2. Charles Phillips screen
11/11/2018
Oracle Business Intelligence 11g
Using Variables

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4. Using Repository Variables
Agenda
Describe session variables
Describe repository variables
Describe initialization blocks
Create a dynamic repository variable
IN this session we will talk about the need for variables in Oracle BI and various types of variables used in the OBI repository
We will learn about the ways to populate these variables using initialization blocks and dialogue box
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5. Using Repository Variables
Contain values in memory that are used by the Oracle BI Server during its processing
Are created and managed using the Variable Manager feature in the Oracle BI Administration Tool
Types of variables:
Session variables
Repository variables
Variables are just like a column value which can be used in various calculations or expressions while building the repository
Their values are assigned in a different fashion than the column value
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6. Using Repository Variables
Session Variables
Populated when a user logs into the application
Persist only while a user’s session is active
There are two types of session variables
System
Non-System
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7. System Session Variables
Using Repository Variables
System Session Variables
Predefined session variables reserved for specific purposes
Have reserved names, which cannot be used for other kinds of variables
Example: USER
Refer to Oracle BI Server Administration guide for complete list and description
Right-click in the Variable manager for list of available session variables
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8. Non-System Session Variables
Using Repository Variables
Non-System Session Variables
Are application specific variables that are created by the implementation team
Example:
Capture the user’s Region and limit the data records the user sees to only those for that Region
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9. Using Repository Variables
Persist from the time the Oracle BI Server is started until it is shut down
Can be used instead of literals or constants in expression builders in the Oracle BI Administration Tool
Oracle BI Server will substitute the value of the repository variable for the variable itself in the metadata
Come in two types
Static
Dynamic
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10. Static Repository Variables
Using Repository Variables
Static Repository Variables
Are repository variables whose values are constant and do not change while the Oracle BI Server is running
Values are initialized in the Variable dialog box
Static value
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11. Dynamic Repository Variables
Using Repository Variables
Dynamic Repository Variables
Are repository variables whose values change according to a refresh schedule
Values are initialized and refreshed using an initialization block
Non system session variables and dynamic repository variables, both are populated in the same fashion using initialization blocks. However the session variable initialization block executes when the user logs into the system while the repository variable initialization block refreshes on a fix schedule.
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12. Initialization Blocks
Using Repository Variables
Initialization Blocks
Are used to initialize session variables and dynamic repository variables
Initialization Blocks - These consist of small SQL statements which refresh certain values based on a predetermined schedule or event (login)
Right-click for Initialization block of Session Variable
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13. Using Repository Variables
Summary
Describe session variables
Describe repository variables
Describe initialization blocks
In this session we learnt about session variables
repository variables and
initialization blocks
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14. Oracle BI Foundation Suite
-> Business Intelligence -> White Papers -> Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite (PDF)
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