Cognos Express Xcelerator vs Planner

[harrytm1]

Hi all,

I'm pretty confused about the abovementioned components of CX. Below is my understanding on Cognos Express Xcelerator and Planner. Appreciate if you can correct me where is wrong:

Xcelerator:
- Essentially TM1 with Perspectives
- Include TM1 Web
- Users access TM1 model via Excel Perspective or TM1 Web
- Developer uses Architect or Perspective to do modeling
- NO workflow i.e. application web
- CANNOT use Cognos Insight to connect to the TM1 model due to absence of Application Web
- Cognos Insight NOT bundled with Xcelerator
- Limited connectors in Turbo Intergrator. This is the part that I'm totally unsure. What are the differences between TI in TM1 versus TI in CX? Can it query into a SQL DB?

Planner
- TM1 engine with Application Web as the front-end
- Include TM1 Web (???)
- Workflow via Application Web
- User access TM1 model via Application Web. Excel Perspective add-in NOT included.
- Cognos Insight is bundled free with Planner. User can also use CI to connect to TM1 for planning and analysis.
- Developer uses Performance Modeler to do modeling. Cannot use Excel Perspective and Architect (???) since it is not available in Planner.
- Not sure about the ETL in Performance Modeler if it is also limited in terms of connectors. Can it be used to connect directly into SQL DB?

Many thanks!

harry

[lotsaram]

Can you connect to ODBC with CX? Yes of course, it would be stupid not to, the target market is mid-size companies many of whom have SQL Server based ERP or GL like MS Dynamics or SAP B1. The main limitation for TI is no Package Connector (i.e. Framework Manager) and therefore no direct SAP connectivity or anything that might need VVM. (unless you already have or purchase an additional 3rd party ETL that can make such additional data sources available through ODBC)

Planner: Obviously you can only create and deploy a planning application with Performance Modler, but you can build it with Architect/Perspectives. Remember the administrator/developer license (of which you must purchase at least 1) covers all CX modules/UIs.

ETL in PM: currently limited to ODBC and text files as data sources. But it doesn't matter as you can develop the TI in Architect/Perspectives.
... and worth mentioning no use of runti.exe allowed, technically possible of course just a licensing constraint (to me this seems quite bizarre and without any sensible reason but it is what it is)

[harrytm1]

Thanks for the reply.

If I read you correctly, does it mean that if I purchase Planner, it will come with Performance Modeler, Architect, Perspective, Application Web and Cognos Insight?

If this is true, then it will not be logical to purchase Xcelerator since it only have Architect and Perspective! *scratch head*

[mvaspal]

Hi,
You don't get Perspectives with Planner. Other components are correct.
You can find out more here:
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/sla/slad ... FF00372478

[harrytm1]

Thanks! Looking at the pricelist, Xcelerator is more expensive than Planner (both user and connector licenses). Seems like IBM charges more for Excel users than others!