Transcript A Tiered Approach

Reporting from an Oracle
Database:
A Tiered Approach
Presenters:
Lucretia Parham
Janice Zeigler
Armstrong Atlantic State
University
May 14
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
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Background of the issue
Slow and ineffective information
retrieval methods
Increase in the amount and complexity
of information required from the
database
Critical role of information
management in organizational success
Sheer volume of the data
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Introduction
Armstrong Atlantic
State University
Savannah, Georgia
 Tiered web-based reporting solution for
extracting information from Banner
 Levels based on the complexity of the
reports
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After this session you will be
able to:
Articulate a clear vision for student
information reporting at your institution
Design a methodology for meaningful
information retrieval from any database
Implement a solution incorporating
technology, security and user concerns
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Multi-tiered approach
• Meta application to create standard reports
• Web site that allows users to create simple
reports
• Interface for more sophisticated users to create
complex reports using third party software
• Web site where users choose reports created by
technical staff
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Meta Application
PL/SQL code generation capability
imbedded in Oracle database
Interface to code generation
capability created by technical staff
User defined database elements with
meaningful, descriptive labels
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Meta application (cont.)
Criteria for the report selected from
user-defined list
Selection criteria used to generate
and produce the report
Report criteria saved by users for
future use or revision
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Meta application examples
Registered or joint enrolled students
Financial aid students
Academic suspension/probation list
Honors, freshmen, sophomores,
juniors, seniors, post baccalaureates,
athletes, senior citizens, graduating
seniors
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Meta application user benefits
Generation of tabular or multi-line
reports
Creation of letters and labels
Increased comprehension of a
complex database
Intuitive (web) interface to data
Immediate access to critical
organizational data
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Meta application technical benefits
Ease of implementation
Non-proprietary solution
Little technical staff intervention
Availability of tools
Cross-platform capability
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Web site report creation
Uses Oracle’s WebDB and report
server products
Allows users to browse and create
simple reports
Uses local tables and views
Exploits the data warehouse concept
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Web site report creation
Examples of views created include:
 Registration, Admissions, Recruiting,
Financial Aid, Accounts Receivable,
Academic History, Deans and Department
Heads, Student Affairs, Athletic
 Design of the views/tables based on the
requirements of the different areas
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User benefits of web site
Immediate feedback to the ultimate
consumer of the information
Simplicity of the interface
Views and tables based on userdefined needs
Daily updates of information
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Technical benefits of web site
Use of non-production database
Authentication via Banner login
name and password
Security control through Oracle roles
Ease of modification and
maintenance
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Using third party tools
Crystal Reports or Access used to
create reports
More complex reporting capability
made available
Users trained by internal or external
staff
Examples include cross validation
and time series analysis
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Benefits of top three tiers
Increased knowledge discovery
through rapid report development
(data mining)
Easy extraction of previously
unknown and potentially useful
information
True ad hoc reporting capability
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Web Site Report Retrieval
Mirrors the current practice
Technical staff create reports that
users run
Available through web site
Includes the most complex reports
Examples include enrollment
statistics
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Issues and Concerns
Database complexity led to creation
of local tables and views
Technical criteria include hardware
and software needs
Training must be done
Security is always an issue
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Software Involved in the Creation and
Presentation of Local Reports
Report Builder
6.0.8.8.3
Oracle Server
8.0.6.0.0
Acrobat
Reader 4.0
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Level One User
 User only has
access to run
reports for area
 Can choose to
AutoRun
reports
 Access to
Report Output
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Level Two User
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Level Three User
Access to
Application
Development
Links
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Level Four User
Top Level of Access
Access to Technical
documentation and
utilities
CIS access to
Meta-App
Development Links
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Extra Benefits
Users have
the option to
set
preferences
for icons
and
colors.
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Extra Benefits
Pop up help
screens are
available and
are
customizable.
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Extra Benefits
The ability
for users to
add their
own help
links will be
in place
soon.
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Extra Benefits
Error
messages are
incorporated.
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Extra Benefits
Color coded
error
messages are
available as
well
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Summary
Users at all levels can create reports
Information format makes sense to
users
Web-based intuitive solution
Comprehensive mechanism to solve
the ongoing issue of information
retrieval
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Questions and Answers
 Are there any questions?
 Thank you for your time.
[email protected]
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