TM1 Forum

Hi All,

We are upgrading our present TM1 environment from v9.1 t0 v9.5.1

v9.1 Environment: We have distributed environment (TM1 Admin Server and TM1 Server, TM1 Web and Perspectives).
Source: We get the source data from SAP BW, for interaction with SAP we installed SYSKOTM1.

v9.1, Windows 2003 SP2 32-bit, Excel 2003
Now we are planning to replace SYSKOTM1 with TM1 Package Connector

1)TM1 package connector should be installed on both SAP BW machine and TM1 Admin Server or only on TM1 Admin Server machine
2)Any precautions that we need to take, configuration settings
3)What are the mappings that needs to be defined between Turbo Integrator and TM1 Package connector.

Can ony one suggest how can I proceed further

Thanks & Regards,
Radhika

1)
As you upgrade from TM1 9.1 to TM1 9.5.1 your database directory will be converted to Unicode. Thus make a backup copy of the original TM1 9.1 database directory, just in case there are issues with that Unicode conversion.

To avoid issues caused by the Unicode conversion, add the optional parameter "Enforce8BitStringLengthOnRead=T" to your TM1 server configuration file tm1s.cfg before you start the TM1 9.1 database directory with TM1 9.5.1 for the first time. For more information on the optional parameter "Enforce8BitStringLengthOnRead=T" see the TM1 9.4.1 FP3 Release Notes ->

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocente ... RN_Enf8Bit
IBM Cognos TM1 Release Notes 9.4.1.3
IBM Cognos TM1 9.4.1 FP3 Release Notes > Installation and Configuration >
Use the Enforce8BitStringLengthOnRead Parameter for Loading and Conversion Issues with a TM1 9.1.x Database in 9.4.1 FP3


2)
You are using the Syskoplan Connector.
There is no upgrade from the Syskoplan Connector to the Package Connector.
There is no migration path from the Syskoplan Connector to the Package Connector.
None of the TI processes you created using the Syskoplan Connector as a data source you can reuse with the Package Connector. You have to recreate everything from scratch. This is not an upgrade but a major consulting project. And the time frame for such an enterprise should be generous: Calculate some months, not weeks and definitely not days.

In addition the Package Connector is not TM1 but a customized version of the Cognos BI Suite. The packages the Package Connector is using are created by Cognos BI components like Cognos Connection, Transformer and Framework Manager. Do you have the resources, the people and the skills to operate these tools ?


3)
Split your planned upgrade, execute it in two steps:
- Upgrade from TM1 9.1 to 9.5.1 and continue to use the Syskoplan Connector. That will take only a few days, maybe only one day.
- Define a consulting project to replace the Syskoplan Connector by the Package Connector. Use a generous time frame, start with 3 months. Do not set a fixed deadline as delays are likely to happen.

You should look around this forum for feedback on the new SAP connector - it doesn't get a good press.
There's also Cubeware Importer to consider.

If you are looking for an introduction on the Package Connector, start reading Chapter 8: "Access SAP Data Sources Using IBM Cognos TM1 Package Connector", pages 133 to 164, of the Proven Practice "IBM Cookbook for IBM Cognos 8 BI for use with SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse", available for download on the website

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/ ... ge468.html
SAP Cookbook For IBM Cognos 8 BI

Summary: This document is intended to provide a single point of reference for techniques and product behaviours when dealing with SAP BW and SAP ECC as data sources in IBM Cognos 8 BI.

http://public.dhe.ibm.com/software/dw/d ... okbook.pdf

I think moby91 gave a very good summary. Not much to add except

Remember to remove Enforce8BitStringLengthOnRead=T once you are on 9.5

If the Syskoplan SAP connector works in 9.5 and depending on how many processes you have using it think about why to convert to package connector at all. For a new installation clearly you would use the package connector but for an existing application converting seems like work for the sake of work.

Hi All,

Thank you very much for your quick response.
@moby91
As per understanding after having a glance to the TM1 Package Connector documentation.
We cannot extract the Metadata/Data into TM1 directly from SAP BW using TM1 Package Connector. To import the data into TM1 from SAP BW we need to
Create a BW Query in SAP Business Explorer Query Designer
Create a Package in IBM Cognos Framework Manager.
Create a TI process that uses the TM1 Package Connector.

But here in this situation can we ignore Framework Manager to interact with SAP BW. Because in our present environment we do not any 8BI suite, we only use TM1. In this case how can we proceed?

Thanks & Regards,
Radhika

Radhika wrote:But here in this situation can we ignore Framework Manager to interact with SAP BW. Because in our present environment we do not any 8BI suite, we only use TM1. In this case how can we proceed?

No, you cannot ignore the Framework Manager.
You must use the Framework Manager.
The Framework Manager is a mandatory external component of the Package Connector: It is used to create the packages used by the Package Connector.


http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocente ... quirements

TM1 Installation 9.5.1
Installing the IBM Cognos TM1 Package Connector >
TM1 Package Connector requirements

Refer to the IBM® Cognos® BI and TM1 Info Centers for more details on the supported platforms, versions, and requirements.

The IBM® Cognos® TM1® Package Connector requires the following components:

TM1:
* TM1 9.5.1 or later.
* The TM1 Package Connector must be installed on both the TM1 server and the administrative client machines where TurboIntegrator processes are being created against a BW package.

IBM Cognos BI Server. See the Info Center for specific versions supported.
* Framework Manager for package creation.

SAP Business Warehouse. See the Info Center for specific versions supported.
* 32-bit database client software is required or SAP RFCSDK library files and DLLs. See Enabling connectivity to SAP from TM1.

Thank you very moby91 for all the infirmation.
But some how this is a disadvantage to the customer as he agin need to purchase the Frame Work Manager.

Thanks,
Radhika

The necessary Cognos components are included with TM1 9.5.

The release notes and product documentation are clear on this, there is no additional licenses or cost.

(I would still question though why you would feel the need to convert processes that are working. The main issue with the Syskoplan connector which Framework Manager resolves is the requirement to do an install on the SAP BW side which was often an objection, but as you already have this installed and working really there is no need to change it.)

IBM is going to support SYSKOPLAN only till v9.5.1 from v9.5.2 there is no support for SYSKOPLAN.
According to your statement you mean to say that Framework Manager will be installed by default when we install TM1 v9.5.1.
If yes could you please let me know how can I navigate to Framework Manager, but while installation I haven't seen this component anywhere did I miss it ..?

Thanks,
Radhika

This forum should not be an excuse for not following up on doing basic things such as reading product documentation and release notes. If you had bothered to do this you would know that the additional components are a separate (optional) install but are all covered under the TM1 licensing.

Radhika wrote:IBM is going to support SYSKOPLAN only till v9.5.1 from v9.5.2 there is no support for SYSKOPLAN.

Both TM1 9.5.1 and 9.5.2 do support the Syskoplan Connector.


As there are two distinct versions of the SAP BW software, SAP BW 3.5 and 7, there are two different versions of the Syskoplan Connector:
- IBM Cognos TM1 Connector 10A SP12 for SAP BW 3.5 V10.0.12 Windows English (CZA30EN)
- IBM Cognos TM1 Connector 70A SP2 for SAP NetWeaver BI 7 V7.0.2 Windows English (CZA31EN)

If you are using SAP BW 3.5, you need the kit with the IBM eAssembly Code CZA30EN.
If you are using SAP BW 7, you need the kit with the IBM eAssembly Code CZA31EN.


These two kits have been released with the TM1 9.5.0 software. Since then IBM Cognos has not released a new version of these two kits, thus you will not find the Syskoplan Connector kits when you search the TM1 9.5.1 software kits or the TM1 9.5.2 software kits. If you are using TM1 9.5.1 or 9.5.2, you will have to use the Syskoplan Connector kits released with TM1 9.5.0 according to the Software Environments supported by TM1 9.5.1 and 9.5.2:

1)
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... wg27018895
Cognos TM1 9.5.1 Software Environments

https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... _connector

2)
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... wg27020888
Cognos TM1 9.5.2 Software Environments

https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview ... m1_connect


According to these pages the Syskoplan Connector kits released with TM1 9.5.0 are in Support Status Active with TM1 9.5.1 and 9.5.2


Note:
With Release 70A SP7 there is a newer version of the Syskoplan Connector for SAP BW 7 than the Release 70A SP2 being shipped in the kit with IBM eAssembly Code CZA31EN. The Release 70A SP7 includes some patches and a new feature, extended application logging of transactional data processed by the SYSKOTM1 package in SAP BW 7. You have to contact IBM Cognos Support to get the Release 70A SP7 of the Syskoplan Connector for SAP BW 7.


Note:
Starting August 2010 IBM Cognos is no longer offering or selling the Syskoplan Connector according to this Software Withdrawal Notice published on the IBM website

http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca ... 10-190.PDF
Software withdrawal: IBM Cognos TM1 Connector for SAP

http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca ... 0-0699.PDF
Software withdrawal: IBM Cognos TM1 Connector for SAP

So anyone who has not purchased the Syskoplan Connector prior to August 2010 cannot purchase it today.

Thank you very much moby91 for the detailed explanation.