Written by Mike Bernaiche, May 1st, 2025
It’s here! Cognos Analytics 12.1.0 is out and available upgrade your current Cognos Analytics environment. There are some changes to the UI and other additions to discuss. In general, it looks like this version is the backbone to the coming enhancements in Cognos Analytics. Below I will outline everything new, changed or removed! Please reach out to me at services@lodestarsolutions.com to discuss Cognos 12.1 and if it is the right time to upgrade!
General
New Welcome Page – The welcome page has changed a bit in Cognos Analytics 12.1.0. You will see three main areas:
- Create tile - Clicking the Create tile opens a page with quick links for uploading data and creating new content: Upload and create, create from existing data, and create from sample data.
- Assistant tile - The Assistant tile contains an input field that you can use to ask questions with your own words and uncover insights about the data.
- Learn tile - Clicking the Learn tile opens a page with learning resources that might help you get started with Cognos Analytics and expand your knowledge about the offering, for example: product tours, demo videos, documentation, and support resources.
Sub Menu Changes for New Items - The new layout shortens the time that is needed for discovering and creating new objects.
Java upgrade to IBM Semeru 17 – For more information on this change please read all the details here. https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cognos-analytics/12.1.0?topic=components-java-upgrade-semeru-17
New Learn Panel Technology - Versions of the Learn panel that were used in Cognos Analytics releases 12.0.4 and earlier are now deprecated. As of release 12.1.0, the Learn panel is supported by new technology. This technology is more adaptable to potential changes in the documentation platform that is integrated with the Learn panel.
There are several other general changes to Cognos Analytics 12.1.0. You can read about everything here. https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cognos-analytics/12.1.0?topic=2025-multiple-components
Dashboards
Row Limit – A new row limit property has been added to visualizations to limit data and enhance the performance of Cognos Analytics
Reporting
Andale WT font no longer installed with Cognos Analytics - The Andale WT font is no longer included with the IBM Cognos Analytics installation. The new Cognos Analytics default font is IBM Plex Sans.
Data brushing in multiple data containers - You can now brush (select and highlight) data points in multiple data containers.
Specify the CSV run options when authoring or running reports - CSV run options can now be specified when authoring or running reports and report views. Report authors can preview reports with the selected CSV options. These options are not saved and are intended only for testing and verification of the CSV output format.
Specify the default search option for the search and select prompt when authoring reports - Report authors can now specify default search options for the Search & select prompt control when authoring reports.
Mobile
Viewing and Running Reports in Cognos Mobile App - As a preview feature, you can view and run classic reports and report views in the Cognos Analytics Mobile app. Just like dashboards and explorations, the reports and report views are available on the Content screen, from the Recent, My Content, or Team Content tab.
Note: Classic reports in Cognos Analytics are reports with the Run with full interactivity property set to No.
Modeling
Support for the Amazon Athena JDBC 3.x driver - As of release 12.1.0, you can connect to the Amazon Athena JDBC 3.x driver.
WebView2 is enabled by default for Framework Manager and Cube Designer - By default, Microsoft Edge WebView2 is enabled to be used by Framework Manager and Cube Designer in Cognos Analytics 12.1.0.
Enhanced look and feel in Framework Manager - In release 12.1.0, WebView2 is enabled by default for Framework Manager. With Webview2 enabled, some Framework Manager pages have a more modern design.
Client tools for Cognos Analytics on Cloud Hosted - Cognos Analytics 12.1.0 adds the function to download client tools.
Model Design Accelerator removed from Framework Manager - Model Design Accelerator is no longer supported in IBM Cognos Framework Manager.
XML data sources no longer supported in DQM - The XML data sources are no longer supported in the dynamic query mode (DQM). However, they are still supported in the compatible query mode (CQM).
SQL-XML functions no longer supported by Cognos SQL - Cognos SQL no longer accepts SQL-XML functions. Cognos SQL statements that use SQL-XML constructs now throw a parsing error.
Administration
Enhancements to SMTP Configuration –
- SMTP has been moved to manage area from configuration
- Support for Oauth along with basic authentication
Updated Supported Software Environment link - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7185330#12.1.0.
End of Support for 11.2.4
The end of support for Cognos Analytics 11.2.4 (11.2.x) will be April 29, 2026. What does this mean? If you are on that version or any version in the 11.2 release, you will need to upgrade to Cognos 12.0.4 or Cognos 12.1 release to continue to be supported by IBM.
There are several factors to consider when moving to Cognos 12. You can read all about them here. Please reach out to services@lodestarsolutions.com to discuss your upgrade to Cognos 12!
Summary
As you can read there are some nice enhancements to Cognos in this version. However, I believe this is just the base for what is to come in Cognos Analytics. Would I upgrade today? Probably not. However, I would be on the lookout for the next version that is sure to be full of additional enhancements.