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How to integrate Controller with other IBM Cognos software products (for example BI, TM1 and Planning)

Troubleshooting


Problem

Customer wishes to integrate Controller with one or more other IBM Cognos products. What other Cognos products can customers use in conjunction with Controller?

Symptom

There are several scenarios of how different Cognos products can integrate together:
  • Scenario #1 - Using Cognos Analytics (previously known as 'Cognos BI') to report on Controller data
  • Scenario #2 - Customer wants to export data from Controller, and then import it into Cognos Planning
  • Scenario #3 - Customer wants to export data from Planning, and then import it into Controller
  • Scenario #4 - General integration of Controller with Planning
  • Scenario #5 - Integration Consolidator with Cognos 8 BI
  • Scenario #6 - Other general integration advice
  • Scenario #7 - Publishing data (from Controller) into a Planning Analytics (previously known as TM1) cube
  • Scenario #8 - Importing data (into Controller) from a TM1 (Planning Analytics) cube.

Cause

*IMPORTANT*: IBM Cognos products are extremely flexible, which allows them to integrate with both other Cognos products and also third party (non-Cognos) products. Because of their flexibility, there are usually many different methods to achieve the same end result.
  • Therefore, this IBM Technote article should merely be used as a simple starting point guide, which gives several examples that you may wish to consider

For in-depth advice, please employ an experienced Cognos Solutions Architect
  • They will be able to advise which of the following methods is most suitable for your needs.

Environment

Over time, Cognos Controller has improved its interoperability between other IBM Cognos products. Therefore different versions of Controller (and other Cognos products) may have slightly different functionality/features when working together.
  • For example from Controller 8.5 onwards, the integration between Controller and both IBM Cognos TM1 ("Financial Analytics Publisher / FAP") and Business Viewpoint was improved. For more details, see the Controller 8.5 new features guide ('nfg_ctrl.pdf')

Resolving The Problem

Scenario #1 - Using Cognos Analytics (previously known as Cognos BI) to report on Controller data
One sensible suggestion is to use the latest MFR Blueprints (created by the Cognos Innovation Center), as an example basis/guideline to start creating your own reporting system
  • For more details, see separate IBM Technote 374067
  
Scenario #2 - Exporting data from Controller and then Import into Cognos Planning

EXPORT from Controller:
There are a number of different ways to achieve this, but one sensible idea is to publish Controller data to a datamart and then import it into Planning.

IMPORT into Planning:
There are different options to do this importing, including the following:
  • ODBC link in Analyst
  • Import table in Contributor
  • Import from FM ('Framework Manager')
  • etc.

Scenario #3 - Exporting data from Planning and then Import into Controller
The quickest and easiest method is typically to:
  • export the data (from Analyst or Contributor) into a CSV file
  • import the CSV file into Controller by using the 'Import From Flat Files' (via import specification) functionality

Alternatively, a more complex way could be to:
  • Publish a Contributor application as a package (into Cognos BI)
  • Create a "List report" using Cognos BI "Report studio" or "Query Analyst"
  • and then importing into Controller as a flat file.

Scenario #4 - General integration of Controller with Planning
You may wish to consider using the Staging Tables functionality, inside Controller
  • See separate IBM Technote #1374718 for more details.
An excellent place to start is to read the Proven Practice document 'Integrating Controller and Planning"'
This document will show you how to transfer data from Controller into Planning Analyst, Contributor, Cognos8, Report Studio, FM (Framework Manager) and then back into Controller

Scenario #5 - Integration Consolidator with Cognos 8 BI
  • See separate IBM Technote #1371469.

Scenario #6 - Other general integration advice
  • Information about the Framework Manager model for Controller can be found inside the separate IBM Technote #1347275.

Scenario #7 - Publishing data (from Controller) into a TM1 cube
Since Controller 8.5, it is possible to publish Controller data into a TM1 cube.
  • This is known as using Controller's Financial Analytics Publisher (FAP) functionality.

This allows you to do near real-time reporting (using TM1 tools) of Controller data.

Scenario #8 - Importing data (into Controller) from a TM1 (Planning Analytics) cube
You can transfer data (from TM1 to Controller) by using a TI Process.
  • This uses staging tables, and you can use a stored procedure to carry out the import automatically.
  • For more information, see separate IBM Technote #2000757.

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Historical Number

1041154

Document Information

Modified date:
09 March 2020

UID

swg21343279

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