Select the appropriate item for the expression you want to build. Double-click a building block to display it in the edit pane. To insert an operator into the expression, click an operator on the Expression Repeat the preceding steps until the expression

17-6 Metadata Repository Builders Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition Figure 17–3 Example Logical Column Function in the Editing Pane Navigating Within Expression Builder Use the following procedure to navigate within Expression Builder. To navigate within Expression Builder: 1. In the Category pane, select the appropriate category for the expression you want to build. The available expression types for the selected category appear in the middle pane.

2. Select the appropriate item for the expression you want to build.

The available building blocks for the selected item appear in the lower pane.

3. Double-click a building block to display it in the edit pane.

4. To insert an operator into the expression, click an operator on the Expression

Builder toolbar. Building an Expression Use this procedure to build an expression in Expression Builder. To build an expression: 1. Navigate to the individual building blocks you want in the expression. The Syntax bar at the bottom of the Expression Builder dialog shows the syntax for the expression. For example: BETWEEN Upper Bound AND Lower Bound 2. Add the building blocks to the edit pane. 3. Edit the building blocks to reflect the expression you want. 4. Use the Expression Builder toolbar to insert operators into the expression.

5. Repeat the preceding steps until the expression is complete, and then click OK.

Using Expression Builder and Other Utilities 17-7 The Administration Tool displays a message for any syntax errors in the expression. When the expression is syntactically correct, the Administration Tool adds the expression to the dialog from which you accessed Expression Builder. Note that if the parameter PREVENT_DIVIDE_BY_ZERO is set to YES in NQSConfig.INI, the Oracle BI Server prevents errors in divide-by-zero situations, even for Answers column calculations. The Oracle BI Server creates a divide-by-zero prevention expression using nullif or a similar function when it writes the physical SQL. Because of this, you do not have to use CASE statements to avoid divide-by-zero errors, as long as PREVENT_DIVIDE_BY_ZERO is set to YES the default value. See Oracle Fusion Middleware System Administrators Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition for more information about configuration settings. About the INDEXCOL Conversion Function The INDEXCOL function enables you to build a derived logical column. Selecting INDEXCOL automatically generates the following function template: IndexCol integer literal, expr1 [, expr2, ?-] Note: The argument integer literal can also be a session variable, an arithmetic expression, or a CASE WHEN statement evaluation must be possible without reference to back-end data. See INDEXCOL for more information. Using Administration Tool Utilities In addition to Expression Builder, the Administration Tool provides several utilities and wizards that perform functions like renaming objects, persisting aggregates, and externalizing strings. This section contains the following topics: ■ Using the Replace Column or Table Wizard ■ Using the Oracle BI Event Tables Utility ■ Using the Externalize Strings Utility ■ Using the Rename Wizard ■ Using the Update Physical Layer Wizard ■ Generating Documentation of Repository Mappings ■ Generating a Metadata Dictionary ■ Removing Unused Physical Objects ■ Persisting Aggregates Using the Replace Column or Table Wizard The Replace Column or Table Wizard automates the process of replacing physical columns or tables in logical table sources. For example, if you have purchased Oracle BI Applications, you can update your logical table sources to map to a different database type. You can also use this utility to change logical table source mappings from a development table to a production table. 17-8 Metadata Repository Builders Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition You can use the Replace Column or Table Wizard to replace a single column within the same table, or to replace an entire table. If you replace a table, you must map all the columns in the table. To replace a physical column in logical table sources: 1. In the Administration Tool, select Tools, then select Utilities. 2. Select Replace Column or Table in Logical Table Sources and click Execute. 3. In the Select Object screen, select Replace single column only. 4. In the left pane, select the physical column that you want to replace. You must select a valid column. For example, you cannot select a column that is used in a logical table source that has more than one table as a source. 5. In the right pane, select the physical column that you want to use as a replacement for the original column. Then, click Next. 6. The Select Sources screen shows all logical table sources that map to the physical column you selected. Select the logical table sources in which you want to change the physical column mapping. Select Show Qualified Names to see the full context for each source. If you select an invalid logical table source, or in other words, one that cannot be used for replacement, a message appears explaining why that source cannot be used, and the check box for that source is disabled. Note that invalid logical table sources do not appear in the list when Hide unusable logical table sources in Replace wizard has been selected in the General tab of the Options dialog. Instead, the Info button is displayed when a logical table source that maps to that column does not appear in the list. Click Info to see details on why the physical objects could not be replaced in the logical table source or sources. The Select Sources screen only appears if there are multiple logical table sources that map to the physical column you selected. Click Next after you have selected logical table sources. 7. When the repository is open in online mode, the Checkout screen appears. In online mode, objects need to be checked out before you can make changes to them. Click Next to check out the necessary objects. 8. The Finish screen displays a summary of the objects that will be replaced. If you want to make changes, click Back, or select a particular step from the navigation panel.

9. Click Finish.