Changing column separator format from column to semi column when delivering CSV content

fabryddorf-Oracle

Hi Guys,

Wondering if you can help with this.

In OBI 11g, how can i change the default column separator format in the CSV file from column to semi column?

When I download the file manually it is not a problem as I can replace in notepad the , with ; , but when sending a report via agent is annoying.

Would you have any idea?

Thanks and Regards

Giuliano

[Deleted User]

You will have to upgrade to at least 12.2.1.1 - the instanceconfig parameter for this only exists since that version. Ref. MOS Doc ID 1390814.1 and 2196357.1

Robert Angel

If this is just for one file then you could also concatenate the output into a single field; - field1||';'||field2 etc

fabryddorf-Oracle

Hi Robert,

Could you please more specific, as I am not an expert. Where would I do that exactly?

Robert Angel

What I am suggesting is that you could create an 'export' version of your analysis as a workaround.

i.e.

Copy your existing analysis to a new name.

Open it in answers.

Use formula editor to concatenate the fields together by Opening Field 2 with formula editor, copy the formula, edit field 1, change its formula to be whatever the content was with the following appending to the end; - ||';'|| Whatever was in field1 here

Repeat to concatenate field 3 to the end of field 1 - and so on until you have 'done' all fields

Delete all but field 1

You need have a semi-colon delimited file.

Note you will have to cast numbers to text to achieve this.

Joel

Alternatively, you can achieve this with a single analysis by creating the CSV column and creating a new compound layout with only the CSV column:

Edit the Analysis Properties and select the new Compound Layout as the view for Text Delivery:

Robert Angel

Hi,

I did mean with a single analysis, the copy part was purely as the user might want to retain a version which is more 'ascetic' to look at, for non-download purposes.

Thomas Dodds

ascetic - characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

^ that made me crack up! -- but maybe that's what people who want to data dump form OBIEE need

aesthetic - concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

[Deleted User]

Ok I'll bite and re-explain this for the 517'394th time:

- OBIEE is not a data dumping tool

- If you just want to push data to a CSV there are dozens of alternatives which are less heavy in terms of wasted time, resources etc

- If you export from OBIEE then the data moves from the database to the OBI Server to the OBI presentation server to the browser and THEN to your desktop

- The Oracle database itself can send data to a file. No need for all of the above

- If you need the semantic layer you can connect to the OBI Server via ODC directly

-.You can use SmartView

- You can use BIP

..........

Robert Angel

lol - and forgive the typo!

Robert Angel

Though come to think of it OBIEE can feel like self-mortification some days...