Understanding the PerformancePoint Command Utility (PPSCMD)

PPSCMD is the PerformancePoint Command Utility which is installed with the PerformancePoint Business Modeler.   The tool is run from the command line and is called ppscmd.exe.   The tool allows you to automate processes like loading data, updating dimensions and creating and deleting objects in PerformancePoint.  More than likely you will integrate ppscmd into an SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) package or create batch files and run it from the command line.  Prior to CTP4 there was not a lot of documentation on the utility except in the Data Integration help file (search for: "Scriptable data integration").  In CTP4 the ppscmd utility is well documented in the Operation Guide (search for: "Using the PerformancePoint Planning Command Utility"). 

If you are running it from the command line you will want to add ppscmd.exe to the computers path.  Below is an example of how to export the Account Dimension using  ppscmd :

ppscmd ExportDimension /server http://myserver:46787  /app My_Application /site Corporate /dim Account "My Documents"

Here is how it works. 

• ExportDimesion is the command you are executing 
• /server option is the PerformancePoint Server address 
• /app option is the PerformancePoint application 
• /site option is the model site within the application  
• /dim option is the dimension you are exporting

Finally the "My Documents" is the destination folder on the local machine for the export.  This script will create a comma separated file with all the Account Dimension data.   This is useful if you want to make some manual changes to the Account Dimension.  You can export the Account dimension file and make the changes in Excel.  You could then use the ppscmd to import it back into PerformancePoint.  Of course you could just use the Business Modeler to do this but it depends on what type of changes you need to make.  Excel has a lot of useful formulas and sorting functionality which can save you a lot of time especially if you have a large number of members in a Dimension.

Troy

 

Technorati Tags: performancepoint, performance point, sql server 2005, budgeting, planning, business intelligence

Forms & Reports in PerformancePoint - Part 1 of 4

In this 4 part series I will discuss the different methods of creating Forms & Report in Performance Point Planning.  This post will be an introduction to what Forms and Reports are and a summary of the different approaches that can be used to create them.

Technically Forms and Reports are the same type of objects.  Regardless of whether you are creating a Form or Report you must start the process by creating a Report.  If you want to use the Report as a form you simply publish it using the Excel Add-in menu (the form must meet certain criteria to function properly).  Forms allow you to use Reports for data entry by assigning it to an Assignment.  It is also important to note that a report is made up of one or more matrixes.  Each matrix can only be based on one PerformancePoint Model. There are three methods for creating a matrix and they are all accessed through the Excel Addin:

Authoring Pane

• The documentation refers to it as a "dynamic user interface"
• It is completely GUI based
• It has some simple wizards for initially setting up the matrix
• It has a design section for placing the dimensions in the row, column and filter sections of the report
• PerformancePoint Excel Add-in help file provides detailed instructions on how to use this (Search for: "About the Authoring pane")
• Note: Include the double quotes when searching the help file

Report Wizard

• Wizard based tool that allows you to create a report based on a template
• If you don't want to use an existing template you can start with the "blank" template
• Once a report has been created with the Report Wizard you cannot use any other method to modify the report
• You can also save the report as a template when you are finished
• PerformancePoint Excel Add-in help file provides detailed instructions on how to use this (Search for: "Creating a report using the Report Wizard")

Custom MDX

• It does not use a GUI
• This approach gives you the most flexibility
• Its the approach I use for my Report and Form development
• Once a report is uses custom MDX it cannot use the Authoring Pane
• It is for advanced users or for users that want to spend some time to learn MDX
• You will want to have access to a developer tool like SQL Server Management Studio to write and test the MDX Queries
• Minor modification may be required to the MDX before using it in a report (e.g. using the CurrentPeriod variable)
• Here are some books you can use to get up to speed on the topic: 
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Server
  • MDX Solutions

In Part 2 I will review how to create a matrix using the Authoring Pane and the Report Wizard (using the CTP4 release).  These approaches are fairly straightforward because they are "wizard" based.  Parts 3 and 4 of the series will focus on Custom MDX.

 

Troy

 

Technorati Tags: analysis services, budgeting, business intelligence, performance point, performancepoint, planning, sql server 2005

PerformancePoint Server CTP4 2007 Released

PerformancePoint Server CTP4 was released this week on Wednesday, August 15 on the Microsoft Connect Site.  My main focus for PerformancePoint has been with the Planning components.  There has been some notable changes for Planning in this release:

Ability to Upgrade from CTP2 to CTP4

• It is now possible to upgrade the entire system including the Planning Applications in CTP4 from CTP2
• Detailed instructions are provided in the Documentation in the PPSDeployment and PPSOperations Guide (definitely read this before upgrading)
• Note: Software prerequisites for SQL Server 2005 has changed. It requires build 3161 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=93385)

Business Modeler

•  PPSCmd (Business Modeler command-line utility) now has the ability to deploy and reprocess model and data
• PPSCmd is also used in the upgrade process from CTP2 to CTP4
•  More Business Rules Templates.  Below is a snapshot of the some of the templates for Definition Rules:

Excel Client

• There is an important note in the documentation that states that the Excel Add-in is not production ready in CTP4
• There has been some performance improvements like the ability to download a subcube for the assignments.
• Reviewer and Approver changes are now handled through a single dialog

In terms of PerofrmancePoint Planning server there have been improvements to the performance and security.  Additional details on what is new for Planning and Monitoring can be found in the "What's New" documents that comes with PerformancePoint.

I was able to upgrade one of my Virtual PC to CTP4 for Planning without installing build 3161 for SQL Server. You have to request build 3161 from Microsoft. Once I have the build I will try the upgrade again and post my results.

Troy

Technorati Tags: planning, performancepoint, budgeting, sql server 2005, performance point, business intelligence, analysis services