We are running an ORACLE 7.3 database and have in a lot of tables already stored information about the attributes inside comments.
All the directions below assume ALL_COL_COMMENTS is populated.
(1) Creating a new universe. Use the Quick Design Wizard. On the welcome window, check off “Click here to choose strategies”. Select an object strategy - External Strategy:Classes and Objects from the drop down list. Following thru using the wizard and the Oracle comments will be in the BusinessObjects object descriptions.
(2) Adding new tables (and related classes and objects) to an existing universe. Go to File | Parameters | Strategy tab. Choose Objects
External Strategy : Classes and Objects. Then, from the menu bar, select Insert | Canidate Objects. Select as applicable. These new objects will have the Oracle comments in the BusinessObjects object descripions.
(3) Updating the definitions once the universe has been created. Options are cut and paste from the oracle table into the objects, create a script (possibly based on a trigger) to update the repository.
Note1 : Using the table browser to bring new tables into the universe does not read the strategy file, therefore, the associated Oracle comments will not be brought into the universe.
Note2 : the English version of the strategy file used is located in BusinessObjects/Oracle/stora7EN.txt. This strategy file brigs in the comments into the universe via the substring functio on the Oracle comments column, therefore, if the comments are being truncated in BusinessObjects, simply increase the substring parameter as needed.
In summary, if BusinessObjects uses the strategy file to perform the action, then the comments will be brought in. On the other hand, if the strategy file is not being used, the comments will not be brought into the universe.
HTH,
Best Regards, Lori S. Furda
Sage Solutions, Inc.
Lori_SAGE@solution4u.com
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)