One of the new features with IBM Cognos Express (CX) 10.2.1 is that it supports Microsoft Analysis Services (MSAS) cubes. So we are going to demonstrate how you can import MSAS cubes in Cognos Express. Of course the process is the same for IBM Cognos Enterprise.
First step is to go to Cognos administration page and select the “Configuration” tab to add a new datasource for the MSAS server.
Click on the new datasource button and the new data source wizard will open. First step is to define the name for the data source. You can also fill in a description and a short explanatory text as screen tip. Then click next.
Then you need to define the type of the data source. CX supports MSAS 2008 and MSAS 2012 through ODBO. Once you select your version of MSAS click next.
In the next dialog you define the connection parameters. You need to fill in the server name and the named instance. If your are not sure about what to enter you can open SQL server management studio and check the connection parameters entered there. The last parameters you have to define are user id and password. But keep in mind that analysis services do not support mixed mode authentication, it only supports windows authentication.
After you complete all the parameters click, test the connection. If everything are defined correctly, you should see the screen below with status succeeded for both dynamic and compatible mode.
If you get status failed, recheck the parameters entered previously and change them according to your installation. Otherwise click finish and in the “configuration” tab you will see the new datasource you just created.
We are now half way there. Now you need to publish a package for the cube/cubes you want to expose to Cognos users. In order to do that you need to open Framework Manager and create a new project. Type the name of the project and make sure the “Use Dynamic Query Mode” box is checked because this option provides great performance. Then click ok.
In the Metadata source dialog choose “Data Sources” and then next.
In the select data source, select the new data source you created in the previous steps. Click next.
Then you will see a list of all available cubes in the MSAS server. In our instance we only have one cube. Select the cube/cubes you want and click next.
Then click finish and leave the “Create a default package” box checked. This way a new wizard will open to create the package.
In the first dialog of the create a default package wizard you enter the name of the package. Optionally you can enter a description and a screen tip. Click finish.
That’s it the default package has been created. Then you will end up with a dialog asking if you want to publish the package. Click yes.
On the Select Location Type you can select the location of the package in the Cognos connection portal (default is Public Folders). You have the option to enable versioning and to publish the package to a network location. Click next.
In the next dialog you can define security for the package if you need to. Click next
In the next dialog you have the option to verify the package before publishing and framework manager will run a series of tests to check for errors in the package. Click publish.
Leave the defaults in the next dialog and click finish.
Then go to your cognos connections portal. The new package you just created should be there and ready to use for creating reports.
