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Date Descriptor ID column in OBIEE

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User_G9FVN
User_G9FVN Rank 2 - Community Beginner

Hi everyone,

I have some problem when design RPD file in OBIEE version 1.1.1.7.141014.

When I design a logical column with Descriptor ID:

Untitled.png

When I create filter on Analysis. OBIEE show datetime picker for the descriptor id column instead of combo box for the Name column

This is what OBIEE show me (datetime picker for Descriptor ID column):

Untitled1.png

And this is what I actually want after setting up Descriptor ID column:

Untitled2.png

  Before setting up Descriptor ID column, the filter is combo box to select options for Name column, after setting up Descriptor ID column, I want the combo box stay the same, not date time picker for date type Descriptor Id column.

I don't know if this is a mistaken in my design or Oracle bug. Could someone explain to me?

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Answers

  • Martin van Donselaar
    Martin van Donselaar Rank 6 - Analytics Lead

    Think about it,  A date does not uniquely identify year-month period. How do you expect this to work?

    You need to properly set up your date/period dimension and create the prompt on the column that contains the year-month.

  • User_G9FVN
    User_G9FVN Rank 2 - Community Beginner

    In my case, a date does uniquely identify year-month period so I think I can setup that way. About the display problem that I mentioned above, do you have any idea?

  • User_G9FVN
    User_G9FVN Rank 2 - Community Beginner

    Thanks but that's no help. I already set up as they said.

  • As you have a really really really (once again: really) old version, did you check the release notes of the following bundle patches to see if one mentioned a fix for a possible bug/weird behavior of the descriptor ID?

    Your current bundle patch is almost 4 years old, you maybe want to consider to move to the last one while start planning an upgrade.

  • Jerry Casey
    Jerry Casey Rank 6 - Analytics Lead

    I've had some frustration with the same issue in data models where I want to select from a limited, discrete set of archive dates, and I don't know what the archive dates are.
    If you apply a TO_CHAR function to the date field, such as EVALUATE('TO_CHAR(%1,%2)' as char, "Project Info"."Snapshot Date",'mm/dd/yyyy'), the filter dialog will do what you want:
    pastedImage_3.png

  • Jerry Casey
    Jerry Casey Rank 6 - Analytics Lead

    I should have explained that any conversion function (such as CAST) would do the same thing, but the "TO_CHAR" function gives you control of the format.
    If I use evaluate('TO_CHAR(%1,%2)' as char, "Your Date", 'yyyy / mm'), it looks exactly like your original requirement:
    pastedImage_1.png

  • User_G9FVN
    User_G9FVN Rank 2 - Community Beginner

    Thanks but this will generate unwanted SQL query. When OBIEE generate SQL, I want the Date column will be in the Where clause so I can use partition. That's why I use date column for Descriptor ID of month name column so user can select month name on analysis and SQL query will have the date column in where clause.

  • Martin van Donselaar
    Martin van Donselaar Rank 6 - Analytics Lead

    Please describe your data-model, If you have a proper time dimension set up (in your data-model as well as in BMM) then this shouldn't be an issue, you shouldn't have to use Descriptor ID to enforce use of index/partition.

  • User_G9FVN
    User_G9FVN Rank 2 - Community Beginner

    I have a fact table that join with time table on AS_OF_DATE column. My fact table have partitions on AS_OF_DATE column. When user create an analysis, I want them to filter by month name but in SQL generated it must be filter by AS_OF_DATE column (so partitioning could work) so I set AS_OF_DATE as descriptor id column of month name. My time table only contains the last days of months.

    The display problem that I mentioned above really an issue. Please test in your environment and tell me if the same problem happen to you.