I recently spent some time putting together a progression of data templates (DT) for a customer demo. Its a series of data templates that move you from the simple to the more complex, two query, before fetch trigger, group filter, summarizing all singing all dancing data template. I have heard requests this week for a three'er - looking at that. For now, satisfy yourselves with what I have.
Yep, still no builder but the 11g data builder is so cool it makes my geeky mouth water. Can not post images for fear of product management reprisal and bats up night dresses in the small hours (go Google it :0)
In spite of the lack of a DT builder I found it quite useful and so much faster to start off with the queries, get them working and returning data based on the parameters and to then move to the grouping, group filters (please dont use em) and summary columns. Rather than trying to write the whole this in one hit and then spend forever debugging.
During the demo we discussed the error messages and means to debug that BIP offers. Some of the layout errors are still mystifying at times '1=1' and '9<10' come to mind as true but very annoying error messages. You'll be pleased to here that turning on the debug for the data templates provides a mass of information about what is going on and of course what did not happen and why.
If you're interested you can get the progression here. Just unpack them under a directory under the BIP reports home directory. Fire up BIP and they will be available. They all run against the demo HR schema in an Oracle db. There is also a sql script for the supporting plsql package for the triggers.
Finally, just because its amusing and I wanted to share the mirth, check out this funny developer 'joke' from Bex on his blog, made me chortle!
