Design: Cube Viewer as Widget

[image2x]

I'd like to sollict feedback on the feasibility of the following idea (pasted verbatim from an e-mail exchange):

Also, here's an idea I've been mulling over on how to achieve the ultimate design goals of speed, simplicity, customization, and column expand/collapse.

Out of the box, the native Perspectives cube viewer provides all of these things. What it lacks are (1) the ability to display multiple same-cube or other-cube views in a single cube viewer window, (2) the ability to include custom text/formatting in the view, and (3) wide-area performance.

If through the API or other mechanisms, the Cube Viewer could me managed programatically as a "widget", a wide range of design options would open up. By widget, I mean that the starting view could be controlled and updated thru server side logic. Imagine a screen with a left hand navigation pane and three (or more or less depending on the navigation selection) "frames" on the ride side. The top pane would be text/html area with context specific details. The other pane(s) would be cube viewer windows with starting views dictated by left hand selections and individual preferences/settings.

Assuming the app would be packaged as a customized Excel front end, the wide-area performance issue could be negated by installing two planning launch links, one for local and one for remote. Behind the scenes, the remote app would be delivered as a Citrix app-specific (as opposed to delivering a full desktop) environment.

To summarize, the UI we're seeking has to support:
a) drag/drop dimensional re-positioning
b) column expand/collapse (we're dealing with weekly detail across the x-axis)
c) guided navigation based on a user's profile (i.e starting view is customized)
d) professionally packaged as a stand-alone planning app (i.e. help screens, branded look, instruction text areas)
e) work well over wide-area connections

Thanks,
-- John

[tomok]

Sounds like a monumental task, given how "easy" it is to program in the API. If you''ve got 12 to 18 months available to work on it I say go for it.

[lotsaram]

To summarize, the UI we're seeking has to support:
a) drag/drop dimensional re-positioning
b) column expand/collapse (we're dealing with weekly detail across the x-axis)
c) guided navigation based on a user's profile (i.e starting view is customized)
d) professionally packaged as a stand-alone planning app (i.e. help screens, branded look, instruction text areas)
e) work well over wide-area connections

Thanks,
-- John

Hmmm, have you looked at EV version 9.5? It would seem to have most of what you are after.

[image2x]

Thanks lotsa... I've made arrangements to check out EV.

[comma]

Hmmm, have you looked at EV version 9.5? It would seem to have most of what you are after.

By EV do you mean Executive Viewer? Does version 9.5 exist? I only know Executive Viewer 9.4.0

[yyi]

this is just a weekend project made using vb.net - that can give you some ideas for "widget"
the console app was compiled using tm1 .net api v9.4.1 (probably works for anything higher too)
to run, you can drop it under your ~/tm1/bin directory and rename as *.exe

if you're interested, i can post the source code

[lotsaram]

By EV do you mean Executive Viewer? Does version 9.5 exist? I only know Executive Viewer 9.4.0

Yes. EV 9.5 release schedule was tethered to CX 9.5 release schedule so as far as I am aware it is available. Here is a link to the product documentation.
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... wg27019401
In particular look at the user guide "report canvas" feature which allows multiple (cube) views to be arranged within a single report. This is noted in the new features section as "The user can organize multiple views within a single workspace to create dashboard applications."

[paulsimon]

Hi yyi

I would be interested in the source code.

By the way, I couldn't read the file that you attached. It had a .xls extension but it was not recognised as an excel file.

Regards


Paul

[Alan Kirk]

Hi yyi
By the way, I couldn't read the file that you attached. It had a .xls extension but it was not recognised as an excel file.

He did mention that you need to rename it as .exe. Since it was compiled in vb.net, it can't really be an Excel workbook.

The Forum (indeed most phpBB forums) has a restriction on uploading .exes and some other kinds without renaming them; that way if anyone does download them they can only run them if they know exactly what they're getting themselves into. I'd guess that's why he renamed it as an .xls.

[image2x]

if you're interested, i can post the source code

yyi, thank you for sharing. I'm definitely interested in seeing the source (I need to recompile to take a look as I'm on 9.5.1).

-- John

[yyi]

the compiler created a lot of extraneous files so the proj folder is zipped.
file to open is *.vbproj
if you can't open, the form1.vb can be opened with any text editor.

it's a simple 1 form app; you can add more like mdi form with gridview
with code explained in Alan's post:
"Connecting to TM1 Using VB.Net and the .Net API"

have fun with your design!

[image2x]

b) column expand/collapse (we're dealing with weekly detail across the x-axis)

Regarding this requirement, can anyone experienced with the Contributor TM1 front-end verify if column expand/collapse is supported?

[lotsaram]

The Contributor UI is basically a tabbed arrangement of cube views in the same format and functionality as the web cube viewer so yes expandable columns supported.