Connected Query and BI Publisher: a match made in heaven!

Connected Query and BI

Publisher: a match made in

heaven!2017 HEUG Southeast Regional

Track: General Interest

Session Number: 7127

Date: Tue, Sep 19th, 2017

Time: 1:15 PM - 2:05 PM

Presenter: Anna Kourouniotis

Data Administration Analyst

Office of the University Registrar, Duke University

Working in Higher Ed 7+ years

PeopleSoft user since 2014

Background in Student Records & Reporting

The Cookie Monster is my hero

Standalone queries

Connected Query

BI Publisher RTF

Heavenly match

Located in Durham, NC

Main campus spans nearly 9,000 acres

~ 6,500 Undergraduate students

~ 8,300 Graduate/Professional students

~ 8,200 Administrative Staff

PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9.2

(upgraded in June 2017)

PeopleTools 8.55.14

Connected Query Basics

XML Basics

Using Connected Query with BI Publisher

The Verdict

Connected Query BasicsWhat is it?

Why use it?

What should we be aware of?

Standalone queries

Connected Query

BI Publisher RTF

Heavenly match

A hierarchical object built with existing

PeopleSoft queries1.

Returns a data set that has parent-child

relationships.

A single row of data from a parent query

results in a set of rows in a child query. This

data is processed row by row and produces

structured data.

1: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/.../concept_UnderstandingConnectedQuery-257ec1.html

Facilitates left outer joins in a simple way.

Simplifies report writing in BI Publisher by:

Allowing users to create a single XML file that

contains data from a set of queries that are

linked with parent-child relationships.

Providing multiple representations of the same

data.

No need for programmers to create SQRs or

PS Record Views!

Parent-child relationship.

A connected query returns a hierarchical data

set in which data returned by child query is

filtered by the results of its immediate parent

query2.

2: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E57990_01/pt853pbh2/eng/pt/tpsq/concept_UnderstandingConnectedQuery-257ec1.html#topofpage

Parent Query: top level in a Connected

Query that has one or more child queries.

Child Query: has a single parent query; may

also serve as parent if it has child query.

Sibling Query: a child query that shares the

same parent query as other child queries at

the same level.

Undergraduate Student Name

Parent Query

Phone Numbers

Child Query

Email Addresses

Child Query

Academic Plans

Child Query

How a standard query would be built

to account for left outer joined data

Qu

ery

1

Query 2Query 5

Query 6

Query 3

Query 4

Correct mapping of query fields.

Correct ordering of queries (proper joining).

Most basic information should be in the parent

query.

Each query must have one or more fields in

common with its parent.

Private Connected Query

Used by single user (the creator).

Can include both private and public queries.

Public Connected Query

Used by any user.

Cannot include private queries.

Keep only the prompts that you plan on using;

delete the rest.

Designing the queries is key!

Choose the Parent Query first; this must

contain the most basic information and it must

run properly (display results).

XML BasicsWhat is it?

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language

A file with XML extension is a plain file that

describes the structure and storage of data.

XML files are formatted with tags, similar to

other markup language files like HTML.

<BEGIN_DATE>2016-08-29<BEGIN_DATE>

This is a tagData

element

inside the tag

Using Connected Query

with BI PublisherConnected Query Quick Start

Connected Query Manager

BI Publisher Setup

RTF Template

Standalone queries

Connected Query

BI Publisher RTF

Heavenly match

Prerequisite: Must have access to Connected

Query and BI Publisher.

Navigate to Main Menu > Reporting Tools >

Connected Query > Connected Query Quick

Start

Used only for creating a new connected

query.

Step 1: Name

Step 1: Name

Step 2: Assign parent

Step 2: Assign parent

Step 3: Assign child

Step 4: Map queries

Step 4: Map queries

Step 5: Preview

Step 5: Preview

Navigate to Main Menu > Reporting Tools >

Connected Query > Connected Query

Manager

Used to view, edit, copy, or schedule the

connected query.

Also used to download quickly a XML file for

uploading onto the BI Publisher RTF template.

Deleting any query from Query Manager will

render the Connected Query nonfunctional,

Recreate the deleted query OR delete the

connected query and start over.

All queries used in a Public Connected Query

must be set to “public” in Properties.

Connected Query structure for the

example that follows

Prerequisite: Must have BI Publisher desktop

add-in installed & Report Developer access.

Data Source Type = Connected Query.

Report Definition set up the same as standard

Query with template type of RTF.

Data Source setup

Report Definition

setup

Report Definition

setup

Report Definition

setup

Main Menu > Reporting Tools > Connected Query > Connected Query Manager

Sample Report

Sample Report

First year undergrad enrollment

Parent Query

Test Credits

Child Query

RTF Template

Parent Query:• Student Name, Emplid (mapped field)• Academic Program (mapped field)• Academic Career (mapped field)• Term admitted (mapped field)• Classes enrolled • Class days/times

Child Query:• Student Name, Emplid (mapped field)

• Academic Program (mapped field)• Academic Career (mapped field)• Term admitted (mapped field)• Test Credit• Course Equivalency

RTF Template

section A

section B

section C

Connected Query enables you to create a single XML file

based on a set of queries with parent-child relationships,

which can be used to create BI Publisher reports.

Is connected query a good idea? If yes, then build it.

Query Design

Create the data source and report definition that will store the RTF template.

Run the XML through Connected Query Scheduler.

Source Design

Create the template using BI Publisher desktop.

Upload the XML file to the template.

Save the template in Report Definition.

Template Design

Run the report by using Query Report Scheduler.

Final Report

PS Permission Role Description

Connected Query Developer Full access to Connected

Query applications.

Connected Query User Access to run, preview results,

and schedule a connected

query. Cannot modify existing

or create new Connected

Queries.

The VerdictPros & Cons

Standalone queries

Connected Query

BI Publisher RTF

Heavenly match

Are Connected Query and

BI Publisher a heavenly match?

Pros Cons

Heavenly match

Anna Kourouniotis

Data Administration Analyst

Office of the University Registrar

Duke University

[email protected]

+1 (919) 668-1205

This presentation is available

for download from the

Conference site at

https://www.heug.org/page

/us-alliance-conference-files

Note: Sessions from previous HEUG

conferences are also available.

Supporting Materials

Create parent and child queries separately in

Query Manager.

Design Connected Query

Create RTF template

Create Data Source and Report Definition

Schedule to run final report

Using Connected Query with BI Publisher

How do you open a XML file?

Many programs can open this file type:

Notepad++https://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/v7.4.2.html

XML Notepad 2007https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7973

XML Basics

Conditional header/footer using sub-templates

Engineering students anyone with an

academic program of E-UGD

Non-engineering students anyone with an

academic program other than E-UGD

Bonus

Final PDF Report

Header

Footer

Header 1

Footer 1

Header 2

Footer 2

RTF Sub-Template

Notes on sub-templates:

Create a separate RTF that includes

all the sub-templates you might use.

Save the RTF in Reporting Tools> BI

Publisher> Content Library

Enclose each sub-template with a

“template” and an “end template”

bracket.

In the main template, call the sub-

template by using the

“import:psxmlp://” statement

followed by the sub-template ID.