Framework Manager

Introduction
IBM® Cognos® Framework Manager is a metadata modeling tool. A model is a business presentation of the information in one or more data sources. When you add security and multilingual capabilities to this business presentation, one model can serve the needs of many groups of users around the globe.
Getting started with Framework Manager
IBM Cognos Framework Manager is a metadata modeling tool that drives query generation for IBM Cognos software. A model is a collection of metadata that includes physical information and business information for one or more data sources. IBM Cognos software enables performance management on normalized and denormalized relational data sources and a variety of OLAP data sources. When you add security and multilingual capabilities, one model can serve the reporting, ad hoc querying, and analysis needs of many groups of users around the globe.
Model Design Accelerator
Model Design Accelerator is an extension of IBM Cognos Framework Manager that simplifies the creation of relational star schema models. It helps the modeler create a single fact table relational star schema that follows proven modeling practices. Novice modelers can build models without extensive experience and training. Experienced modelers could reduce the overall time to build a model. Model Design Accelerator evaluates each design step to identify and help you resolve potential issues.
Importing metadata from data sources
To create models in IBM Cognos Framework Manager, you must import metadata.
Modeling relational metadata
Note: Information on SAP BW metadata is in separate topics.
SAP BW metadata
Note: Information on relational metadata is in another topic.
Publishing packages
You publish a package to make the metadata available to your users. You create packages based on your user groups. Packages must contain all the information that a specific user or group of users needs to create reports.
Project management
During the lifetime of a project, data may change and new requirements may display that require you to update models and data sources.
Using the dynamic query mode
The dynamic query mode offers query and data source optimizations to address query complexity, large data volumes, and timeliness expectations with improved query execution techniques.
Model design FAQ
When modeling in IBM Cognos Framework Manager, there is no requirement to design your data source to be a perfect star schema. Snowflake and other forms of normalized schemas are equally acceptable as long as your data source is optimized to deliver the performance you require for your application.
The SQL Generated by IBM Cognos Software
This document explains the SQL generated by IBM Cognos software.
Upgrading models
Upgrading a model prepares it to benefit from a new release features.
Accessibility features
Accessibility features help users who have a physical disability, such as restricted mobility or limited vision, to use information technology products.
Using patterns to format data
You can format data so that it matches any pattern of text and numbers when default formats are not appropriate. For example, you can format dates to use full text including the era, or you can format them to only use numbers and show the last two digits of years to save space.
Guidelines for Working with SAP BW Data for Use in Transformer
Starting with Transformer version 8.4, you can use Framework Manager packages published to Content Manager to leverage your SAP BW data. The SAP-based packages can be used as data sources to create Transformer models. As result, Transformer PowerCubes can be used as high speed data access cache methods for distributing smaller or focused areas of your business information. This is the recommended method for leveraging your SAP BW data.
Reserved words
You must ensure that the names of data sources, tables, and columns do not use names reserved by IBM Cognos software.
Supported SQL data types
The IBM Cognos Analytics query service supports the standard relational data types that represent numeric, character, or temporal values.
XML data types
You can import XML as a tabular data source in IBM Cognos Framework Manager.