Things You Can Use on Monday Walter F. Blood Technical Director Information Builders Copyright 2010,...

Things You Can Use on Monday

Walter F. BloodTechnical Director

Information Builders

Copyright 2010, Information Builders. Slide 1

Things You Can Use on Monday

Agenda

SET ParametersDialogue ManagerReportingFunctionsMissing DataApp CommandsTroubleshooting


SET Parameters


SET Parameters

A few of my favourite SET parameters

CENT-ZERO

CURRSYMB

COUNTWIDTH

DIRECTHOLD

DUPLICATECOL

BYDISPLAY


DMPRECISION

TARGETFRAME

ACROSSPRT

ASNAMES

HOLDLIST

HOLDATTR

SET Parameters – CENT-ZERO

Controls the display of the 0 to the left of the decimalOptions: ON, OFFDefault: OFF


SET CENT-ZERO = OFF SET CENT-ZERO = ON

SET Parameters – CURRSYMB

Controls the currency symbol printed with M and N formatsOptions: character, USD, GBP, JPY, EUR, NIS Default: $

SET CURRSYMB = $

SET CURRSYMB = GBP

SET CURRSYMB = EUR

SET Parameters – COUNTWIDTH

Controls the format size of COUNT columnsOptions: ON (9), OFF (5)Default: OFF

SET COUNTWIDTH = OFF SET COUNTWIDTH = ON

SET Parameters – DIRECTHOLD

Controls how HOLD FORMAT FOCUS files are loadedOptions: ON (directly), OFF (hold file and Modify)Default: ON

SET DIRECTHOLD = ON

READS = 54

SET DIRECTHOLD = OFF

READS = 108

SET Parameters – DUPLICATECOL

Controls how outer verb totals are displayedOptions: ON (show as separate column

OFF (show in same column)Default: ON

SET DUPLICATECOL = ON SET DUPLICATECOL = OFF

SUM SALESSUM SALES BY COUNTRY

SET Parameters – BYDISPLAY

Controls how BY fields are printedOptions: ON, OFFDefault: OFF

SET BYDISPLAY = OFF SET BYDISPLAY= ON

Excel rows

SET Parameters – BYDISPLAY

Controls how BY fields are printedOptions: ON, OFFDefault: OFF

SET BYDISPLAY= ONSET BYDISPLAY = OFF

SET Parameters – DMPRECISION

Controls decimal precision of & variablesOptions: OFF, nDefault: OFF If OFF, everything is an integerOtherwise, you decide

-SET &TEST = 123.45 + 5.43;-TYPE TEST = &TEST

SET DMPRECISION = OFF

TEST = 128.88&TEST = 128

SET DMPRECISION = 1

&TEST = 128.9

SET DMPRECISION = 2

&TEST = 128.88

SET Parameters – TARGETFRAME

Controls target frame for drilldown displayOptions: framenameDefault: current framenameExplicit “TARGET=” in drilldown overrides this setting

No Setting

SET Parameters – TARGETFRAME

SET TARGETFRAME = _blankNo Setting

Controls target frame for drilldown displayOptions: framenameDefault: current framenameExplicit “TARGET=” in drilldown overrides this setting

SET Parameters – ACROSSPRT

Compress rows in report using PRINT and ACROSSOptions: NORMAL, COMPRESSDefault: NORMAL

SET ACROSSPRT= NORMAL SET ACROSSPRT= COMPRESS

SET Parameters – ACROSSPRT (cont)

SET ACROSSPRT = NORMAL

SET ACROSSPRT = COMPRESS

4 rows

Compressedto 2 rows

SET Parameters – ASNAMES, HOLDLIST, HOLDATTR

Affect contents of hold files and MFDs

ASNAMES (enables AS names to be used as column names)

Options: ON, OFF, FOCUS Default: FOCUS

HOLDLIST (keeps non-printed columns out of hold file)

Options: ALL, PRINTONLY, ALLKEYS Default: ALL

HOLDATTR (carries field attributes into the hold file)

Options: ON, OFF Default: OFF

SET Parameters – ASNAMES etc. (cont)

All defaulted

SET ASNAMES = ON – AS ‘UTILIZATION’ becomes fieldnameSET HOLDLIST = PRINTONLY – non-printed columns excludedSET HOLDATTR = ON – TITLEs from original MFD carried forward

TABLE FILE SALESSUM COMPUTE UTIL/D12.4%= ((AUTHORIZED-UTILIZED)/AUTHORIZED ) * 100; AS ‘UTILIZATION’BY MONTHBY SECTORNAME ON TABLE HOLD END

SET ASNAMES = OFF

Affects fieldnames of ACROSS columns

SET Parameters – ASNAMES and ACROSS

TABLE FILE CARSUM SALESBY COUNTRYACROSS BODYTYPEON TABLE HOLDEND

SET ASNAMES = ON

SET Parameters

We will look at a few other SET parameters but later in the context of how they are used XRETIREVAL HOLDMISS HNODATA NODATA

Dialogue Manager


Dialogue Manager – ASIS

In a Dialogue Manager variable blank = 0 = ' 0' = ' 0000'Dialogue Manager variables have no formatASIS allows us to test the true value of the variable

-SET &VAR1 = ' ';-SET &VAR2 = 0;

&VAR1 EQ &VAR 2 = TRUE

but

ASIS(&VAR1) EQ ASIS(&VAR 2) = FALSE

ASIS(&VAR1) EQ 0 = FALSE

ASIS(&VAR2) EQ ‘ ’ = FALSE

Dialogue Manager – Some system variables

&&OSTYPE Returns the operating system you are running in Enables you to take action based on where you are Values: WINNT, UNIX, etc.

&APPROOT Returns the approot directory You can test on it You can also parse it apart

&FOCEXECNAME Returns the name of the currently running Focexec You can pass this along and know who called “me”

Dialogue Manager – Subscripted & variables

& variables can be numerically subscripted If we have &TEST, no problem, we refer to &TESTBut what if we want &TEST1, &TEST2 … &TESTnMaybe we are loopingWe can create and use &TEST.&n where n is an integer

-REPEAT VAR_LOOP FOR &I FROM 1 TO 10-SET &TEST.&I='This is variable ' | &I;-VAR_LOOP-? &

Reporting


Reporting

TABLEF and RDBMSConditional JoinsDynamic Formatting

Reporting – TABLEF and RDBMS

WebFOCUS can sort and RDBMS can sortMake sure one does and make sure both don’tVerify that RDBMS is sorting

SQL TRACE ? STATS

AGGREGATION DONE …

Reporting – TABLEF and RDBMS (cont)

If RDBMS sorts your request, change TABLE to TABLEFTABLEF

No sorting done by WebFOCUS No Internal Matrix created Report written faster

Some reporting commands require TABLE Watch for errors and warnings

SQLTOPTTF Automatically turns TABLE to TABLEF, if possible Options: ON, OFF Default: ON Verify using traces and “? STAT”

Reporting – Conditional Joins

Joins do not have to be based on equality testsAll relational tests are available

JOIN … WHERE … NE JOIN … WHERE … GT JOIN … WHERE … LT etc.

Reporting – Conditional Joins (cont)

In JOIN tool select the JOIN and “Create/Edit Selection”

You will be presented with a familiar panelThe Where Expression Builder

The expression will be EQ by defaultAmend as required I changed it to GT


We now JOIN based on a GT test

The WHERE clause will show up in your SQL

JOIN FILE PORTFOLIO_BASE AT PORTFOLIO_BASE.PORTFOLIO.SIC_CODE TO MULTIPLE FILE INDUSTRY AT INDUSTRY.INDUSTRY.SIC_CODE TAG J0 AS J0 WHERE PORTFOLIO_BASE.PORTFOLIO.SIC_CODE

GT J0.INDUSTRY.SIC_CODE; END


Reporting – Dynamic Formatting

By default every value in a column is formatted the same I5, D12.2, A10 …

But what if the rows require different formatsSome may be dollars, percents, units, etc.Format each row’s value differentlyCreate a business rule to set each row’s format

Reporting – Dynamic Formatting (cont)

TABLE FILE METRICSSUM COMPUTE FLDFMT/A8 = DECODE METRIC('Revenue' 'D12Mb 'Units' 'D12.2' 'Margin' 'D12.1%' 'Bonus' 'D12.2M'); NOPRINTVALUE/FLDFMTBY METRICEND

Calculate the format with a COMPUTEReformat the measure referencing the computed column

Reporting – Dynamic Formatting (cont)

Run the reportEvery row gets the appropriate format

COMPUTE FLDFMT/A8 = DECODE METRIC('Revenue' 'D12M' 'Units' 'D12.2' 'Margin' 'D12.1%' 'Bonus' 'D12.2M'); NOPRINTVALUE/FLDFMT

Functions


Functions

A few of my favourite functions STRIP STRREP DB_LOOKUP PUTDDREC

Functions - STRIP

Removes a character from a stringSTRIP(length, string, char, outfield)

PHONE_DIGITS/A10 = STRIP(12, PHONE, '-', 'A10');

Functions - STRREP

Replace all instances of a string with another stringSTRREP (inlength, instring, searchlength, searchstring,

replength, repstring, outlength, outstring)

CITY_SHORT/A35 = STRREP (35, CITY, 13, 'United States', 2, 'US', 35, 'A35');

Lookup a value in one data source while reading anotherNo JOIN requiredNot a replacement for JOIN – use when appropriateDB_LOOKUP(look_mf, srcfld1, lookfld1, srcfld2, lookfld2, ...,

returnfld)

Functions – DB_LOOKUP

MANAGER/A10 = DB_LOOKUP (FINANCE, REGION, REGION, SALES_MANAGER);

Write data to a flat fileExecuted as part of a calculationPUTDDREC(ddname, dd_len, record_string, record_len,

outfield)

Functions – PUTDDREC

APP FI WRITEOUT DISK summit_work/writeout.txtTABLE FILE CARSUM SALESCOMPUTE TEXT/A52='Sales for ' | CAR | ' in ' | COUNTRY | ' were ' |

EDIT(SALES);COMPUTE WRITE_TEXT/I1=PUTDDREC('WRITEOUT', 8, TEXT, 52, 'I1'); NOPRINTBY COUNTRYBY CAREND

Functions – PUTDDREC (cont)

COMPUTE WRITE_TEXT/I1=PUTDDREC('WRITEOUT', 8, TEXT, 52, 'I1'); NOPRINT

Functions – DB_LOOKUP and PUTDDREC

COMPUTE WRITE_TEXT/I1=IF REGION EQ 'HR' THEN PUTDDREC('Sales Data N/A', 8, TEXT, 52, 'I1') ELSEPUTDDREC('WRITEOUT', 8, TEXT, 52, 'I1'); NOPRINT

MANAGER/A10 = IF SALES LT 100000 THEN DB_LOOKUP(FINANCE, REGION, REGION, SALES_MANAGER) ELSE ' ';

Both functions are executed as part of a calculationCan be conditionally execute based on IF–THEN–ELSE logicYou decide exactly when and what is doneBased on your test and your data at run time

Missing Data


Missing Data

Missing data in WebFOCUS can refer to: Missing data values or nulls Missing data segments

We will be looking at ways to handle missing values In calculations In HOLD files On report output

Missing Data – In calculations

Example:

Sales in HR is missing but treated like 0 in the calculation Is this right?Results of calculations can be made “missing” based on

availability of components

PROFIT/D12 = SALES – COSTS;

Department Sales Costs Profit

East 100 90 10

HR . 90 -90

West 0 90 -90

Missing Data – In calculations (cont)

Calculation: Supports a result of MISSING (MISSING ON) Demands that all components be present (NEEDS ALL)

Now HR has profit of MISSING because SALES is MISSINGNEEDS ALL could also be NEEDS SOME

PROFIT/D12 MISSING ON NEEDS ALL = SALES – COSTS;

Department Sales Costs Profit

East 100 90 10

HR . 90 .

West 0 90 -90

Missing Data – In HOLD files

If source data contains nulls, nulls will move to HOLD files Common with RDBMS data

What happens if MISSING data created by the report

TABLE FILE CARSUM SALESBY COUNTRYACROSS BODYTYPEON TABLE HOLDEND

Missing Data – In HOLD files (cont)

HOLDMISS Enables created MISSING data to be held as missing Options: ON, OFF Default: OFF

TABLE FILE CARACROSS BODYTYPEON TABLE HOLDEND

SET HOLDMISS = ON

Missing Data – HNODATA vs. NODATA

NODATA Controls characters printed for missing values Options: character string Default: .

HNODATA Controls characters held for missing alpha values Options: character string Default: . Note: If set, numeric missing values held as blank

Missing Data – HNODATA vs. NODATA (cont)

SET NODATA = ‘N/A’

SET HNODATA = ‘N/A’

Report Hold File

APP Commands


APP Commands

APP commands enable us to work with the applicationnamespace Control the use of files in the path Manipulate the path Interrogate the path Interrogate the application folders

Operating System agnostic Works the same everywhere

APP Commands – Control and use files

APP HOLD appname Directs all hold files to a specific app directory

APP HOLD summit_workAll hold files and their MFDs go to summit_work

APP HOLDMETA appname Directs only the hold file MFDs to a specific app directory

APP HOLDMETA summit_workMFDs go to summit_work, data goes to temp

APP HOLDDATA appname Directs only the hold data file to a specific app directory

APP HOLDDATA summit_workData goes to summit_work, MFDs go to temp

If the files exists, you may need to filedef itFILEDEF and DYNAM are operating system specificAPP FI is operating system agnosticAPP FI holdname DISK appname/filename.extWorks on all platforms

Can also be used in Master Files to specify the data file DATASET=‘appname/filename.ext’

APP Commands – Control and use files (cont)

APP FI WRITEOUT DISK summit_work/writeout.txt

FILE=GLACCOUNT ,SUFFIX=FIX,DATASET='ibisamp/glaccount.ftm'

APP Commands – Manipulate the Path

Change the path on the flyAPP PREPENDPATH adds your app to the front of the pathAPP APPENDPATH adds your app to the end of the pathApplies to the current process onlyAllows you to bring app folders into the path temporarily

summit_work is now the first app folder in the path

summit_work is now the last app folder in the path

APP PREPENDPATH summit_work

APP APPENDPATH summit_work

APP Commands – Manipulate the Path (cont)

By default APP folders are subdirectories of APPROOTAPP MAP allows you to assign a logical app name to any

available physical directoryCan be placed in the profiles or dynamic in a FocexecAPP MAP appname physicalnameCan be used like any other available APP folder

Hold to it, put it in the path, etc.

APP MAP share \\robpalmer\shareAPP MAP summit_temp c:\temp\summit_temp

APP Commands – Interrogate the Path

APP SHOW PATH Shows you the path

Notice the two we just APP MAPpedYou see it, but you can’t act on it Let’s act on it

APP Commands – Interrogate the app folders

APP LIST [HOLD] Lists all real and mapped application

foldersHOLD option creates focappl

APP LIST HOLDTABLE FILE focapplPRINT *END

APP Commands – Interrogate the app folders (cont)

APP QUERY appname [HOLD] Lists contents of selected applicationHOLD option creates focappq

APP QUERY summit_work HOLDTABLE FILE focappqPRINT *END

Troubleshooting


Troubleshooting

Leave a trailSQL Traces, XRETRIEVAL&ECHO, &STACKWHENCE IB Tech Support as a Search Engine

Troubleshooting – Leave a trail

Hansel and GretelWhen debugging, leave a trail -*@@Can find your changes later and remove them

Troubleshooting – SQL Traces

Have a Focexec handy to quickly turn on SQL traces

-INCLUDE trace

SET TRACEOFF=ALLSET TRACEON=SQLAGGR//CLIENTSET TRACEON=STMTRACE//CLIENTSET TRACEUSER=CLIENT

trace.fex

Troubleshooting – XRETRIEVAL

Controls whether WebFOCUS communicates with thedatabase Options: ON, OFF Default: ON

-INCLUDE traceTABLE FILE PORTFOLIOSUM AUTHORIZEDBY MONTHON TABLE HOLDEND

SET XRETRIEVAL = ON

SET XRETRIEVAL = OFF

Troubleshooting - &ECHO, &STACK

&ECHO Traces WebFOCUS commands Options: ON, ALL, OFF Default: OFF

&STACK Controls whether FOCSTACK is executed or not FOCSTACK is the command execution stack FOCSTACK does not contain Dialogue Manager

commands Options: ON, OFF Default: ON

Troubleshooting - &ECHO, &STACK (cont)

Used together they provide a valuable techniqueUse &ECHO to see WebFOCUS tracesUse &STACK to disable execution of the command stackEnables troubleshooting of:

Dialogue manager logic Execution flow Variable resolution

Does not incur cost of report executionTraces available in HTML source

To trace the command stack only

Show all WebFOCUS commandsTABLE, GRAPH, MATCH, JOIN etc.,Show the resolved values of all & variables

Does not show any Dialogue Manager commandsDoes not execute the command stack


-SET &ECHO = ON;-SET &STACK = OFF;

To trace Dialogue Manager and the command stack

Show all WebFOCUS commandsTABLE, GRAPH, MATCH, JOIN etc.,Show the resolved values of all & variablesShows all Dialogue Manager commandsShows navigation and process flow

Does not execute the command stack


-SET &ECHO = ALL;-SET &STACK = OFF;

Troubleshooting – WHENCE

Shows where a selected module is being pulled fromCan search for Focexecs, Master Files and Access Files

WHENCE focexec FOCEXEC WHENCE masterfile MASTER WHENCE accessfile ACCESS

Returns physical location of the moduleVerify you are accessing and using the one you think you are

WHENCE car MASTER

WHENCE portfolio ACCESS

WHENCE controlchart FOCEXEC

IB Tech Support as a Search Engine

Set up Tech Support as Search Engine for your browser In IE8, click Search Options dropdown (upper right)

Select Find More Providers…

Scroll to the bottom and select “Create your own Search Provider”

You will be presented with the following form


To find the required URL:Open a new browser window or tabAccess the IB Enterprise Content Library

http://ecl.informationbuilders.com/ecl/searchSearch for TEST (upper case)Copy the URL in the address barPaste the URL into the form


http://ecl.informationbuilders.com/ecl/search

Press Install Search Provider


Press Add on the confirmation panel

Your all setClick on the Search Providers drop

down IB Tech Support is now listed

Select it and enter search criteria



Your search results are presented using MagnifyA maximum of 1000 results will be returnedCategory tree on the left enable further filteringSelect Tabular View to see results as an Active Report


Select Tabular View to see results as an Active Report

Thank You!

Come back next year for:

More Things You Can Use on Monday

or

Things You Can Use on Tuesday

I haven’t decided yet!!

Things You Can Use on Monday Walter F. Blood Technical Director Information Builders Copyright 2010,...

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