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Wednesday, 31st of March, 2010
Google Chrome won the Pwn2Own contest, where security experts attempt to exploit web browsers and win cash prizes. IE8, Firefox, iPhone, and Safari were all compromised within minutes.


Monday, 29th of March, 2010

While adding a couple metrics to the HR Xcelsius dashboard I discovered that the Length of Service measure was always bringing back 0, while all the other measures seemed to work fine. With logging already turned on I headed straight to it, and I think I see a problem already:

Mon Mar 29 11:37:19.270 ThreadID<968> SAPMODULE : RowsetDataModelBase[39]::getInt(2) = 0

Why is it calling getInt on a column that is clearly a double? Scrolled up and found this:

Mon Mar 29 11:37:19.130 ThreadID<968> SAPMODULE : RowsetDataModelMetaDataBase[78]::getColumnType(2) = 4

GetColumnType pulled a 4 (integer) from the metadata instead of an 8 (double). Since this is a canned key figure (0SRVCLENKYF) I guess we'll have to open a message with SAP?


Friday, 26th of March, 2010

While BEx variables automatically get translated to predefined filters nicely in a universe, the way they show up when directly using Crystal Reports is a little different. A static parameter is created, and only the first 200 values are populated in the list of selection values:

While that seems wrong, leave it alone, because BW Publisher converts it back to a dynamic prompt (with a cascading hierarchy, if applicable) when the report is published.


Thursday, 25th of March, 2010

A veteran Business Objects developer is used to being able to click "View SQL" on reporting tools to troubleshoot queries that bring back incorrect results or ones that do not run at all. However, the option to view the MDX executed is not available when connecting to BEx queries. To access the log/trace of what is being executed, you have to add some keys your registry to turn it on, and you can actually get a lot more useful information than just the MDX:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 12.0\MDA\Asserts]
"Model"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 12.0\MDA\Log]
"OverWrite"="No"
"AppendPID"="Yes"
"LogFile"="C:\MDA.log"
"LogFormat"="%T ThreadID<%i> %X : %m"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 12.0\MDA\Log\Modules\SAPMODULE]
"Verbosity"=dword:0000000a
"MDX Query Log"="C:\mdx_sap_query.log"


Tuesday, 23rd of March, 2010

Ever since I've been working with Business Objects queries against BEx data sources it seems that when you are creating a more detail oriented query that contains no measures you get master data instead of a filtered result set. Including any measure object fixes this, and of course you don't have to actually use it in your report. If your BEx query doesn't have any key figures you can create a simple one and hide it:

It will still be created when you refresh the universe structure.

I have seen abandoned buildings around here where people have whittled away the brick they can get to without a ladder (since used bricks are worth money) but this is really extreme!

Mmm, having a gas grill means we can make things like this all the time...


Friday, 19th of March, 2010

Two examples of progress in science:

A concertmaster undergoes brain surgery to treat essential tremors

Youtube video - The coolest piece of art I've ever seen - a horse-drawn H2!


Wednesday, 17th of March, 2010

The Bowfire concert tonight was outstanding! Great musicians and entertainers, and it was an excellent demonstration of almost everything I find fun about playing fiddle myself. They did not have to script in dialogue to transition between pieces - it was all music, and they were clearly having fun playing together on the stage, which naturally made watching the show as an audience member equally entertaining. I learned a lot about entertainment tonight! By the way, Zigeunerweisen is definitely more enjoyable as dueling violins - it's so natural!


Monday, 15th of March, 2010

Received the SLSO's winter letter from the president today. It's fairly common for graphic designers to mirror images so they look better in the context of the overall publication, but you have to watch out with pictures of musicians! I always tend to notice those...

Maybe they've been


Sunday, 14th of March, 2010

It had been years since I updated the Computers page on this website so I took some time to organize some more recent thoughts I have about computer technology, and how my current full time job relates to the interest.


Wednesday, 10th of March, 2010

After carefully monitoring the height clearance of the Tahoe it turns out that it actually does clear the garage door - as long as you don't make any sudden inputs to pitch the suspension as you pull into the garage. With both cars in the garage opening any of the car doors or even the door between the house and the garage is a little interesting though.


Tuesday, 9th of March, 2010

I got lucky and apparently installed all the SAP Business Objects software in the correct sequence on the first guess. My coworker was not so lucky - after installing the SAP Integration Kit he was unable to create universes against BW data sources. It turns out that you should install the Integration Kit before applying any Fix Packs to the client tools.


Monday, 8th of March, 2010

Picture - Mollie is also an artsy cat


Friday, 5th of March, 2010

I can't remember the last time I had a cold that was so bad that any amount of pseudoephedrine seems to have no effect on the symptoms. This will be my third day home from work and I got a whopping 1 hour of sleep last night - I finally had enough and went to see a doctor. The last time I did this was my first year in college I think. Hopefully the upgrade to Clarinex turns this cold around.


Monday, 1st of March, 2010

So the Xcelsius dashboard I've been working on for HR has variables/prompts that allow users to choose multiple items - which of course means binding the prompt values to a range. And of course there will often be empty values in the range because users aren't going to pick the maximum allowed selections all the time. Empty cells aren't a problem for LiveOffice queries in Excel, but apparently it suddenly becomes a problem when the LiveOffice connection is brought over to Xcelsius. Excel functions to the rescue - filling up the entire range with something wasn't all that bad.

Picture - One of Mollie's favourite spots to nap

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