How to install BI Composer

BI Composer is a simple wizard driven interface for creating reports that can be used in place of the analysis editing screen to allow users to build basic reports with minimal training.

Whilst BI Composer does come as part of the OBIEE package, it is not installed by default. The following instructions show how to install it.

Note these instructions are based on an OBIEE 11.1.1.6.4 installation, they may be different for earlier or later versions, especially pre 11.1.1.6.2BP1.

 

The installation is in two parts. The first deploys the BI Composer elements to WebLogic, the second exposes them to the OBIEE user.

Before beginning, OBIEE and WebLogic must be shut down – the OPMN, the BI Server and  the Admin Server. Run your normal stop script to shutdown these services. The Node Manager can be left running if your script doesn’t stop it anyway.

We now need to run the Fusion Middleware configuration wizard. This can be found in the OBIEE_HOME/wlserver_10.3/common/bin directory. Under windows it is config.exe, under Linux, config.sh

When the welcome screen appears, choose the ‘Extend an existing WebLogic domain’ option and click Next.

 

 

You are now asked which WebLogic domain you with to extend. The directory should default to the OBIEE_HOME/user_projects/domains directory - Choose the bifoundation_domain within it and click Next.

To select the Extension source you need to select the ‘Extend my domain using an existing extension template’ option and click the Browse button.

 

Browse to the OBIEE_HOME\Oracle_BI1\common\templates\applications directory and select the file oracle.bicomposer_template_11.1.1.jar.

Back in the ‘Select Extension Source’ screen click Next.

In the ‘Configure JDBC Component Schema’ screen leave the settings as they are and click Next.

No actions are required in the ‘Test JDBC Component Schema’, again just click Next.

No Optional Configurations are required, leave the check boxes unchecked and click Next.

In the Configuration Summary screen click Extend to begin.

The Extending should only take a few seconds, once complete click Done.

The WebLogic side of the installation is now complete. Restart all of the weblogic and OBIEE services before continuing.

All we really need to do to enable BI Composer in OBIEE is make a minor change to the instanceconfig.xml file, however the setting in question (<BICOMPOSER><ENABLED>) is controlled by the enterprise manager – if you just change the instanceconfig.xml file it will be overwritten next time OBIEE is restarted.

Load the Enterprise Manager and login with the weblogic or administrator user.

Expand the WebLogic Domain, right-click on bifoundation_domain and select the System MBean Browser.

Scroll down and expand to Application Defined MBeans -> oracle.biee.admin -> Domain: bifoundation_domain -> BIDomain -> BIDomain (this last BIDomain being the second BIDomain underneath BIDomain – don’t ask, I don’t know anymore than you do! – just see the screenshot below...)

Then in the right-hand pane click on the Operations tab.

In here click on lock.

Then click the Invoke button.

You should see the confirmation that the operation succeeded. Click Return.

We have now locked the domain so that we are able to make the BI Composer change.

Scroll up the list of MBeans a little way, expand BIDomain.BIInstance.PresentationConfiguration then click on BIDomain.BIInstance.PresentationConfiguration underneath it.

In the list of attributes you’ll see near the top the BIComposerEnabled attribute, which is currenly set to False.

Change this to True.

Then click Apply and check you get the confirmation message.

Now back in the MBean list, go back down to BIDomain -> BIDomain, and into the Operations tab.

This time click on the first ‘commit’ (the one with the description starting ‘Same as commit (“Error”);’)

Click the Invoke button.

Wait for the confirmation message and click return.

If you want to be sure this has worked you can look in the instanceconfig.xml file (located under OBIEE_HOME\instances\instance1\config\OracleBIPresentationServicesComponent\coreapplication_obips1), towards the of the file you should find the following tag:

<BIComposer>

<!--This Configuration setting is managed by Oracle Enterprise Manager Fusion Middleware Control-->

<Enabled>true</Enabled>

</BIComposer>

Finally restart the OBIEE services - you can do this whilst in the Enterprise manager using the Restart button in the Business Intelligence Instance Overview screen:

That’s it, BI Composer is now ready for use. To activate it for a user, login to OBIEE then go to the ‘My Account’ screen:

Under the Analysis Editor there is now a new option – Wizard (limited functionality). This is BI Composer. Select it and click Ok.

Now click New -> Analysis from the menu bar:

Pick a subject Area and the BI Composer wizard will start up.

I’m not going to show you how to use the Wizard…you can probably figure that out for yourself! 

Have Fun...