Saturday, 29 July 2017

C2090-645 IBM Cognos 10 BI Multidimensional Author

Test information:
Number of questions: 57
Time allowed in minutes: 60
Required passing score: 75%
Languages: English, Japanese

Related certifications:
IBM Certified Designer - Cognos 10 BI Multidimensional Reports
IBM Certified Solution Expert - Cognos BI

The Cognos 10 BI Multidimensional Author Exam covers key concepts, technologies, and functionality of the Cognos products. In preparation for an exam, we recommend a combination of training and hands-on experience, and a detailed review of product documentation.

Dimensional Data Components (28%)
Distinguish between relational, DMR, and dimensional data sources
Identify dimensional data items and expressions
Define multidimensional data structure components
Describe the importance of report context
Identify the default measure of a report
Describe default members and their purpose
Describe what a MUN is and identify the impact of using the wrong MUN
Describe what a set is
Describe what a tuple is

Focus Reports (14%)
Distinguish between dimensional and relational filtering styles
Identify techniques to focus data using the dimensional style
Interpret data that is focused based on members
Interpret data that is filtered based on measure values
Describe the purpose of a slicer

Drilling in Reports (14%)
Describe default drill-down behavior
Describe default drill-up behavior
Describe cases for advanced drilling configuration
Appraise reports generated with calculations that are preserved during drilling
Describe how member sets work

Drill-through Access (8%)
Identify supported drill-through data item combinations
Set-up drill-through access
Describe a conformed dimension

Calculations and Dimensional Functions (36%)
Describe the use of arithmetic operations in queries
Analyze the use of dimensional functions in queries
Examine coercion
Apply prompts to focus reports
Compose complex expressions that combine and reuse existing expressions

QUESTION 1
To display all individual campaigns in a crosstab report, a report author could use the expression set([TrailChef Campaign],[EverGlow Campaign],[Course Pro Campaign]). Instead, the report author decides to use the parent member of the campaigns in the set expression "children([All Campaigns])". Which statement is true about the method that was used?

A. In the future, when a campaign is deleted or new ones are added, the report author must modify the expression.
B. In the future, when a campaign is deleted or new ones are added, the unmodified expression will be valid.
C. The report author should not have used the method chosen, as the first method is best
in this situation.
D. To be accurate, the report author should avoid using a set expression.

Answer: B


QUESTION 2
Which of the following statements is correct about the order function?

A. The currentMeasure function must be used with the order function as the sort by criterion.
B. It arranges members of all sets in the report by ascending or descending values.
C. Optional parameters allow the author to order the members of a hierarchy without regard of their level.
D. It arranges members of a set alphabetically by ascending or descending captions.

Answer: C

QUESTION 3
A report author is working with an OLAP data source. The report author creates a query that uses a caption function on a member and applies a string function. What is a possible consequence of this action?

A. Using these dimensional methods will not work with an OLAP data source.
B. The mapped string values will not pass through to the target report.
C. There is nothing wrong with this approach.
D. Mixing dimensional styles and relational styles in a single query can create unexpected results.

Answer: D

QUESTION 4
When must a report author use the caption function?

A. As the first parameter of the roleValue function.
B. To return the display name for the specified business key.
C. To see the string display name for the specified element.
D. To pass the returned value to a drill-through target report, this expects a matching string as a parameter value.

Answer: D

QUESTION 5
Instead of prompting the user to select any countries in Europe, the report author wants to constrain the user to select one or more countries from the Northern Europe region. What kind of prompt should be used and how can this be achieved?

A. This is not possible because a prompt must always be populated with all members of a level.
B. Create a multi-select value prompt. Populate it using an expression on the [Northern Europe] member to retrieve its children on the country level.
C. Generate a prompt by creating an expression with a parameter on the crosstab edge: children([Northern Europe]->?Country?
D. Create a tree prompt, and populate it using an expression on the [Northern Europe]
member to retrieve its children at the country level.

Answer: B

Monday, 24 July 2017

C2090-632 IBM Cognos 10 BI Metadata Model Developer

Test information:
Number of questions: 53
Time allowed in minutes: 60
Required passing score: 71%
Languages: English, French, Japanese

Related certifications:
IBM Certified Advanced Developer - Risk Information Governance for BI
IBM Certified Solution Expert - Cognos BI
IBM Certified Developer - Cognos 10 BI Metadata Models
IBM Certified Solution Expert - Cognos 8 BI Migration

The Cognos 10 BI Metadata Model Developer exam covers key concepts, technologies, and functionality of the Cognos products. In preparation for an exam, we recommend a combination of training and hands-on experience, and a detailed review of product documentation.

Common Data Structures and Traps (16%)
Identify Common Data Structures
Identify different data traps

Framework Manager Basics (16%)
Identify the different model types that can be published from Framework Manager
Define the purpose of Framework Manager
Create a project
Identify recommendations for preparing metadata

Predictable Results (16%)
Identify recommendations to achieve predictable results
Describe why and how to implement a time dimension
Identify techniques for creating intuitive business views

Security (9%)
Describe the Cognos 10 security environment
Describe how to implement security on models and packages

Project Management and Maintenance (5%)
Identify techniques for managing Framework Manager projects
Identify techniques for managing Framework Manager packages

Query Subject Types (9%)
Identify different query subject types and uses

Generated SQL and Complex Queries (17%)
Identify SQL Generation in Complex Queries
Identify aggregated result sets for multi-fact queries
Identify aggregations in Report Studio SQL

Optimization and Tuning (5%)
Describe the performance impact of queries

Advanced Techniques (7%)
Describe how to leverage user defined functions
Describe how to resolve a recursive relationship
Identify considerations for drill-through values and managing MUNs

QUESTION 1
Which of the following is correct regarding the Cognos 10 security environment?

A. Cognos 10 must be configured to use only one authentication provider at a time.
B. To perform authentication of users, a connection to the Cognos namespace must be defined.
C. In Framework Manager, object security is implemented by defining access to objects for users, groups and roles defined in the authentication providers.
D. In Framework Manager, object security is implemented by defining access to objects for groups and roles (of which users are members), not individual users.

Answer: C


QUESTION 2
In Framework Manager, which of the following statements is correct when working with a multi-lingual project?

A. The design language can be changed at any point.
B. A project language cannot be deleted once defined in Framework Manager.
C. A language must be added to the project before it can be published with a package.
D. When a new language is added to a project, all locales for that language are added as well.

Answer: C


QUESTION 3
The groups and roles defined in the Cognos namespace can be used to assign access rights to which of the following Framework Manager objects?

A. Query items.
B. Data sources.
C. Relationships.
D. Parameter maps.

Answer: A


QUESTION 4
What must a modeler consider when modeling for drill-through between multiple data sources?

A. Drill-through values must be cast.
B. Drill-through values must be conformed.
C. Drill-through values must be consolidated.
D. Drill-through values must be identifiers.

Answer: B

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

C2090-620 IBM Cognos 10 BI Author

Test information:
Number of questions: 50
Time allowed in minutes: 60
Required passing score: 74%
Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish Castilian

If your job role includes building reports using relational data models, as well as enhancing, customizing, and managing professional reports, then you may consider adding this certification to your professional portfolio.

The Cognos 10 BI Author exam covers key concepts, technologies, and functionality of the Cognos products. In preparation for an exam, we recommend a combination of training and hands-on experience, and a detailed review of product documentation.

Create reports (14%)
Describe how to create list, crosstab, and repeater reports
Present data graphically

Focus reports (12%)
Describe how to focus reports using filters
Describe how to focus reports using prompts

Enhance reports (44%)
Describe the use of calculations in reports
Identify techniques to enhance layout and content
Describe how to customize reports with conditional formatting
Identify steps to set-up Drill-through Access

Create reports using the query model (18%)
Identify the purpose and components of the query model
Describe how to create the query model
Describe techniques used in the query model that determine how data is aggregated
Identify the effects on the query model(s) of creating a master/detail relationship in the report layout

Setup reports for bursting (6%)
Describe the function of the settings required to distribute reports through bursting

Manage events using agents (6%)
Describe the use of Event Studio in Cognos 8 BI

IBM Certified Designer - Cognos 10 BI Reports

Job Role Description / Target Audience
The professional report author is responsible for building reports using relational data models, as well as enhancing, customizing, and managing professional reports. This individual is new to Report Authoring and will be able to participate as an effective team member.

To achieve the IBM Certified Designer - Cognos 10 BI Reports certification, candidates must possess the skills identified under Recommended Prerequisite Skills, if any, and pass one (1) exam.

Click the test link below to see the overview, objectives, and test preparation recommendations.

Recommended Prerequisite Skills
Prior to your preparation for this associate-level certification, the following knowledge and skills are recommended and assumed:

Experience using Windows operating system and a web browser
Knowledge of XML

QUESTION 1
In Report Studio, which chart lets the report author plot a third measure?

A. Area
B. Bubble
C. Scatter
D. Progressive Column

Answer: B


QUESTION 2
An author wants to create a report that displays certain list columns depending on the user's prompt selection. What property of the list column must the author define to create this variable?

A. Text source variable
B. String variable
C. Style variable
D. Render variable

Answer: D


QUESTION 3
An author creates a report in Report Studio. The report contains a parameter for the Product line query item. The author wants to let users drill through to this report from a variety of reports created using the GO Data Warehouse (query) package. To ensure that this target report contains data for the appropriate products, the author wants to limit the report cells that users can drill through from in source reports. What must the author do when creating the drill-through definition?

A. Set the Product line query item as the target of the drill-through definition.
B. Set the Product line query item as the scope of the drill-through definition.
C. Add a parameter for the Product line query to the drill-through definition.
D. Delete all data items except for the Product line query item from the drill-through definition.

Answer: B


QUESTION 4
Which statement about the tabular data retrieved by Report Studio queries is true?

A. Tabular data includes a column for each data item in the query. No grouping is applied to the tabular data.
B. Tabular data includes a column for each data item in the query. Grouping applied in the report layout is also applied to the tabular data.
C. Tabular data can only include columns for data items that appear in the layout. No grouping is applied to the tabular data.
D. Tabular data includes a column for each data item that appears in both the query and the layout. Grouping applied in the report layout is also applied to the tabular data.

Answer: A


QUESTION 5
In Report Studio, what is a baseline?

A. A value in a list report that other values are compared against.
B. A constant value that represents the x-axis in a chart.
C. A constant value drawn on a chart to indicate major divisions in the data.
D. A break point that keeps part of a report stationary while the user scrolls.

Answer: C