Can system-wide data formats in OBIEE be configured outside of Answers

CP Strother-Oracle

Does anyone know of a OBIEE configuration file in 12c, or a way to configure an OBIEE environment so data formats can be set system-wide in a configuration file, or .XML file? 

I know how to set system-wide data formats in column properties in an answers report.  See screen shot below.

But, when I spin up a new obiee environment I deploy my custom styles and custom messages no problem.  It would be nice to also have a way to just copy a config file and have our data formats already set without having to define and set them in Answers.  Thanks for your help.

Sherry George

That setting get saved under system metadata folder in the catalog. Check these support docs Doc ID 1449681.1

Doc ID 2127991.1

CP Strother-Oracle

Hi Sherry, Thank you for the tip.  I'm wondering if you've had any personal experience with success in moving a datatype_format file from one server to another?

Based on the doc's you sent, I setup four data formats to be "saved as system-wide defaults" on my 1st BIEE servers

1. Currency with $, 1,000 separator, no decimal, minus in parenthesis

2. Percentage with no decimal, minus in paren's

3. Number with no decimal, minus in paren's

4. Custom with format of  $#,#.99; ($#,#.99);      -

That covers my number formatting requirements.  When I look at the _datatype_formats  file saved as a result (the readable one, not .atr), on my BIEE server I only see the last entry made.  Here's what it looks like:

<saw:dataFormat xsi:type="saw:custom" customFormat=" $#,#,#,#.00; ($#,#,#,#.00);

-"/>

The other entries are non-existent.  Any personal experience or clues as to where the other 3 settings may have disappeared to?  Or, does OBIEE only save one system-wide format?  I figured it was a moot point to copy the file since all I'm seeing is the last saved entry. 

Again, I'm on 12c.  BTW - for our fellow readers, the data format file for 12c is stored here:

$BI_DOMAIN/bidata/service_instances/ssi/metadata/content/catalog/root/system/metadata

Thanks again for any assistance on this matter.