In order to work with a data warehouse, or any other kind of data source, you use a data model. A data model is a map that Cognos relies on to guide the extraction and formatting of data from the data source. Each data model resides in a file called a package. You tell Cognos which data source you want to work with by going into one of the reporting tools (such as Query Studio) and selecting the package that contains the proper data model.
The initial set of available data models were built specifically for the OUS data warehouses. There is also customized documentation for each:
- Finance (FIS) Data Warehouse
- HR Aggregate Data Warehouse – Coming soon
- HR 5th-Site Data Warehouse – Coming soon
These data models are provided so that reports can be converted from BI Query into Cognos–but please keep in mind that BI Query is still the “reporting tool of record” at most, if not all, OUS campuses.
Data models share a common, hierarchical structure. In general, there are three levels: data subject => data objects => data attributes. For example: in the FIS model, is this combination: “General Ledger” => “Fund” => “Fund ID”.
