IBM Cognos Assessment Report

This topic contains information about the IBM Cognos assessment report. The assessment assesses the IBM Cognos workloads and produces in-depth insights that help to plan the migration. The input format for the IBM Cognos assessment is the XML.

In This Topic:

Highlights

The highlights section gives you a high-level overview of your assessment summary of the analytics performed on the selected workloads. It includes packages, visualization, columns of the files used, and more.

Summary

This section illustrates the input IBM Cognos scripts that were analyzed across the various elements. Here, you can see the number of files, packages, reports, pages, queries, visualizations, and data sources.

Files: Displays the total number of source files.
Packages: Displays the total number of packages in the source files. Packages are subsets of data models that provide specific data for reports.
Reports: Displays the number of reports in the file.
Pages: Displays the number of pages present in the reports.
Queries: Displays the number of queries.
Visualizations: Displays the number of visuals such as pie charts, heat maps, clustered column graphs, and more from reports.
Datasources: Displays the number of data sources from the data model.
Calculations: Displays the number of calculations present in the reports.

Complexity

This section provides a summarized graphical representation of the complexity of reports that helps in making different decisions, including budget estimation. The complexity of each report is calculated based on the parameters like pages, queries, calculated columns, filters, and visualization objects, and more.

Queries

It displays a synopsis of the analyzed queries with information about parsed and unparsed queries as well as the complexity of queries.

Visualizations

This section displays all the graphical visualization available in the source scripts such as graph, heat map, chart etc. This visual representation of data makes it easy to understand the data.

Entities

This section displays details of the entities including total, used, and unused tables along with their distribution across namespaces.

Total Tables: Displays total number of tables.
Used Tables: Displays total number of tables that are used in reports.
Unused Tables: Displays the total number of tables that are not used in reports.
Namespaces: Lists the top 5 namespaces along with the number of associated tables, arranged in descending order based on the table count.

Namespaces

Namespace is a set of entities used to manage and organize data. This section displays details of the namespaces including total, used, and unused namespaces along with their distribution across packages.

Total Namespaces: Displays total number of namespaces.
Used Namespaces: Displays total number of namespaces that are used in report.
Unused Namespaces: Displays the total number of namespaces that are not used in reports.
Packages: Lists the top 5 packages along with the number of associated namespaces, arranged in descending order based on the namespace count.

Filters

This section provides information about total, model, and report filters along with their types.

Total Filters: Displays total number of filters.
Model Filters: Displays number of model filters. Model filters are filters applied in the model dataset.
Report Filters: Displays number of report filters. Report filters are filters applied within the reports.
Filter Type: There are three types of filters:
- Detailed: Filters are applied to each row of the data.
- Summary: Filters are applied to refine the summary data.
- Slicer: Filters data based on specific categories or values.

Analysis

This topic provides a detailed examination of source files, reports, and pages.

Files

This section provides a comprehensive report of the source file including file name, queries, pages, and so on.

File Name: Lists all the files.
Queries: Provides the total number of queries in the file.
Pages: Displays the number of pages in the file. It contains information like visualizations or maps.
Reports: Displays the number of reports in the file. It contains all the data including pages, calculated columns, etc.

Packages

This section displays detailed information about packages, including reports, namespaces, and more.

Package Name: Displays the name of the packages.
Reports: Displays the number of reports in the package.
Namespaces: Displays the number of namespaces in the package.
Associated File: Displays the name of the associated file.

Reports

This section provides a summary of the reports including visualization objects, calculated columns, queries, pages, and so on.

Report Name: Name of the report.
Visualization Objects: Provides the details of maps or visualization objects.
Columns: Provides details of the columns, such as the column name, usage type, and calculated column.
Calculated Columns: Columns in which aggregate functions such as min, max, sum, avg, etc. are implemented for calculation.
Queries: Provides the number of queries.
Pages: Provides details of the pages such as number and name of the pages.
Filters: Displays the number of filters in each report.
Table: Displays the number of tables in each report.
Namespaces: Displays the number of namespaces associated with each report.
Complexity: Displays the complexity of files.
Associated files: Displays the files associated with the reports.

Pages

This section provides a summary of the pages including visualization objects, and associated reports for every page.

Page Name: Name of the page.
Visualization Objects: Provides details of maps or visualization objects.
Associated Report: Displays the reports associated with the pages.

Queries

This section provides a comprehensive summary of queries including the total number of queries, and complexity of each query. It also provides information about parsed and unparsed queries.

Query Name: Name of the queries in the source files.
Report Name: Displays the associated report names.
Columns: Provide the details of columns such as name of the columns, usage type and confirm whether it is the Calculated columns.
Filters: Provide the details of filters in each query.
Complexity: Displays the complexity of queries.

Entities

This section displays a detailed analysis of the entities. It includes information about entity types, databases, database types, and more.

Table Name: Displays the name of the table.
Namespace: Displays the name of the namespace associated with the table. It is a set of entities used to manage and organize data.
Folder: Displays the folder name associated with the table.
Data Source: Specifies the database details from which the table originate.
Connection Type: Provides the connection details. The connection types are:
- Direct: Refers to original physical table available within the database. For instance, RETAILER_SITE represents original physical table.
- Indirect: Refers to derived tables or empty database.

Namespaces

This section displays detailed information about namespaces, including tables, relationships, filters, and more.

Namespace Name: Displays the name of the namespaces.
Folder: Displays the number of folders present in namespaces. Folders are subset of namespaces.
Relationships: Displays the number of relationships established between tables within the namespace. These relationships typically define how one table is linked to another table.
Tables: Displays the number of tables in each namespace.
Filters: Displays the number of filters in each namespace.
Calculations: Displays the number of calculations in each namespace.

Lineage

End-to-end process lineage identify the complete dependency structure through interactive and drill-down options to the last level.

Typically, even within one line of business, multiple data sources, entry points, ETL tools, and orchestration mechanisms exist. Decoding this complex data web and translating it into a simple visual flow can be extremely challenging during large-scale modernization programs. The visual lineage graph adds tremendous value and helps define the roadmap to the modern data architecture. It deep dives into all the existing flows and provides integrated insights. These insights help data teams make strategic decisions with greater accuracy and completeness. Enterprises can proactively leverage integrated analysis to mitigate the risks associated with migration and avoid business disruption.

Now, let’s see how you can efficiently manage lineage.

To view the required lineage, enter the keyword in the Search Keywords field and then click the Search icon.

In addition, the filter search icon allows you to include or exclude particular nodes to obtain the required dependency structure. You can also choose the direction of the lineage. By default, the Dependency Direction is Left to Right Hierarchy. You can also choose Right to Left Hierarchy or Bidirectional dependency directions as required. Moreover, you can also increase the Hierarchy Levels to nth level.

Lineage facilitates you visualize how your selected nodes are connected and depend on each other. The nodes and their connecting edges (relationships) help you to understand the overall structure and dependencies.

Nodes	Edges
Column	Call
Query	Read
Page	Write
Chart	Execute
Report	Others
File

Manage Lineage

This feature enables you to view and manage your lineage. You can add, modify, or delete nodes and their relationships to generate an accurate representation of the required dependency structure. There are two ways to update the lineage: either using Complete Lineage report or Lineage Template.

Using Complete Lineage report

Follow the below steps to modify the lineage:

Click the Manage Graph icon.

Click Download Complete Lineage to update, add, or delete the nodes and their relationships in the current lineage.

Once the complete lineage report is downloaded, you can make necessary updates such as updating, deleting or adding the nodes and its relationships.
After making the required changes, upload the updated lineage report in Upload to Modify Lineage.
Click Apply to incorporate the updates into the dependency structure.
Generate the required lineage.

Using Lineage Template

Follow the below steps to add new nodes and their relationships to the current lineage report:

Click the Manage Graph icon.

Click Download Lineage Template.

Once the lineage template is downloaded, you can add new nodes and relationships in the template.
After making the required changes, upload the template in Upload to Modify Lineage.
Click Apply to incorporate the updates into the complete dependency structure.
Generate the required lineage.

Important

To effectively manage lineage, you must adhere to the following rules:

Do not modify the column headers or their order in the Complete Lineage report or the Lineage template. The following are the column headers: source_name, source_type, target_name, target_type, relation_type, and database_id.
When deleting a row, retain the value in the database_id column and clear all the other column values.
When inserting a row, add all the column values except in the database_id column.
When updating a row, ensure that all the columns have relevant data.

You can also apply:

Feature	Icon	Use
Filter		Used to filter the lineage.
Reload		Assists in reloading graphs.
Save		Used to save the lineage.
Download		Used to download the file.
Expand		Used to enlarge the screen.

Downloadable Reports

Downloadable reports allow you to export detailed IBM Cognos assessment reports of your source data which enables you to gain in-depth insights with ease. To access these assessment reports, click Reports.

Types of Reports

In the Reports section, you can see various types of reports such as Insights and Recommendations, Source Inventory Analysis, and Lineage Report. Each report type offers detailed information allowing you to explore your assessment results.

Insights and Recommendations

This report provides an in-depth insight into the source input files. It contains the final output including the details of reports, packages, queries, and more.

Here, you can see various reports such as Cognos Assessment Report.xlsx, Cognos Report Summary.xlsx, Cognos Unparsed Files.xlsx, Lineage Dependency Report.xlsx, and more.

Cognos Assessment Report.xlsx: This report provides insights about the source inventory. It helps you plan the next frontier of a modern data platform methodically. It includes information about reports, pages, namespaces, and more.

This report contains the following information:

Report Summary: Provides information about all the generated artifacts.
Volumetric Info: Presents a summary of the aggregated inventory after analyzing the source files. For instance, it provides volumetric information about the total number of reports, pages, visuals, filters, report complexity and so on.
Report Overview: Provides comprehensive information for reports including the number of tables, namespaces, pages, complexity, and more.
Report Page Summary: Lists all the report pages along with the total number of objects and visuals.
Report Query Summary: Lists all the queries along with the total number of tables, filters, namespaces, and so on.
Package Summary: Lists all the packages along with the total number of data sources, namespaces, tables, columns and so on.
Package Namespace Summary: Lists all the namespaces along with the total number of tables, columns, filters and so on.

Cognos Report Summary.xlsx: This report provides a comprehensive summary of IBM Cognos reports. It includes information about the total number of namespaces, tables, report pages, complexity, and more.

Cognos Unparsed Files.xlsx: This report lists all the unparsed files along with the reason for parsing failure.

Source Inventory Analysis

It is an intermediate report which helps to debug failures or calculate the final report. It includes all the generated CSV reports, Cognos Page Chart Summary.xlsx, Cognos Query Data Item Summary.xlsx, Cognos Query Filter Summary.xlsx, Cognos Report Skipped Tags.xlsx, Cognos Unparsed Files.xlsx and more.

Cognos Page Chart Summary.xlsx: This report offers insights about the pages and charts in the reports.

This report contains the following information:

Report Summary: Provides information about all the generated artifacts.
Cognos Page Chart Summary: Lists all the pages available in reports along with details about charts such as chart names and chart types.

Cognos Query Filter Summary.xlsx: This report lists all queries along with its types and expressions.

Cognos Report Skipped Tags.xlsx: This report provides information about all the unparsed and skipped tags from input Report XML files, specifically the tags under the Visual parent tag.

Cognos Unparsed Files.xlsx: This report lists all unparsed files.

Browse through the CSV folder to access cognos_chart_columns.csv, cognos_model_datasource.csv, cognos_model_table.csv, cognos_query_analysis.csv, cognos_report_detail.csv, and more reports.

cognos_chart_columns.csv: This report provides information about charts along with its associated columns, chart type, and more.

cognos_model_datasource.csv: This report provides information about data sources along with its query type, schema, and more.

cognos_model_table.csv: This report provides information about tables along with its type, namespace, query type, and more.

cognos_query_analysis.csv: This report provides information about queries including analyzed status, complexity, parsing status, and more. If the analyzed status is Analyzed, it indicates that the query is analyzed successfully. Conversely, a Not Analyzed status indicates that the query is not analyzed.

cognos_report_detail.csv: This report provides information about reports along with its associated model path, package, and more.

Lineage Report

This report provides complete dependency details for all nodes. It provides an end-to-end data and process lineage that helps to identify the complete dependency structure and the data flow.

This report contains the following information:

Dependency (Process): Provides information about the process lineage.
Dependency (Data): Provides information about the data lineage.
Nodes: Lists all the source and target nodes along with its type.
Volumetric Info (Summary): Provides volumetric information about the artifact types such as input tables, output tables, and schedulers.