Cognos Analytics

Jupyter Notebook integration with reporting

Jupyter Notebook allows data scientists working directly in Cognos Analytics environment, accessing Cognos Analytics data with the Notebook interface they are familiar using Python language. This powerful integration was introduced in 11.1.0 version with dashboarding component. I am happy to announce that authors can also leverage Notebook cells in Cognos Analytics reports starting 11.1.4 version.

The option to insert Notebook cells can be found under the Advanced section, Toolbox. This option will only be available if your administrator has configured the connection to Jupyter Notebook server. The Notebook cells included in a report can only be rendered in HTML format because they are rendered in the browser at the time the report is opened.

They are available when viewing a saved report output in HTML. In this scenario, Notebook cells will display the last executed output which may not be the same as when the report output was created.

Visualization legend updates

In order to better leverage space on a visualization, we have re-designed our legends for all visualizations. Legend front size and spaces between texts are being reduced.

We have also implemented an interactive way for both authors and consumers to dynamically change the legend size. This means authors can save a report with a specific legend size, and report consumers can still adjust legend size as needed directly on the report output.

Warning: prior to 11.1.4, if your visualizations’ legend location is set to automatic, Cognos Analytics automatically adjust the location based on visualization size. In 11.1.4, the default location will be switched to ‘top’. This means you may see legend position changes for your visualizations after upgrade. If you do need to fix the legend location, please make sure to specify it in the properties instead of leaving it as default or automatic.

Custom visualizations

I am proud of the number of visualization types Cognos Analytics currently support. However, I also understand there will always be one or a few visualization types that are important to some customers, but we do not provide.

We have the solution in 11.1.4 to cover it all for you.

For a step-by-step guide on custom visualizations in IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.4 click the following link: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.1.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.dg_custom_vis.doc/ca_customviz_tutstepbystepintro.html

For custom visualization code samples click the following link: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.1.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ig_smples.doc/c_sample_customvis.html

For a tutorial on how you can code a custom visualization from scratch using Cognos’s customvis development tool click the following link: https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.1.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.dg_custom_vis.doc/ca_customviz_lib_tutorialscatter0.html

UI font update

To continue modernizing reporting interface, and to be consistent with the rest of the IBM products, we have updated the font type being used in the UI with IBM Plex font. This applies to UI elements only.

Going forward, we plan to include IBM Plex font as an authoring option for report content.

Navigation menu customization

If you have used the 11.0.x version to customize reporting navigation elements, you may have discovered a gap in 11.1.x version. To continue supporting our customers’ need, we brought back the ability to hide reporting navigation elements in 11.1.4. Administrators will be able to hide pages, prompt pages, queries, classes and variables per Cognos role. This may help provide a simpler interface to users who do not need advanced features offered by Cognos Analytics Reporting.

What’s next? We are very busy working on more new features for 11.1.5. Stay tuned for another blog in a few months!