Pre-defined presentation variables in OBIEE 11g

In obiee 11g we have set of per-defined presentation variables.This will be very use full when you want to display time zone,login time etc.. The syntax for these pre-defined presentation variables is @{session.variablename} rather than @{session.variables.variablename}.

Examples :

1. Display current time in the report title : Use @{system.currentTime} in the title view

2. Display login time for the user on the report subtitle : Use @{session.currentUser} logged in at @{session.loginTime

3. See timezone the user is in : Use @{session.timeZone}

These are only few examples to help the reader understand that these pre-defined variables can be used quite effectively in rendering session, system, user, dashboard information/properties. Given below is the list of all such variables(from Oracle Users guide) :

Note :
- For time zone variables, the time zone for a user must be set to a value other than Default in order for this variable to work(goto MyAccount link to change timezone)
- Also these variables need to be references in the exact case as specified. Eg @{session.timeZone} will render correct results not @{session.timezone}. (Small z..)


.I have found these variables to come in handy in our projects and these are a big plus from a end user standpoint over the previous version.

Is it possible to use Dashboard Prompts to override Session Variables?

This is a two step process:

1) Tick “enable any user to set variable” checkbox in the RPD for the session variable
2) When you create a dashboard prompt, in the Set Variable list, choose to populate a variable for the dashboard prompt using a server request variable.
3)give the variable name same as session variable .
If you set a server variable it will override explicitly the value of this variable set via the initialization block.
The variable is changed in the dashboard that uses the prompt( where the variable is set).

C U Next Time..