requistes: Make sure to define two environment variables below:
1. User Variables
Variable Name : BI_ORACLE_HOME
Variable Value : D:\MIDDLEWAREHOME\Oracle_BI1 (e.g.)

2.System Variables
Variable Name : BI_ORACLE_HOME
Variable Value : D:\MIDDLEWAREHOME\Oracle_BI1 (e.g.)

a. For Administration Server

Note: If you install OBIEE 11g version 11.1.1.5 / 11.1.1.6 with the Simple Install type, then you will only have an AdminServer and not a BI Managed Server; therefore, the Managed Server section would not apply in that specific version and installation type.

1. Configure the boot.properties to create an encrypted method to automatically pass the username and password

Create a text file in the location:

Note: With OBIEE 11.1.1.5 / 11.1.1.6, if you have used the Start BI Services from the menu, then it would have automatically created a boot.properties file the first time it was invoke.


%middleware_home%\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\AdminServer\security\boot.properties
For example, if the middleware_home is c:\BI11g, then the boot properties needs to be here: 

C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\AdminServer\security\boot.properties

Add the following lines:

username=[the Administrator username created during install, e.g weblogic]
password=[the weblogic username password e.g welcome1]


Note: the above credentials are the same as the one provided when the AdminServeris started from Command line.


Do not use or leave the brackets [ ] in the file. They are only used to show what should be entered.
As soon as you start the Admin Server the username and password values in this file will be encrypted


2. Create a command script called installAdmServer_Service.cmd.

Open a text file and input the following lines [edit for your install]:


echo off
SETLOCAL
set DOMAIN_NAME=bifoundation_domain
set USERDOMAIN_HOME=C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain
set SERVER_NAME=AdminServer
set PRODUCTION_MODE=true
call "C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\bin\setDomainEnv.cmd"
call "C:\BI11g\wlserver_10.3\server\bin\installSvc.cmd"
ENDLOCAL


Please note that the middleware home values need to be specific to your install


3. For troubleshooting / debugging purposes it is helpful to redirect standard out and error to a text file.


Although most information is captured in the AdminServer server log files, you will not see all standard out and error when the server is started via a MS Windows Service (unlike when you start an AdminServer in console modefrom the command prompt using startWebLogic.cmd). To redirect standard out to a text file, backup and editinstallSvc.cmd file and change the line at the bottom of the file so it includes the -logparameter. For example:


"%WL_HOME%\server\bin\beasvc" -install
-svcname:"%DOMAIN_NAME%_%SERVER_NAME%"
-javahome:"%JAVA_HOME%" -execdir:"%USERDOMAIN_HOME%"
-extrapath:"%WL_HOME%\server\bin" -password:"%WLS_PW%"
-cmdline:%CMDLINE%
-log:"[middleware_home]\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\AdminServer\AdminServer-stdout.txt" 4. Next, run "installAdmServer_Service.cmd" and the service should be installed, it will have a name like "beasvc %DOMAIN_NAME%_%SERVER_NAME%" (e.g. beasvc bifoundation_domain_AdminServer)


The Service "Startup Type" will be 'Automatic'. Just like any other MS Windows Service you can change the 'Startup Type' to 'Manual'.

Start the Service. The Service will come back fairly quickly to say it is started. The actual time taken for AdminServer to start and reach a state of 'RUNNING' will be longer - perhaps two or three minutes. The state of the server can be monitored by reviewing thestdout txt file.

Notes:
An alternative to the boot.properties approach to specifying the Admin Server weblogicusername / password is to add the following environment variables to your wrapper cmdscript - installAdmServer_Service.cmd


set WLS_USER=[user]
set WLS_PW=[password]


Note: Do not use or leave the brackets [ ] in the file. They are only used to show what should be entered.


To quote the documentation, "The beasvc utility encrypts the login credentials and stores them in the Windows registry."
This is one of two possible methods for avoiding the username/password prompt when a server instance starts. The disadvantage to this method is that changing the username or password for the server instance requires you to delete the Windows service and set up a new one with the new username and password. Instead of this method, you can use a boot identity file. With a boot identity file, you can change the login credentials without needing to modify the Windows service.


b. For Managed Server bi_server1


1. Configure the boot.properties to create an encrypted method to automatically pass the username and password

Create a text file in the location:

%middleware_home%\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\bi_server1\security\boot.properties


For example:

C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\bi_server1

where the BI11g is your middleware home.

Add the following lines:
username=[the Administrator username created during install, e.g weblogic]
password=[the weblogic username password e.g welcome1]


Note: the above credentials are the same as the one provided when the AdminServer is started from Command line.
As soon as you start the BI Managed Server the username and password values in this file will be encrypted.


The alternative approach - like for AdminServer - is to specify WLS_USER and WLS_PW in the wrapper cmd script. See next point


2. Create a command script called installManagedSrvr_Service.cmd which has lines like:


SETLOCAL
set DOMAIN_NAME=bifoundation_domain
set USERDOMAIN_HOME=C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain
set SERVER_NAME=bi_server1
set PRODUCTION_MODE=true
set ADMIN_URL=http://10.220.19.108:7001
call "C:\BI11g\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\bin\setDomainEnv.cmd"
call "C:\BI11g\wlserver_10.3\server\bin\installSvc.cmd"
ENDLOCAL


Notes:


o Before running, change the -log parameter in the installSvc.cmd file to the new location. Fore example:

-log:"[middleware_home]\user_projects\domains\bifoundation_domain\servers\bi_server1\bi_server1-stdout.txt"


o The ADMIN_URL value should reference the AdminServer hostname and listen port


o The SERVER_NAME value is case sensitive. For example, if you are creating a MS Windows service for a different managed server such as 'wls_ods1' then the value needs to match the case of the server name otherwise the startup of the server via the MS Windows service will fail.


o Be careful that there are no trailing spaces after each line in the command file - trailing spaces will cause the managed server to fail at startup. For example a trailing space in the ADMIN_URL value will result in the error

<19-Jan-2010 11:37:58 o'clock GMT> <Error> <EmbeddedLDAP> <BEA-171524> <Cannot determine the Listen address for the Admin server


3. Now run "installManagedSrvr_Service.cmd". The Service should be installed, it will have a name like "beasvc %DOMAIN_NAME%_%SERVER_NAME%" (e.g. - beasvc bifoundation_domain_bi_server1)

The Service "Startup Type" will be 'Automatic'. Just like any other MS Windows Service you can change the 'Startup Type' to 'Manual'.

Start the Service. The Service will come back fairly quickly to say it is started. The actual time taken for the managed server to start and reach a state of 'RUNNING' will be longer - perhaps two or three minutes. The state of the server can be monitored by reviewing thestdout txt file.


4. Ensure you make the managed Server to a manual startup so this service can be started after the AdminServer is started.


5. You may choose to start the managed server from the AdminServer instead of from creating the MS Windows service which is the recommended practice.


6. First start the Node Manager, Admin Server and the Managed Server in this Order.


You can start the BI Server components either from FMW Control or from the OPMN Command line.


Note: If you start the servers as a service, then any parameters, such as JVM parameters need to be modified in the registry at:
If you want to view these parameters, open up the MS Windows Registry Editor (regedit) and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\beasvc <your domain>_<managed server name>\Parameters

Be sure and double-check the parameter settings such as the the path for the JVM, the hostname and the port; otherwise the service may not start properly

Otherwise, the parameters can be modified in the command shell scripts

See the WebLogic documentation for installing the NodeManager as a service.


Important Note: If you get ":java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen space" error in log while starting the service then try to increase the following heap sizes in registry:

CmdLine the “-server -Xms1024m -Xmx1024m -XX:MaxPermSize=512m …
…..”

Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy

Null value replace in Prompt

How to Replace the Null Value in Prompt on OBIEE 11g



I have seen several posts in OTN for how to replace null values in prompt.

There are four options to resolve this issue:

1.- Validate if NULL values are relevant for the business analysis (for some reason in the data warehouse NULL values were stored). If they are not, you have to delete them in Dimensions and Fact tables.

2.- Change the physical table type in your rpd in all tables you have NULL values and use a SELECT like this:

SELECT LOGIN, RESP
FROM NQ_LOGIN_GROUP
WHERE NOT LOGIN IS NULL

Doing this, you only have NON-NULL values in your Multi-select prompt.

3.- Replace the NULL value with a new name like UNSPECIFIED in ALL tables you which are related.

4.- Log an enhancement request to review that multi-select prompts works with NULL values.

5.  This is a knows issue. Check to see if your prompt list has a 'Null' value at the bottom. If Null value is selected in the prompt, it will wipe out the selection.

Instead of using "<<", try selecting all products using control + select and use "<" icon.


Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy

Home Page Customization


OBIEE 11g Home page option customization 


I have seen several post for control or limit access to OBIEE Home page and Header menu options.  we don’t have any easy process to address this in OBIEE. So end up with changing the saw.headers.xml file to just hide/display. Again it is System-wide setting.
In  OBI 11.1.1.6.0 we have flexibility to limit the access to either User/Group/Application role. And also we can do this from OBIEE 11G Presentation service Administration User interface itself.

Thanks,
Satya Ranki Reddy