Cognos Mobile

How to Demo Cognos Mobile on a Projector

by

How to Demo Cognos Mobile on a Projector

Are you looking to roll out a mobile solution to your organization but are facing the challenge of how you train a large number of people simultaneously? Have you tried using the the best outdoor projectors indoors, only to find that they are not suited to train large amounts indoors. Well, the solution is quite simple for IBM Cognos Mobile. Demo Cognos Mobile There’s a product called Reflector that you should give a look. Reflector allows you to wirelessly display your iPad or iPhone onto your computer for group presentations or business meetings.  It is, indeed, easy to mirror your IBM Cognos Mobile App so you can present your new mobile dashboards to a room or people or web meeting.

Reflector is an AirPlay receiver that accepts wireless mirroring and streaming connections. It uses technology that is built into your computer, iPad, iPod or iPhone to wirelessly display content. As far as what's under the hood, it works much like an Apple TV or Roku. There's no complicated set up or need for adapters and wires that will look like a jungle. Once installed, simply connect your device and mirroring begins.

I highly recommend Reflector for any IBM Cognos Developers that want to demo their mobile solutions to users.

You can find it at   http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/ and try it out.  The full version costs about $13.00. 

IBM Cognos Fix Packs – Keep Up To Date

by

Did you know that IBM releases fix packs to correct bugs in Cognos Software?  They do and it is important to make sure that you have the latest fix pack installed with your version of IBM Cognos software.

The link to the IBM Cognos fix pack central site is:  http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral

For more info on fix packs, go to:  http://www-01.ibm.com/software/analytics/cognos/support/fixpacks.html

You just need the latest fix pack, as that one will contain all fixes from previous fix packs.

To save you time, I’ve listed the most recent fix packs below

  • Cognos BI 10.2 FP2 released March 31, 2014
  • Cognos BI 10.2.1 FP2 released January 31, 2014
  • Cognos 10.1.1. FP3 released December 13, 2013
  • Cognos Express 10.2.1 FP1 released April 11, 2014
  • Cognos Express 10.1 FP1 released December 3, 2012
  • Cognos Insight 10.2.1 FP1 released December 24, 2013
  • Cognos Insight 10.2 FP1 released March 7, 2013
  • Cognos Mobile 10.2.1 FP2 released October 30, 2013
  • Cognos Mobile 10.2 FP2 released April 2, 2013
  • Cognos Mobile 10.1.1 FP3 released February 28, 2012
  • Cognos Planning 10.1.1 FP3 released December 24, 2013
  • Cognos Series 7 Version 5 FP 2 released March 28, 2013
  • Cognos TM1 10.2 FP1 released December 24, 2013
  • Cognos TM1 10.1.1 FP2 released November 2, 2013
  • Cognos 10.1 FP1 released March 30, 2012
  • Cognos 9.5.2 FP3 released December 14, 2012
  • Also coming soon:
    • Cognos BI 10.1.1 FP4
    • Cognos 10.2.1 FP3
    • Cognos Mobile 10.2.1 FP4

Cognos Mobile as Part of Your Business-Driven Analytic Strategy

by

We all know that it’s important for infants to first learn how to crawl before they walk.  When an infant begins crawling, the repetitious movements stimulate and organize neurons, allowing her brain to control cognitive processes such as comprehension, concentration and memory.  When an infant crawls, she visually determines where she wants to go and physically moves in that direction, creating the child's first test of hand/eye coordination.  This skill set is used later in life for reading, writing and sports activities.  Establishing these important connections in the brain helps us as adults to understand how to get from Phase A to Phase C.  By skipping the crawling phase (or Phase B), babies lose this connection that can impact there future ability to analyze problems. Enter Cognos Mobile.

This same concept applies to growing your organization’s Business Analytics program.  At each step of the program’s development, end users need time to make cognitive connections of what is being offered, how it benefits it them, and finally, how to use it.

At each of Lodestar Solutions’ Virtual Business Analytics User Groups (“Techies with Panache”), we introduce or remind participants of different concepts to continually expand their Business Analytics programs.  Last month, we had a 30 minute segment on Cognos Mobile.  To view the presentation, click here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCgnN38VlxU&feature=player_detailpage

The focus of the Cognos Mobile segment was to help users and potential users understand how a small implementation can create amazing business opportunities. It clearly demonstrated that business intelligent software isn’t about the features, but about the benefits of the solution. Pretty pictures are great, but mobilizing your workforce with actionable data is extremely powerful.

However, after I completed and published the segment I realized it had one fatal flaw.  I forgot to articulate that Business intelligence is an awesome power in the hands of those who are actually trained to use it; those who have the cognitive connections.

Most line of business users are not data or technology savvy. This isn’t to say that they can’t be.  Quite the contrary!  They are 100 times more equipped to understand the data than an IT professional, because the data is directly produced from their concentrated focus in their area of expertise.

As Business Intelligence professionals, it is our job to empower line of business users with the correct data, and in a format that speaks to them.  Anybody can learn to use BA software.  Saying it any way differently is like saying, “Well, my 12 month old gave it a go, but he’s never going to walk.

As your Business Intelligence/Analytics program grows, so must the personnel in your organization. That’s the Catch-22 of Business Intelligence. If you don’t train and empower your employees, I don’t care how many hundreds of thousands of dollars you spend (or how sophisticated your BI software solutions is), it will all add up to a big fat nothing.  However, many times, this is forgotten and a solution is implemented with the expectation that end users will just get up and start running.

What’s New in Cognos Mobile for iPad

by

The redesigned application for Cognos Mobile for iPad is now available in Apple's App Store. This release is easier to use, performs better, and allows for personalization and more interactive gestures.  IBM has updated this application twice in the month of March.  Here is a list of the new functionality in Cognos Mobile for iPad.

Latest Release:  Version 10.2.0.2.2

The first thing that you will notice is that the app now looks completely different than in previous versions.

IBM has made an adjustment to the layout of the welcome screen that is more user friendly.  In addition to the new layout, the app also now offers new functionality:

  • You can now connect to multiple BI Servers, pause and restart your downloads, and arrange your reports in a way that will personally fit your needs.
  • IBM has also increased the number and diversity of samples that are included with the app to 16.  Everything from Pro Football Statistics to Global CEO Studies are now included in the download.
  • IBM has updated the process of configuring your application so that now administrators can provide users with a URL that will automatically configure their app.
  • Administrators have the option to allow for Pass-through authentication, provide custom report samples, and allow for automatic downloading of new reports.
  • Additional improvements were made to enhance performance and stability

Compatibility built-in with IBM Cognos Mobile server versions 10.1.1.0 to 10.2.0.2

All of these new features are designed to help Administrators provide their users with a mobile experience that is more customized and increase end user adoption.

For more information on IBM Cognos Mobile Solutions contact us at Sales@LodestarSolutions.com

IBM’s Information on Demand 2012 – What We Learned

by

IBM's Information on Demand 2012 – What We Learned

What happened at IBM Information on Demand 2012 (IOD) in Las Vegas does not stay in Las Vegas!  There were many exciting Cognos related topics discussed at IBM Information on Demand Conference held this past fall.  This year’s conference was held at Mandalay Bay the week of October 22nd, and was attended by more than 12,000 people.  Some of the hot topics included Cognos 10.2 updates and new features including Active Reports, Dynamic Cubes, Cognos Mobile, Workspace and Cognos Insight.  Below is a brief description of each…

Active Reports –

How would you like to be able to perform interactive analytics while offline, perhaps traveling on an airplane with only your iPad?  You can!  With Active reports, you stay connected while disconnected!  You can interact with reports or dashboards and figure out trends that move your business forward while the competition is waiting to get connected again.  Report writers do need to be careful when creating Active Reports, especially those targeted for mobile devices, to ensure that the report is built to the limited screen size specifications for ease of use.

Dynamic Cubes –

Do you have a very large data warehouse based on a star or snowflake schema on which you want to provide an OLAP experience?  Then this product might be for you!  This 100% in-memory OLAP engine is optimized for data sets over 25,000,000 rows.  This product is similar in nature to Transformer or PowerCubes.  But fear not; it is in addition to these products, not a replacement.  Dynamic Cubes can provide up to 80 times faster response to similarly modeled DMR data sources.

Cognos Mobile –

IBM has spent a lot of time and resources on Cognos Mobile.  In versions 10.1 and 10.1.1, Cognos Mobile made huge leaps with outstanding functionality across a broad set of devices.  Now, in 10.2, it offers even more.  Push notifications to the IOS status bar on the iPad now allow users to know when a new version of their report is available.  Multi-page reports can now be streamed to devices, reducing load time, and administrators can now govern access to Cognos via Mobile devices through Cognos Administration.

Cognos Workspace (formerly Business Insight) –

First of all, IBM has changed the name from Business Insight to Cognos Workspace, a change in my opinion that is good!  Business Insight Advanced is now known as Cognos Workspace Advanced as well.  Some of the enhancements to Cognos Workspace include multiple tabbed workspaces, the ability to freeze and unfreeze column and row headers, and the ability to limit the user experience by either making them an author, user or consumer.   IBM has also added support for use in Google Chrome and Safari.  Check out Cognos Workspace and make dashboards that executives love!

Cognos Insight –

Cognos Insight is a Personal Analytics solution that resides on the user’s desktop and can take many different data sources or types and create cubes, reports and dashboards quickly and without IT help.  Insight now includes out of the box time rollups (think Transformer), as well as drill up and down charting with top/bottom filtering.  A major item of note is that customers who have Cognos TM1 Enterprise can now publish their Cognos Insight Dashboards to Cognos 10.2 Enterprise.  From a licensing perspective, the user just needs to have an enhanced consumer license.

There are many other exciting things happening in the Cognos world and Lodestar Solutions is here to help fill any need you have.   Next year’s IBM Information On Demand conference will again be held in Las Vegas in early November, 2013.  With all of the enhancements coming so quickly, IOD is a great way to be at the forefront of the latest and greatest in not only Cognos, but other IBM products as well.  Hope to see you there!

X