Webinar: Is It Time to Ditch the Admin Tool?

Webinar slides: This webinar focuses on the Oracle Semantic Modeler. The Semantic Modeler was first introduced into OAC in May 2023 as a preview option. It is a web-based modelling tool that provides a streamlined user experience for creating semantic models.

This session will introduce the Semantic Modeler & show you what it can do. We will also talk about how to migrate over to the Semantic Modeler and whether or not it's time to move over. Finally, we will look at the potential for the new way of working, can we improve our Dev Ops? Can we implement accelerators?

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Is it Time to Ditch the Admin Tool?
Semantic Modeler

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Principal Consultant at Rittman Mead
Oracle ACE Associate
ITOUG Board member
Working with BI/Analytics tools since 2010
Based in Trebaseleghe Venice, Italy
https://fventurin.hashnode.dev
[email protected]
Federico Venturin

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UK company
Founded in 2007
Global clients (UK, EEA, US, South Africa)
55 employees
Oracle "Boost Your Cloud" Partner
We help people get the most out of their investment in Oracle data, analytics and AI.
Rittman Mead

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What Is It?

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Metadata repository
Administration Tool
Single binary file
Semantic Model
Semantic Modeler
SMML
Definitely Not New
2007 - Present 2022 - Present

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Translation layer between the application and underlying data structures
Presents data for analysis according to the structure of the business
Information organised in a star schema structure
Easy for users to understand and interrogate
Based on measures and dimensions
Semantic Model

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Semantic Model's Architecture

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Semantic Model's Architecture
Semantic Model

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Browser-based data modeling tool
Modern alternative to the Model Administration Tool
Fully-integrated Oracle Analytics component
Provides full Git integration to support multi-user development
BIDataModelAuthor role is required to access and use it
Semantic Modeler

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Semantic Modeler

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JSON-based markup language
Provides grammar, syntax, and structure for defining semantic models
Allows developers to use their semantic model editor of choice
Each SMML file represents an object in the semantic model
File granularity is at the table level
Semantic Model Markup Language (SMML)

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Semantic Model Markup Language (SMML)

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Click Create and select Semantic Model
Creating a Semantic Model

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Select one of the available options
Creating a Semantic Model

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What's New?

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Modern does not necessarily mean better
Modern Interface

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Connection credentials are no longer stored inside the semantic model
Connection Credentials

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Three types of semantic model variables
Global - The value is the same for all users (dynamic repository variables)
Session - The value is specific to a user's session (custom session variables)
Static - The value does not change (static repository variables)
Create an initialization block first, then add variable definitions to it
Initialization blocks are set to deferred execution by default
Initialization Blocks and Variables

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Defined directly on objects in logical and presentation layers
The Identity Manager is gone, no need to create role placeholders
Data Filters

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Shows the mapping of physical, logical, and presentation layers
Lineage Viewer

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You can use Git to enable sharing and concurrent development
Supported services include but not limited to Oracle Visual Builder Studio,
GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab, and Azure DevOps
A basic understanding of Git and how to work with branches is required:
https://git-scm.com/book
https://git-scm.com/doc
Git Integration

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The semantic model's owner creates a Git repository, initializes it with
HTTPS or SSH, and uploads SMML files to the repository
Git Integration

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Each developer creates a semantic model and uses HTTPS or SSH to
connect to and clone the SMML files to their Git repository
Git Integration

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The development team works in branches to add, update, and commit the
files, then pushes the commits to the remote repository
Git Integration

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What's Missing?

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Oracle EPM
Oracle Essbase
Oracle HFM
Oracle Hyperion Planning
Oracle OLAP
Oracle TimesTen
HP Vertica
IBM Netezza NPS
JDBC
MS Access
MS SQL Server Analysis Services
MySQL Heatwave
ODBC
Vertica
Data Sources

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Several utilities are not yet available
Export the model as RPD and use them in the Model Administration tool
Utilities

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Live Demo

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The tool is not mature, changes and fixes are still being implemented
Veteran users require time to get familiar with the new interface
It will eventually replace the Model Administration tool, so give it a try!
Share your feedback with Oracle:
Oracle Analytics Cloud and Server Forum
Oracle Analytics Cloud and Server Idea Lab
Summary

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Q&A