All Time OBIEE Interview Questions

1. What is OBIEE?

Obiee is a ‘Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition’ and it is a tool which is used to develop enterprise wide reports. So, in simple words it is a report generation tool such as crystal reports. OBIEE is previous called as Seibel Analytic tool before it is acquired by Oracle that now it is called OBIEE tool.

2.What is the meaning behind OBIEE?

A: The initials come from Oracle Business intelligence Enterprise Edition which is a package of BI products.

3.What Business Intelligence (BI) means by definition?

A: It is a protocol and a technique to analyze and report about the state of the business data at a particular time.

4.What types of variable we find in OBIIE?

A: Two types exist and these are the repository variables and session variables. The first kind remains the same anytime and gives birth to other two types: static and dynamic. The static variable changes only when the Siebel Analytics Server administrator wants to make a change.

The dynamic variable updates every time a query is executed by a schedule from the Siebel Analytics Server. The second type (session variables) received a new value every time a user is logging on and this second type also splits into other two subtypes: system and nonsystem.

5.What does Data Level Security in OBIEE?

A: Its role is the control of data type and amount seen in a report. Each user may see a different report according to the access that they have in the company.

6.What is Object Level Security?

A: The Object Level Security is to protect the things like folder, pages reports and dashboards that exist in the Siebel Analytics Web Catalog.

7.What is the difference between ITS (Logical Table Source) and multiple LTS?

A: In the majority of our time we will deal with multiple LTS which means that multiple physical layer tables are using data instead of a single layer table that is the conditions for single LTS.

8.How can we use the Query Repository tool?

A: With this tool we can search and analyze the name and type or other descriptions from a database.

9.How can we describe the implicit fact column?

A: We can define it as a joining or combination of data or columns from various tables. It is used as a transition layer to the final result.

10. How can the management of the cache made?

A: It could split in three distinct ways: in the first case we can disable the cache of the server by setting a parameter to NO from the NQConfig.INI file and then a restart of the server. This method will stop the queries from updating or using the cache. In the second case we can adjust the cache at every physical table from the general settings where we will find the “Make cacheable” option.

In this way the queries will be able to use the cache and update it. In the third case event polling data table is used to keep an eye of the updates made on each table.

11.Can we tell the difference between a system and a non system variable?

A: Yes, for example system variables are those session variables used by Siebel Analytics Web and Sever and they we can’t use them for static variables, dynamic repository or non system session variables. On the other hand non system variables or non system session variables can be used as a filter for users.

12. Is it possible to make new logical columns for BMM layer?

A: Yes it is possible and we can see this example: we can rightdick on fact table and we will find here the command to make new logical column and we can name it.

13.What is the meaning of LBM?

A: LBM is Level Based Metrics meaning how measure is classified in terms of dimension.

14.What is the definition and use of Alias tables?

A: The duplicated made for the tables of a database are called Alias tables and they are links to the properties like rows, columns of the original tables.

15.How to handle ragged hierarchy?

A: It is similar to a geographic hierarchy with Continents, countries, Provinces/States/ and Cities all defined as levels. The Ragged hierarchy comes into place when we have two different models, one with a Provence and one without, because in that case the chosen Country does not support Provinces or States. The second model is a ragged hierarchy.

16.Is it possible that for a single dimension logical table to have multiple dimensional hierarchy?

A: Once we right click a logical table and make a new dimensional hierarchy it’s not possible to make another one from the same table so for every dimension logical table we will have only one hierarchy.

17. How can we log on as administrators in Siebel?

A: A dialog box from the Manage area of the admin tool can allow us to setup different user ID’s. From there if we select a user we can see that we can modify the level and save it.

18.How different levels of access authentication are classified?

A: The levels are in number of four and their role is to block access to various databases or tables:

1) Operating level- without this authentication no one can get access in the application as this is the highest level of restriction.
2) Table- every physical table can be restricted.
3) Database- This can give total or partial access to the database by a user and a password to the user or can restrict all the access.
4) LDAP- or Lightweight
Directory Access Protocol it provides access limits for various folders or directories.

19.How one can know what report corresponds to a given table?

A: In order to discover this, after we run the report, we must arrive in the Administration tab and click Manage Sessions.

20. What benefits brings OBIEE usage?

A: 1) It brings an excellent interactive, complex SI functionality and environment. 2) Increases in the insight of each individual by the role in the company. 3) Good infrastructure and Unified Business model. 4) Flexibility and good integration with every data. 5) High performance.

21. Where is OBIEE stands in the development environment?

OLTP(Transactional Database) —-> OLAP (Data warehouse environment)—-> OBIEE(report generation tool).
(or)
OLTP(Transactional database)—–> OBIEE (reporting tool)

i.eObiee tool can extract data directly from transactional database or data warehouse environment to build reports. It all depends upon the environment setup at clients place.

22. Pre-requisites of a OBIEE developer?

 Need to have good SQL knowledge and understanding or developing of PL/SQL statements.
 Data warehouse knowledge or little bit of experience such as Informatica.
 Good Analytical skills as you need to make reports out of existing data warehouse tables.
 Ability to talk to clients to gather requirements.
 Good understanding of various industrial modules such as sales, finance, inventory, marketing etc..

Setup your own BI environment in your system to practice OBIEE tool before attending any interviews. You need to install oracle 10g or Oracle 11g as a database and OBIEE 10 or OBIEE 11g . It is better to practice obiee 11g as many clients are going to implement obiee 11g in future..

23. Define repository in terms of Siebel Analytics?

* Repository stores the Meta data information. Siebel repository is a file system ,extension of the repository file. rpd.
* META DATA REPOSITORY
* With Siebel Analytics Server, all the rules needed for security, data modeling, aggregate navigation, caching, and connectivity is stored in metadata repositories.
* Each metadata repository can store multiple business models. Siebel Analytics Server can access multiple repositories.

24. What is the end to end life cycle of Siebel Analytics?

Siebel Analytics life cycle:

1. Gather Business Requirements
2. Identify source systems
3. Design ETL to load to a DW if source data doesn’t exist.
4. Build a repository
5. Build dashboard or use answers for reporting.
6. Define security (LDAP or External table…)
7. Based on performance, decide on aggregations and/or caching mechanism.
8. Testing and QA.

25. If you have 3 facts and 4 dimension and you need to join would you recommend joining fact with fact? If no than what is the option? Why you won’t join fact to fact?

In the BMM layer, create one logical table (fact) and add the 3 fact table as logical table source.

26. How do you define the relationship between facts and dimensions in BMM layer?
Using complex join ,we can define relationship between facts and dimensions in BMM layer.

27. Did you create any new logical column in BMM layer, how?

Yes. We can create new logical column in BMM layer.

Example: Right click on fact table -new logical column-give name for new logical column like Total cost.

Now in fact table source, we have one option column mapping, in that we can do all calculation for that new column.

28. Can you use physical join in BMM layer?

Yes we can use physical join in BMM layer. When there is SCD type 2 we need complex join in BMM layer.

29. Can you use outer join in BMM layer?

yes we can. When we are doing complex join in BMM layer ,there is one option type, outer join is there.

30. What are other ways of improving summary query reports other than Aggregate Navigation and Cache Management?

Indexes
Join algorithm
Mat/view query rewrite
Web proper report design its optimal by making sure that it is not getting any addition column or rows

31. What is variable in Siebel?

You can use variables in a repository to streamline administrative tasks and modify metadata content dynamically to adjust to a changing data environment. The Administration Tool includes a Variable Manager for defining variables.

32. What is system variable and non system variable?

System variables

*System variables are session variables that the Siebel Analytics Server and Siebel Analytics Web use for specific purposes. System variables have reserved names, which cannot be used for other kinds of variables (such as static or dynamic repository variables, or for nonsystem session variables).
*When using these variables in the Web,preface their names with NQ_SESSION. For example, to filter a column on the value of the variable LOGLEVEL set the filter to the Variable NQ_SESSION.LOGLEVEL.

Nonsystem variables.

*A common use for nonsystem session variables is setting user filters. For example, you could define a nonsystem variable called SalesRegion that would be initialized to the name of the user.s sales region. You could then set a security filter for all members of a group that would allow them to see only data pertinent to their region.
*When using these variables in the Web, preface their names with NQ_SESSION. For example, to filter a column on the value of the variable SalesRegion set the filter to the Variable NQ_SESSION.SalesRegion.

33. What are different types of variables? Explain each.

There are two classes of variables:

1. Repository variables
2. Session variables.

34. What is Authentication? How many types of authentication.

Authentication is the process by which a system verifies, through the use of a user ID and password, that a user has the necessary permissions and authorizations to log in and access data.

The Siebel Analytics Server authenticates each connection request it receives.

” Operaing system authentication
” External table authentication
” Database authentication
” LDAP authentication

35. What is object level security?

There are two types of object level security: Repository level and Web level

36. What is data level security?

This controls the type an amount of data that you can see in a report. When multiple users run the same report the results that are returned to each depend on their access rights and roles in the organization. For example a sales vice president sees results for all regions, while a sales representative for a particular region sees only data for that region.

37. What is the difference between Data Level Security and Object Level Security?

Data level security controls the type and amount of data that you can see in a reports. Objectlevel security provides security for objects stored in the Siebel analytics web catalog, like dashboards, dashboards pages, folder, and reports.

38. If you have 2 fact and you want to do report on one with quarter level and the other with month level how do you do that with just one time dimension?

Using levelbasematrics.

39. Did you work on a standalone Siebel system or was it integrated to other platforms?

Deploying the Siebel analytics platform without other Siebel applications is called Siebel analytics Stand -Alone .If your deployment includes other Siebel Analytics Application it called integrated analytics -You can say Stand-Alone siebel analytics.

40. What is complex join, and where it is used?

we can join dimension table and fact table in BMM layer using complex join. when there is SCD type 2 we have to use complex join in Bmm layer.

41. Where can you add new groups and set permissions?

you can add groups by going to manage>security>add new groups> You can give permissions to a group for query limitation and filter conditions.

42. What are the things you can do in the BMM layer?

Aggregation navigation, level base metrics, time series wizard, create new logical column, complex join.

43. How do you bring/relate the aggregate tables into the Siebel analytics Logical layer?

One way of bringing the Aggregate Tables into the BMM layer is by bringing them as Logical Table sources for the corresponding Fact table.

This is done by dragging and dropping the aggregate table into the corresponding fact table. After doing that establish the column mappings and the set the aggregation levels.

44. Can you have multiple data sources in Siebel Analytics?

Yes.

45. Why do we have multiple LTS in BMM layer? What is the purpose?

to improve the performance and query response time.

46. what is the full form of rpd?

there is no full form for rpd as such, it is just a repository file (Rapidfile Database)

47. What type of protocol did you use in SAS?

TCP/IP

48. In Siebel analytics, describe repository?

Meta data information is stored in repository. It is a file system which is an extension of repository file. All the rules needed for data modeling, security, and caching, aggregate navigation, connectivity is stored in repositories of metadata. Multiple business models are stored in every metadata repository. Multiple repositories can be gained access by Siebel analytics server.

49. In Siebel analytics, describe the end to end life cycle?

The life cycle of Siebel analytics is as follows:

• Business requirements are gathered.
• Source systems are identified.
• ETL is designed to load to DW if source data do not exist.
• Repository is built.
• Dashboard is build or answers are used for reporting.
• Security is defined.
• Select caching mechanism and aggregations based on the performance.
• Testing and QA

50. What is the solution when connecting to multiple dimensions and fact tables?

The logical fact table has to be made on a BMM layer that has an upper level.