What is Oracle BI Discoverer?

1 Introducing Oracle BI Discoverer 1-1 1 Introducing Oracle BI Discoverer This chapter introduces Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer and contains the following topics: ■ Section 1.1, What is Oracle BI Discoverer? ■ Section 1.2, What are the new features in Discoverer 11g Release 1 11.1.1? ■ Section 1.3, About Oracle BI Discoverer installations ■ Section 1.4, About configuring Oracle BI Discoverer ■ Section 1.5, How to confirm an Oracle BI Discoverer installation ■ Section 1.6, About connecting to Discoverer ■ Section 1.7, What is the Oracle BI Discoverer architecture? ■ Section 1.8, About the Discoverer client tier ■ Section 1.9, About the Discoverer middle tier ■ Section 1.10, About the Discoverer database tier ■ Section 1.11, How does Oracle BI Discoverer work? ■ Section 1.12, Oracle BI Discoverer Navigation 1.1 What is Oracle BI Discoverer? Oracle BI Discoverer is a business intelligence tool for analyzing data and is a key component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Discoverer provides an integrated business intelligence solution that comprises intuitive ad-hoc query, reporting, analysis, and Web-publishing functionality. These tools enable non-technical users to gain immediate access to information from data marts, data warehouses, multidimensional OLAP data sources, and online transaction processing systems. Discoverer integrates seamlessly with Oracle Portal, Oracle WebCenter, and Oracle WebLogic Portal enabling rapid deployment of Discoverer workbooks and worksheets to Web portals. Oracle BI Discoverer consists of several integrated components that work with the Oracle database to give you a complete and integrated Business Intelligence solution. Figure 1–1 shows the Discoverer components. 1-2 Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Figure 1–1 Discoverer components The two main Oracle BI Discoverer business analysis tools for end users are: ■ Discoverer Plus is a Web tool that enables users to analyze data and create reports without having to understand difficult database concepts. Using Wizard dialogs and menus, Discoverer Plus guides users through the steps needed to create powerful reports and charts that can be accessed using Discoverer Plus, Discoverer Viewer, Oracle Portal, and Oracle WebCenter. Figure 1–2 Oracle BI Discoverer Plus Introducing Oracle BI Discoverer 1-3 ■ Discoverer Viewer is a Web tool for accessing interactive reports and charts created using Discoverer Plus. Because Discoverer Viewer is a thin client HTML tool, users require only a Web browser to run Discoverer Viewer. Discoverer Viewer can also be used to publish reports into a portal, and is easily customized to conform to a particular Web site look and feel. Discoverer Viewer is optimized for performance and designed to minimize network traffic. Figure 1–3 Oracle BI Discoverer Viewer Discoverer includes Portlet Provider, which enables you to publish Discoverer worksheets and graphs in various portals for more information, see Oracle Fusion Middleware Guide to Publishing Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Portlets. Discoverer includes Discoverer Web Services, an Application Programming Interface API that enables you to obtain Discoverer connections, workbooks, and worksheets, execute queries, and return worksheet content using: ■ A Java client application using the SOAP protocol For more information, see Section 1.9.1.4, What is the Discoverer Web Services servlet? . ■ Oracle BI Publisher a part of Oracle BI Enterprise Edition For more information, see Oracle BI Publisher User’s Guide. Oracle Fusion Middleware Control enables you to manage Discoverer middle-tier components. For more information, see Section 4.1, About Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control . A typical workflow for Discoverer is: ■ Discoverer Plus users sometimes referred to as power users create interactive reports and charts. Reports typically include powerful business intelligence 1-4 Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer components that enable end users to analyze data for example, parameters, conditions, and totals. ■ Discoverer Viewer users access the interactive reports and can typically personalize reports in a restricted number of ways for example, drilling to the data that they require, applying parameters, and adding stoplight formats. 1.2 What are the new features in Discoverer 11g Release 1 11.1.1?