Interview Question in Oracle OTBI Report

What is Subject Area

In OTBI, a Subject Area is a logical view of business data. Under a Subject Area, we have multiple folders, which are commonly referred to as dimensions. Within these dimensions, we have different columns: non-numeric columns are called attributes, while numeric columns used for calculations are called measures. Calculated values derived from measures or other fields are called facts.

What is Selection Step 

A Selection Step in OTBI is used to specify which members of a dimension or column should be included or excluded in an analysis.

It allows us to select, remove, or conditionally restrict specific members. Unlike a normal filter, a Selection Step works at the member-selection level.

For example, using Add Members, we can individually select or remove specific values, such as particular Invoice Types.

We can also use Add Groups or Calculated Items to group or create custom values. For example, if we want to analyze data for two specific suppliers together, we can create a group containing those suppliers.

 What are the different roles in BIP

Author --> Means Developer can create report but not have access for providing permission (Fusion Roles required BI Author Duty/Report and Analytic developer)

Consumer --> can run only report (Fusion Roles required BI Consumer Duty/Report and Analytic developer)

Administrator --> full access (Fusion Roles required BI Administrator Duty/BI Administrator)

How to call OTBI Report from another OTBI Report

Using column property-> Interaction --> Action Link--> select Report you want to call

What is Column Selector

A Column Selector in OTBI allows users to dynamically select and display different columns in an analysis or dashboard at runtime, without creating separate analyses for each column.

Example:
Suppose we have a report with:

• Supplier Name
• Invoice Number
• Invoice Amount
• Invoice Date

Using a Column Selector, the user can choose which column they want to display, such as Invoice Amount or Invoice Date, from a drop-down list.

What is View Selector

A View Selector in OTBI allows the user to dynamically choose which view of an analysis they want to see without creating separate analyses.

For example, the same analysis can have:

• Table View
• Pivot Table View
• Graph/Chart View

Using a View Selector, the user can select the required view from a drop-down list.

Difference b/w Filter/Table Prompt/Prompt/Prompt

Filter: Data ko predefined condition ke basis par restricts karta hai.

Column Prompt: User ko runtime par kisi specific column ki value selects karne deta hai.

Table Prompt: Prompt values ko table format mein display karke user ko selection karne deta hai.

Prompt: User ko runtime par input/select karne deta hai, jiske basis par report ka data dynamically change hota hai.

Easy way:
Filter → Fixed condition
Prompt → User input
Column Prompt → Specific column ka user input
Table Prompt → Table format mein prompt values

Table Prompt: Runtime par parameter/value dynamically select karne deta hai. Isme default value set ki ja sakti hai, isliye report open hone par by default data ek particular value ke according aa sakta hai. User configuration ke according single value, multiple values, ya null/no selection bhi choose kar sakta hai.

Prompt: Analysis ya dashboard ke liye runtime parameter/input provide karta hai. Isme aap default value set kar sakte hain ya default value nahi bhi rakh sakte. User apni requirement ke according value select karta hai.

Simple difference:
Table Prompt → Default value ke saath runtime selection; single/multiple selection possible.
Prompt → Runtime parameter; default value optional ho sakti hai.