New user - hotfile query

[HelenW01]

I had a 2 day course on how to use Impromptu and am now creating my first report. So sorry for the fact that this is a very basic question. The first time I created the report it ran very slowly - ie a very simple report didnt come back with any values for hours and I had to cancel it. I was then advised to recreate the report using several hotfiles to create a catalgue, then do a final report from this catalogue. I have done this and it seems to work but I have a few questions-
1) Why does it run faster this way ?
2) If data is changed since I last saved the hotfile will those changes be updated in the hotfile or do I need to create a macro to run the hotfiles each time the final report is run?

 

[griffindm]

Helen,

You should read faq401-3684 on hotfile usage. It explains most of what you are asking about. The report runs faster because the hotfiles aggregate data and reduce complex many-to-one joins. You will need to recreate the hotfile in order to get the changed data. You should also look at 'smart hotfiles', which are really not hotfiles at all, but rather the use of the report that builds the current hotfile, used as a direct data source by itself. By adding this report as a datasource (use the same method for adding a hotfile to a catalog) you can have Impromptu run this report first and then use the results of this report in a second report, all on the fly! This does not always work as well as a static hotfile. If so, you may want to look at using a macro to automate the hotfile refresh.

Hope this helps,

Dave Griffin




The Decision Support Group
Reporting Consulting with Cognos BI Tools
"Magic with Data"
Want good answers? Read FAQ401-2487 first!

http://www.decisionsupportgroup.com