Learn who DesignBi is for:

DesignBi for users

The ability to easily work with large amounts of data can be a revelation for users not used to the power of OLAP-enabled reporting tools.

Analyzer (Windows and WEB):

• Our “Analyzer” reporting system comes as both windows and web versions, with identical
capabilities.
• Easy-to-use OLAP functionality: filtering, “drag and drop” selection of dimensions, drill mode etc.

Dashboard (Windows and WEB):

• For an integrated view of the organization our dashboards use a library of elegant
graphical objects.
• Dashboards “click through” to the underlying Analyzer reports, if required.

Microsoft Excel as a front-end:

• For those that prefer it Microsoft Excel can be used to connect to the DesignBi
multi-dimensional database.
• With data safely in the DesignBi database spreadsheets remain small in size.

Base functionality — Analyzer

• An easy-to-use report designer presents the user with all the dimensions and facts available for the cube they have selected, which they then drag and drop into the column, row or filter.

• Filter values can be set for hierarchies as well as standard dimensions, and all current settings are shown in an information pane.

• Report views can be standard or drill mode (where user can navigate to the specific data they need, with all other data discarded from the report)

• If the user has a lot of report selections to make, switching to design mode allows these to be made prior to re-querying the data.

Parameter Assistant – unique to DesignBi – is a simple set of screens that appear before the user opens any Analyzer report. It allows them to choose:

• A date which sets the effective date for master data and hierarchies that may be slowly moving their values over time (“slowly moving dimensions”)

• Parameters (set by the designer using the BI Design suite) that allow users to optionally pre- filter the data they want to work with in Analyzer (or Excel). This recognizes that users often only want to work with part of the data available to them. It also improves initial load performance

• The hierarchies that the user wants (as at the date selected). DesignBi supports external hierarchies (even time dependent ones). Multiple hierarchies for any one dimension are supported.

Dashboards
• Web-based to allow access from anywhere to a single view of your organization’s data

• A library of dashboard objects (graphs, charts etc)

• Can be created by users, not just the professional IT support staff

Users in different countries
• All the report meta-data - for example, the name of the report and the labels used to describe your dimensions (e.g. “Customer”, “Date” etc.) - appear in the language (as many as you need) set by the user at log-on.

WinAnalyzer
• To view WebAnalyzer reports the user just needs an internet browser. No software is downloaded to their computer.

• Ajax technology means the WebAnalyzer has a Windows-like “feel” and the whole screen does not refresh at every click.

There’s more
• Use Excel as a front-end to DesignBi data. Instead of “copy last month’s spreadsheet to create this month’s version”, simply connect to DesignBi

• Real-time information: DesignBi supports loading of data in real time so users see the most up-to-date information

• Pre-loaded date master data

• Export to Excel from Analyzer

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DesignBi for the Designers

Although largely hidden from the end-users the Designer part of DesignBi is by far the largest part of the system and provides a powerful development environment for the creation and maintenance of business intelligence objects. What follows is just a glimpse of what’s on offer.

Cube design
• Master data designer, including any associated hierarchies and ranges. Reusable in as many cubes as required. DesignBi has the concept of master data “collectives” which means that new master data information can simply be added to the collective, so long as a common primary key is available.

• Physical cubes, easily built by simply adding the physical master data required and defining the fact columns

• Logical cubes - support for multiple logical cubes for any one physical cube, adding calculated facts, defining levels, level names etc

• The physical database build (Kimball compliant) is handled by DesignBi. A data dictionary is available to view all created bi objects.

PSA design & loading from source systems
DesignBi supports the use of PSA (“Persistent Storage Area”) tables as a safe staging area for data introduced from your source systems to the cube.

• PSA table designer

• Source data (master data, transaction and hierarchy) cleansing and transformation is handled by use of “direct”, “replacement”, “rule”, or “combine” functionality

• Source data types handled include: external databases, internal databases, Excel files, csv files, tab-delimited text files, or xml files

• File handling allows you to configure source and destination directories for processing files

• Complete control over loading from source systems - configure part loads, full loads etc for different anticipated circumstances

Supporting project delivery
DesignBi allows you to work in a project lifecycle, with active and modified configurations separated, and changes handled safely using an activation menu. Also:

• Export and import of cube configuration, or part thereof

• Maintaining and enhancing cubes that already contain data - e.g. adding facts, adding new master data, changes of any kind to logical cubes

DesignBi Designer:

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DesignBi for the Systems Administrators

We have not forgotten that someone has to keep an eye on even the smoothest run business intelligence system. Here are some features that will help:

Administrator tools
• The BI Loader screens allow you start, and view data loads from source systems through to the cubes. DesignBi handles the load to the cubes, the adding of surrogate numeric keys etc.

• View load history

• Manual start of load or use process scheduler to automate the load process

• Dropping of master data

• Optimize cube for peak performance with just one click

• System recovery from cube locks

Deployment

• WebAnalyzer and Dashboard require only a web page. No software is required on the users’ computers

• DesignBi’s 3-tier architecture allows you to take advantage of cheap hardware and scale up as either your business or use of DesignBi grows

• WinAnalyzer has a modest computer requirement

• Integrated VPN (“Virtual Private Network”)

• Automatic load balancing

Support
• Configuration can be undertaken remotely from the server location, by your staff or ours

• Alternatively the export and import of configuration functions allow your staff or ours to take a look at your set-up.

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Software companies

• For software companies that want to embed business intelligence into their applications, please contact us. We are a congenial team and are happy to discuss flexible arrangements that will benefit you and your customers.

• If you are running SAP R/3 or SAP BW, we have interfaces to help you make use of DesignBi.

Technical innovation

Technical highlights:
• Able to run on many different operating systems

• Able to on many different databases. More being added all the time.

• Three-tier architecture with load balancing, allowing you to make use of inexpensive hardware and scale up as your use of DesignBi grows

• Integrated VPN (“virtual private network”) software to allow access to your servers from anywhere

Hosting- ready

Two possibilities:

• We have a hosting service available if you want secure management of your data on our servers. Servers are located in mainland Europe, Jersey (Channel Islands) or the UK. Other sites are being added

• If you want to host business intelligence solutions for your clients, then DesignBi is an ideal choice. Please contact us and we are happy to discuss your needs.