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Overview:BO Interview Questions Answers,Business Objects Interview Questions with Answers,Free Interview Questions Answers on Business Objects.

What is the difference between linking and including the universes? Linking a universe is a process, which includes the required objects/classes of the master on to the derived universe. But any change made to the master universe is reflected onto the derived universe. Including a universe creates all the required objects from the master universe on to the derived universe; any change made to the master universe does not impact the derived universe. What is Supervisor? Supervisor is the product for the secured deployment of Business Objects products. It provides a powerful and easy-to-use solution for user administration. Using this product, you can define users and user groups. You can also ensure the secured access of these users and groups to the various Business Objects resources such as universes and documents. Supervisor can run only in client/server mode. Its use requires a connection to a relational database. Any operation you perform with Supervisor is written to the repository. What are the User Profiles offered by Supervisor? General Supervisor (Can access all products of Business Objects) Supervisor (Can access all products except Designer) Designer (all products but SUPERVISOR) Supervisor-Designer (all products) User (all products but DESIGNER and SUPERVISOR) Versatile (configurable) What are the functions of Supervisor User Profiles? General Supervisor (GS): is the senior system administrator. Using SUPERVISOR, the GS can: Create repositories (When a Repository is created automatically a General Supervisor is created) Create any type of user, including other general supervisors Create user groups Administer user accounts and privileges for repository users Import and export universes to and from the repository Define a BROADCAST AGENT for a group Launch a BROADCAST AGENT from the BROADCAST AGENT Administrator Supervisor: is responsible for user administration. Create users with any profile except General Supervisor Create user groups Administer user accounts and privileges for repository users Import and export universes to and from the repository What is a Repository? A Business Objects repository is a centralized set of relational data structures stored in a database. It enables Business Objects users to share resources in a controlled & secured environment. Repository comprises three types of domains: Security domain: which contain the definition of the other domains as well as the definition of users Universe domains: It holds the exported universes. It makes it possible to store, distribute and administrate universes. There may be multiple universes in a repository. Document domains: is a set of data structures in the Business Objects repository that contains information on stored documents, lists of values, scripts or stored procedures.

Repository holds 50 objects or tables: Security Domain: 23 + 2 (For BCA), Universe Domain: 24 tables, Document Domain: 1 table Security Domain: Tables start with OBJ. Ex: obj_m_actor, obj_m_repository, obj_m_universes, obj_m_documents etc. BCA Tables: 1. DS_Pending_job 2. DS_User_List Document Domain: Obj_X_Documents Universe domain: Tables start with UNV. Ex: unv_join, unv_table, unv_universe How to Choose a Repository Database? Administrators who have the opportunity to choose a database platform for their repository are advised to consider the following issues: Databases which support row-level locking to avoid locking conflict. Databases which support BLOBs (Binary Large OBject) for document storage. BLOB format improves Repository performance & network traffic. What are Strategies? A strategy is a script that automatically extracts structural information from a database or flat file. There are two types of strategies: 1. Built-in strategies 2. External strategies. What is Build -in Strategy? DESIGNER uses the following built-in strategies for creating the components of universes: The Objects Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to define classes and objects automatically from the databases tables and columns. The Joins Creation strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to define joins automatically from the databases tables and columns. The Table Browser strategy, which tells DESIGNER how to read the table and column structures from the databases data dictionary. What is External strategy? In the external strategy file you can customize an existing strategy or create your own. External strategy files are named according to the following convention: StxxxxEN.txt where St means strategy, xxxx is an abbreviation for the RDBMS, and EN is the language in which Business Objects products are installed (EN =English) For Oracle: Stora7en.txt in the Oracle folder What is the list mode? List mode command (View ? List Mode) provides list of all the tables, joins, and contexts. What is a join? A join is a relational operation that causes two or more tables with a common domain to be combined into a single table. The purpose of joins is to restrict the result set of a query run against multiple tables. DESIGNER supports: Equi-joins Theta joins Outer joins Shortcut joins Equi or Inner or Natural or Simple join: is based on the equality between the values in the column of one table and the values in the column of another. Because the same column is present in both tables, the join synchronizes the two tables. Self-Join: join a table to itself i.e create a self-join to find rows in a table that have values in common with other rows in the same table. Theta or Non-Equi join: links tables based on a relationship other than equality between two columns. Outer join: links two tables, one of which has rows that do not match those in the common column of the other table. Left Outer Join: All records from first table with matching rows from second.

Right Outer Join: All records from second-named table with matching rows from left. Full outer join: All rows in all joined tables are included, whether they are matched or not. Shortcut join: can be used in schemas containing redundant join paths leading to the same result, regardless of direction. Improves SQL performance. What is Cardinality? Cardinality expresses the minimum and maximum number of instances of an entity B that can be associated with an instance of an entity A. The minimum and the maximum number of instances can be equal to 0, 1, or N. Cardinalities indicate whether the relationship or join between two tables is one-to-many (1,N), one-to-one (1,1), or many-to-many (N, N). Because a join is bidirectional, it must always have two cardinalities. What is a Cartesian product? A Cartesian product is the result of a query in which two or more tables are not linked by a join. If executed, the report shows results for each possible combination of each table row. Why do you perform 'Integrity Check? It detects any errors in the objects, joins, conditions, and cardinalities of your universe. It detects whether there are any loops in the joins. It detects whether contexts are necessary. It determines whether any changes were made to the database to which the universe is connected. What is Parse checking? Parse checking means how DESIGNER is to determine the validity of an object, join, or condition. Quick parsing checks only the syntax of components. Thorough parsing checks both the syntax and semantics of components. If there are changes in the database on which you have already created a universe, how do you include those additional changes into your universe? By refreshing the structure I get the updated database structure. How can you customize lists of values in Business Objects? Ans : BUSINESSOBJECTS lets you customize lists of values in the following ways: By editing the lists corresponding query. For example, you can limit the data returned by the list of values by applying a condition. By assigning data from personal data files to lists of values: Business Objects: Tools ? Universes?Select Universe?Click Lists of Values?Expand the class? Select Object?Click Personal Data?Browse the file?Click Display Designer: Tools ? Lists of Values?Expand the class?Select Object?Click Personal Data ? Browse the file?Click Display When you ask for List of Values, it takes very long time, what you need to check? Ans : If we try to get the list of values against a fact table then it may take a lot of time for displaying the results. So modify the list of values to access the local file that contains restricted info or put a condition on the query that gets the list of values. What is #MULTIVALUE? Ans : #MULTIVALUE in aggregations such as maximum revenue per year Occurs in aggregations because the output context is not included in the local context. #MULTIVALUE in break headers and footers Occurs when you insert a variable in a break header or footer in a table or crosstab. #MULTIVALUE in a cell at the section level. A report section displays data in a master cell and in a block or blocks. If you use two variables at

the section level, #MULTIVALUE can occur. What is #COMPUTATION? Ans : #COMPUTATION in cumulative aggregations such as running average revenue per city Occurs in cumulative aggregations if the reset context is not included in the output context. #COMPUTATION in non-aggregate formulas, for example using IF THEN ELSE statements. Occurs because the output context is not included in the input context. What is Input context? Ans : Input context consists of one or more dimensions that go into the calculation What is the difference between create ALL subquery and create ANY Subquery? Ans : ALL: returns ALL values returned by the subquery with the values returned by the main query. ANY: returns ANY values returned by the subquery with the values returned by the main query. What do you mean by Linking data from two queries and why do you do it? Ans : Linking of data from two queries is a typical case where data is extracted from two different sources, which do not have a predefined cardinality (normally from two different data providers). It is necessary that the dimension you use to link data providers be the same type (numeric or alphanumeric) in both data providers. What is the procedure for writing VBA data provider? Ans : 1. Create a connection to the data source. 2. Create a data cube. 3. Set the data cube dimensions. 4. Populate the cube with data from the data source. What is output context? Ans : Output context consists of one or more dimensions that determine the result of the calculation What is reset context? Ans : The reset context consists of one or more dimensions which reset the value of the calculation to zero each time a dimension value changes. Whats the difference between purging and deleting a data provider? Ans : Purging means emptying a data provider of its results. Purging reduces the size of a document. Deleting means getting rid of the data provider for good - an action that cannot be undone. Delete a data provider, however, if you are certain that you and other users no longer need it. What external formats are available? Ans : 1) Text (2)Spreadsheet format (Microsoft Excel) (3) RDBMS format (including .dbf format for dBASE). What data sources are available? Ans : BUSINESSOBJECTS let you access data from a wide range of sources. You can access data from: Relational databases (RDBMS), such as ORACLE, Microsoft SQL Server, Informix and IBM DB2. Multidimensional (OLAP) databases, such as Microsoft OLAP Services, Hyperion Essbase, and ORACLE Express.

Text files and spreadsheets Packaged applications such as SAP Virtually any data source using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) procedures What are the different levels of securities available in Business Objects? (Tools?Options? Security Policy) 1. Windows NT authentication Security: Checks user names against Windows user name. If names are same users can launch Business Objects. 2. Business Objects Security: This is provided through the security domain. 3. RDBMS Security: Allows users to access Business Objects documents through their own individual accounts using only their RDBMS usernames and passwords. 4. Security based on profile 5. Object Level Security What is .lsi (Local Security Information) file? The .lsi file contains the users security information, profile, command restrictions and authorized documents and universes and stored in the LocData folder on that PC. ( pdac.lsi, sdac.lsi) What is .ssi (Shared Security Information) file? When you install a shared installation from a Master Setup, by default the User Login Information file (with filename *.ssi) is set to be created and stored in the ShData folder on the server, so that all Login data for the installation is centralized. (sdac.ssi) What is a DMZ configuration? The term demilitarized zone, or DMZ, describes a network topology where the application server is behind a firewall, and separated from the web server, which runs on a different subnet. Can you install ZABO, WebIntelligence and Broadcast Agent on the same machine? Yes. You can install the ZABO, WEBINTELLIGENCE, and BROADCAST AGENT on the same machine. However, in this case, although you can download ZABO to client machines, downloading it to the server machine is not supported. What is ZABO? Is a enterprise server product constitutes the server side of a light, optimized deployment of Business Objects 5.1.2 that combines the key advantages of thin client Webi and the fullclient Business Objectsproduct. In a zero-administration deployment of Business Objects, only the Business Objects client software is installed on a Windows PC; all middleware is stored and administered on the server and the server-side processing is handled by the Webi system. This means zero-administration on the client computer. It has a 3 tier Architecture: Tier 1: the client. The Business Objects software is installed on the client machine. Tier 2: the ZABusiness Objects Server Tier3: the data sources Whats New WebIntelligence SDK Object Models? WEB INTELLIGENCE SDK now contains two identical object models, WICOM, the COM interface and WIBean, the Java interface, that allow you to customize Webi functionality. You can use WICOM to write ASP scripts. You can use WIBean to write JSP scripts. Whats the difference between Full client (Business Objects) and Thin Client (Webi) DOCUMENTS? Full-client (Business Objects) documents can be much more complex than thin-client documents due to additional reporting features in the full client product. Thin-client documents, however, can allow for much larger deployments. Refreshing a full-client document in the distributed architecture deployment requires more

resources than refreshing a thin-client document, because of the ability to handle more complex documents built intoBUSINESSOBJECTS. BUSINESSOBJECTS users can use a scheduling option for full-client documents called Faster Document Viewing Over the Web that generates either a Windows metafile or HTML version of the document. What is aggregate awareness? Ans: Is a function used to aggregate the data from table, is used to enhance the performance of SQL transactions; it determines which tables to use in SQL generation either aggregate or detailed tables. Precedence: left to right Syntax: @Aggregate_Aware (sum (table1.sal), sum (table2.sal)) Setting up Aggregate Awareness: Build the Objects: 1. Identify all the possible definitions (table/column combinations) of the objects. 2. Arrange the objects by level of aggregation. 3. Build the objects using the @Aggregate_Awareness function. Specify the incompatible objects 1. Build an objects/aggregate tables matrix. 2. For the first aggregate table, decide whether each object is either: - at the same level of aggregation or higher (compatible) - at a lower level of aggregation (incompatible) 3. Check only the boxes of objects that are incompatible for that table. 4. Repeat the steps for the remaining aggregate tables. Define any necessary contexts 1.Define one context per level of aggregation. Test the results 1. Run several queries. 2. Compare the results. What are Object Security Access Levels? (Right click object?Edit?Advanced Tab) Ans: You can restrict an object so that only end users with the appropriate security access level can use it. Security access levels are assigned to user profiles by the supervisor from the Supervisor module. The levels are from highest to lowest: Private, Confidential, Restricted, Controlled, and Public (Default level). The higher the level, the fewer the number of users can access it. What is Multidimensional Analysis? Ans: The purpose of multidimensional analysis is to organize data along a combination of dimensions and hierarchies. BUSINESSOBJECTS allows two types of multidimensional analyses: Slice and dice Drill (available only with the BUSINESSOBJECTS EXPLORER). What is Enterprise Mode? Ans: Enterprise mode means working in an environment with a repository. Online and offline modes are options that apply when you are working in enterprise mode. Online mode: Online, the default mode, is appropriate for a networked environment in which the general supervisor has set up a repository. In online mode, you can import or export universes.

Offline mode: Working in offline mode means essentially that you work with universes that are stored locally on your computer. To use this mode, you must have been connected at least once in online mode. What is Workgroup Mode? Ans: Workgroup mode means working in an environment without a repository. What is Incremental Export? Ans: DESIGNER can export a universe incrementally, meaning that it takes into account only the modifications made since the last export. What is the method of migrating the universe across domains and/or repositories? Ans: The following are the steps followed while migrating a universe across repositories: 1. First open the universe in the current repository and make the connection as shared. 2. Save the Universe. (Save for all Users) 3. Open the universe in the designer and export that to the required repository. 4. Change the connection type from shared to secured. What are Linked Universes? Ans: Linked universes are universes that share common components such as parameters, classes, objects, or joins. What are Linking of universes and how many levels of linking is possible? Ans: Creating a universe by taking the components from another universe. Only one level of linking is possible in Business Objects. There are thee approaches to linking: 1. Kernel 2. Master 3. Component Disadvantages: 1.Any change made to the master universe is reflected onto the derived universe. 2. Designer does not save any list values, which may be associated with the linked universes. What are the Testing responsibilities in BO ? How many tabs can be added in a report i.e. How many times can we drill a report How do we check the data is correct or not in the report after generating the query? How do you validate Business Objects Report How to improve performance at universe level and at report level ? How to do row level security in Supervisor?? What are the problems faced in report generation & universes? What is UNIT Testing Method in BO? How to bring data from 5 different providers into one block...(they are not getting synchronized and all of them has different data types Explain about online linking of Reports ? What happens to business objects report if the cardinality is not specified?? What is the difference between Sort and Filter function

Why there is no global or local repository like in informatica?Why BO is not using any server like informatica repository server or informatica server? What is dashboard and canned report?What is difference between canned and dashboard report?How many type reports are there? In BO supervisor how many types of users are there. and What are they. What are BO best practises? What is meant by Ascential Datastage Manager and where is it applied? What is the diferrence between slice and dice & drill through What is the multi value error ?Is there any types of Error in BO\ How can you create Cascading prompts in Bo? Explain the difference between Condition and Filter. Can we overrite the sql query after creating the report How do I prevent overlapping of the tables in webi? What is Data Profiling in Business Objects?What is Data Synchronization in Business Objects? Can you please tell me whether we can able to create a Universe for a text file. If yes, how? What are the differences between BO's 5.x and 6.x Can a universe be connected to different databases? What is an Universe? What is Designer? The Universe designer uses DESIGNER to design, create and maintain universes for a particular group of users. A universe designer can distribute a universe as a file through the file system, or by exporting it to a repository. DESIGNER is a Business Objects product intended specifically for you the Universe designer. It is important to analyze the type of information that the end users at your site will require so that you can develop universes that meet the needs of the user community. This includes the actual reports, information, or results likely to be required by the end users. What is Universe? A universe is a mapping of the data structure found in databases: tables, columns, joins. A universe is made up of classes, objects and conditions. A universe is the semantic layer that isolates the end user from the technical issues of the database structure. How do you start creating the universe? Universe can be created by taking into consideration the type of data and the logical structure of your companys databases. Creating of the universe starts with gathering of user requirements, identifying the database tables where the data resides, inserting the db structure to the universe, creating classes and objects from the db tables, and creating measures. Creating the joins between the tables, resolving loops either by creating aliases or contexts. Finally testing & deploying.

List some functions to create objects in the universe? @Aggregate_Aware, @Prompt, @Select, @Variable, Running Sum, Running Count, User Response, String functions, Date functions. How a Universe is identified? A universe is identified by: a file name which consists of up to 8 characters and a .unv extension. a long name which consists of up to 35 characters. a unique system identifier. This is the identifier assigned by the repository when you export the universe. This identifier is null if you have never exported the universe. How do you distribute a universe? There are two ways to distribute a universe to end users or another designer: 1) Exporting to Repository (2) Through File system Moving it as a file through the file Server. What is a Class? A class is a logical grouping of objects and conditions within a universe. What is an Object? An object maps to data or a derivation of data in the database. How can we qualify an object? An object can be qualified as a dimension, a detail, or a measure. Dimension objects retrieve character-type data that will provide the basis for analysis in a report. A detail object is always associated to one dimension object, on which it provides additional information. Measure objects retrieve numeric data that is the result of calculations on data in the database. A measure object is derived from an aggregate function: Count, Sum, Minimum, or Maximum. What is the difference between conditional objects and other objects? Conditional objects have a where clause, where normal objects do not have a where clause What type of connections Designer provides? DESIGNER provides three types of connections: (Tools ? Connections) Secured connection (Default): Stores the connection in the security domain of the Business Objects repository to centralize and control access to sensitive or critical data. Designers and supervisors have the right to create this type of connection. Shared connection: Specifies that multiple users share the connection. All users who have access to this connection can use it and edit it. If you installed Business Objects in Stand-Alone mode, the connection by default is stored in the sdac.lsi file (LocData subfolder). If you installed Business Objects in Shared mode, the connection by default is stored in the sdac.ssi file (ShData subfolder). Designers and users have the right to create this type of connection. Personal connection: Specifies that the connection belong to the user who defined it. Other users cannot use or modify the connection. If you installed Business Objects in Stand-Alone mode, the connection by default is stored in the pdac.lsi file (LocData subfolder). If you installed BusinessObjects in Shared mode, the connection by default is stored in the pdac.ssi file (ShData subfolder). Designers and users have the right to create this type of connection. What are Universe parameters? These parameters define the universe. They are Definition, Summary, Strategies, Controls, SQL and Links. Summary Statistics of objects, joins, conditions, classes, contexts, hierarchies and alias in a universe. We get it from the Summary tab of the Universe parameters or File ? Parameters. Controls

The Control settings allow to limit the size of the result set and the execution time of queries. SQL These parameter controls the query (allows use of subqueries, allows use of union, intersect and minus operators) and SQL generation options for the universe. Links This links tab is used with dynamically linked universes

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