Oracle Analytics Cloud Update

Oracle has made a change to the Oracle Analytics Cloud offering. Previously, there were two choices:

1. The Classic Oracle Analytics Cloud offering
2. The Autonomous Analytics offering

Now, they have completely removed the Classic version and only offer the Autonomous version but under the name of Analytics Cloud.

And they've greatly simplified the instance creation process! The options are simplified, but one thing is still a little confusing. Here are the easy rules.

These two options are nearly identical, they both list essentially the same services. The Edition is either Enterprise, Essbase, or Standard. However, the Feature Set list changes based on which Edition you choose:

• If you choose the Standard Edition, you can only choose the Data Visualization Feature Set.
• If you choose the Essbase Edition, there is a choice of Data Visualization or Essbase Feature Set.
• And if you choose the Enterprise Edition, you have a choice of Data Visualization, Essbase, or the Business Intelligence Feature Sets.

Once you make that simple choice, there's a summary of your choice, then the Create button.

There is also a new method to create an Analytics instance that's even easier! There's a little link in the top right corner called QuickStarts. Click that, and you're presented with three choices, one for each Edition. All you need to do is enter a name for your instance at the top (or take the default) and click Create under the desired option. And your new instance will be scheduled for creation immediately.

Connecting to an Autonomous Data Warehouse and Uploading Data

There are several different ways to connect and upload data to an Autonomous Data Warehouse (ADW) in order to start working on your Autonomous Analytics instance. One of the easiest ways is to use SQL Developer. You can also use traditional methods (which I'll cover in later posts) like SQL Loader or Data Pump as well.

But for now, let's show how SQL Developer can be used to connect and use a series of insert statements.

First thing is to find out about the connection string. Go to your cloud ADW instance and click on the instance name.

Next, click on DB Connection.

This will show you the connection information.

Download the Wallet into a safe place. It will ask you for a password to keep it secure.

Next, open up SQL Developer and add a new connection. We will be loading existing data into the DW schema. The DW user should already be there in the ADW

Create a connection name, I usually use the SID_username as a template. Then put in the Username and Password. Choose the CLOUD WALLET connection type with a DEFAULT role. In the Configuration File, browse to where you stored the wallet you downloaded and choose the entire ZIP file. Then choose one of the services - HIGH, MED, or LOW. Doesn't matter which one. Test it to be sure it can connect, then click Connect.

Now you can input a script or individual statements to load your data into the DW schema ready to be used in your Autonomous Analytics application!

Setting up a Connection between Autonomous Data Warehouse and Autonomous Analythics

This post is to describe how to make the connection in the cloud for Autonomous Data Warehouse and Autonomous Analytics.

First, ensure you've built out your Autonomous Data Warehouse. Create a schema called DW, and upload your dimensional model data into it.

Second, create your Autonomous Analytics cloud service. Before you can use the Data Modeler, you need to make a connection to your data in the Autonomous Data Warehouse. This was a sticking point for me, because it's not as straightforward as it could be. Once you figure it out though, it's an easy task.

In the Autonomous Analytics page, click on the black side bar menu and choose Console.

Then choose Service Administration, then Manage Connection.

The list of Connections should be blank. Click on the hamburger menu on the top right and choose Upload Wallet. This is the wallet to connect to your Autonomous Data Warehouse. The Autonomous Analytics instance needs it because it's got the path and connect string and stuff within it.

Make sure you use the cwallet.sso file within the zip file. You many get a notice about a virus checker. If you are sure that the wallet is ok, you can skip it.

You will get a notice that the wallet has been uploaded. This is the only way that you'll know that it's up there.

Next, click on the Create link in the top right to create the connection to the Autonomous Data Warehouse. Fill in the information, be sure to click the Enable SSL box. First Test the connection. If successful, you will get a success message at the top of the screen. If not, adjust your entries and try again. Once you have a successful connection, click OK at the bottom right.

Here is what it looks like once it's been created.

Now head over to your Autonomous Analytics instance and click on the hamburger menu in the top right corner and choose Open Data Modeler.

First thing, you're going to be asked to choose click on Create Model in the top right corner. Fill in the Model Name and choose the Database connection you just created and tested. Click OK.



And at last, you've successfully connected the data in your Autonomous Data Warehouse to your Autonomous Analytics instance!