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Are you interested
in using one of the Oracle Express Products - OFA, OSA, Web
Agent, Excel Add in, etc?
Do you have one-off
technical queries regarding Express products, or require longer term
support?
Do you have
questions about Express products licensing and upgrade options?
Do you wish to
upgrade from older versions of Express Products?
Do you require Express
product
administration or end-user training?
If so,
contact Rockport Software |
Update: October 2007.
Oracle have extended the support period for the OFA/OSA products. Oracle Financial Analyzer (OFA) and Oracle Sales Analyzer (OSA)
6.4 will continue to have Error Correction Support until 31 Dec 2009, and
Extended Support until 31 Dec 2010. OFA/OSA will be de-supported after these
dates.
(Previous desupport notices for
these products had specified the end of error correction support at 31 Dec
2007). Error correction support offers continued support in the form of bug
fixes, back ports for fixes, certification with new platforms and telephone
support. If you have any questions about the support of these products then
please contact us.
Oracle Express Server Products
Oracle Express Server
Oracle
Express Server is a powerful, mature, robust, and
flexible multidimensional OLAP database server. Express
Server is optimized to support mathematical, financial,
statistical, and time-series manipulations, as well as
forecasting, modeling, and multi-user what-if scenarios.
Express Server is optimized for the query and analysis of
corporate data such as sales, marketing, financial,
manufacturing,or human resources data without
requiring special programs or reports from Information
Systems (IS) personnel.
Current Release
Oracle Express Server
6.3.4
Oracle Personal Express 6.3.4
Key Features
Express Server 6.3.4
is primarily a maintenance release. One
significant change is that any SEGWIDTH specification that you have
applied to a variable is now retained after export/import. This release
is compatible with OFA 6.4.0, OSA 6.4.0 and Web Agent 6.3.4 and is
available on NT, Sun Solaris and Windows 2000.
An intermediate release,
OES 6.3.2.1 was again a maintenance release, which should be used with
OFA and OSA 6.3.2. Major improvements were:
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New non-additive
AGGREGATE functions HAverage, HFirst, HLast, and |
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HWAverage. These
functions are documented under the RELATION command |
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in Express
Language Help. |
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Ability to use a valueset
to limit hierarchy dimensions, or to specify which |
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values should be
calculated on the fly or pre-calculated by AGGREGATE. See |
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the RELATE
command in Express Language Help.
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An increase to
the maximum size of Express Server’s ‘‘ranspace’’ from 2GB |
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per object to
4GB. One of the main uses of ranspace is to store BTREE |
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information for
composite dimensions. The higher maximum is intended to |
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address the
RSALLOC errors that sometimes occur when aggregating data |
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dimensioned by
very large composites. |
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The previous release, OES 6.3.2
included new features such as Non-Additive aggregation
methods using the AGGREGATE command, and a block fetch
facility from Oracle using the SQL command.
Express
Server 6.3.0.1 included many significant improvements on
earlier versions. These include:
New Aggregate Management System - AGGREGATE
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2
x Performance Improvement for a typical database |
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Up
to 5 x Performance Improvement for databases with
many dimensions/sparse data |
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Pre-calculate
or on-the fly aggregates |
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Significant
MOLAP/HOLAP capacity increases |
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Little
SPL code required |
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Enhanced Analytics
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New
Statistical functions Categorize, Correlation,
Percentage, Smooth, Rank and Mode |
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All
new Geneva forecasting module |
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Express Instance Manager
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Java
component replacing Session Manager, Service
Manager and Configuration Manager |
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Enterprise
Manager compliant, look and feel consistent with
Oracle Instance Manager |
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The fastest and most scaleable OLAP Server in the world
Express
6.3 has now delivered record-setting performance results
using the industry standard Online Analytical Processing
(OLAP) Council APB-1 benchmark, which provides an
objective measure by which to assess OLAP server
performance. The industry's fastest OLAP server achieved
leadership positions on both Intel and Sun server
platforms.
The
results on both Intel NT and Sun Solaris were over three
times faster than the previous AQM records, while Express
Server 6.3 utilized slower processors, consumed half the
memory, serviced more users and created a smaller
database using the same basic input data. This proves
Oracle Express is the most scalable, most efficient and
fastest, enterprise-ready OLAP server available today.
The 6.x
line of Express Server added a number of important new
features including:
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Express
Web Agent enabling OLAP over the Internet using a
browser client |
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Enhanced
sparse data management |
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64-bit
architecture |
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Huge increases
in theoretical size limits: The maximum number of cells per |
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variable rises
from 2
billion (OES 5.x) to 263 cells per array (variable),
while the |
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theoretical
limit on the size of each Express
database rises by a similar factor. |
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Multi-threaded
architecture to take full advantage of SMP
platforms |
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Server
to Server XCA: Support for multiple instances of Express Server
to |
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communicate with
one another
as well as with Personal Express |
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The 6.2
release saw the availability of the Personal Express 6.2.
Effectively a single user Express Server, Personal
Express 6.2 supports all the new client tools and
applications designed for Express Server 6.2 for Thick
Client, PC/LAN based apps, or slices of data while
disconnected from the server.
Availability
Express Server 6.3.4 is
available for Windows NT (Intel), Windows 2000 and Sun Solaris
Express
Server 6.3.2 is available for Windows NT (Intel) /
Windows 2000 and Sun Solaris
Express Server 6.3.1 is available for HP/UX, IBM AIX and
Compaq TRU-64 Unix
Express Server 6.2.0.1 is available for Alpha NT (NT has
been discontinued on the Alpha platform)
Personal Express Server 6.3.2 is available for Windows NT
and Windows 95/98
Future Releases
Benchmarks
Express
Server 6.3 Smashes APB-1 Benchmark
Oracle
Express Server 6.3 has delivered record-setting
performance results using the industry standard Online
Analytical Processing (OLAP) Council APB-1 benchmark,
which provides an objective measure by which to assess
OLAP server performance. The industry's fastest OLAP
server achieved leadership positions on both Intel and
Sun server platforms.
Oracle's
record-setting performance on Windows NT ran on four 450
MHz Intel Pentium II Xeon CPUs and 4 GB of RAM. Oracle
Express Server 6.3 delivered 3,006 analytical queries per
minute (AQM) for 200 concurrent users running 500,000 no
think-time queries. This is nearly 3 times faster on a
small Dell NT server, with half the memory and much
smaller client PCs than the previous benchmark. The
resulting database is also about half the size.
Oracle's
record-setting performance on Sun Solaris ran on four 300
MHz Sun UltraSparc II CPUs and 4 GB of RAM, where it
delivered 3,487 analytical queries per minute for 300
concurrent users running 750,000 no think-time queries.
These results further demonstrate Express Server's
scalability as query time per user remained the same
despite a 50 percent increase in the number of concurrent
users. The results on Sun Solaris were over three times
faster than the previous AQM record set by Hyperion
Essbase on an IBM RS/6000. And, Express Server 6.3
utilized slower processors, consumed half the memory,
serviced more users and created a smaller database using
the same basic input data, proving Oracle Express is the
most scalable, most efficient and fastest,
enterprise-ready OLAP server available today.
Additionally,
Express Server 6.3 set the bar for OLAP server
performance on an eight-processor Sun Solaris machine.
Oracle ran Express Server on a Sun E3500 with 8 GB of RAM
and 8 400 MHz processors and serviced 1,200 concurrent
users. Express Server 6.3 scored an incredible AQM of
13,209, 11.5 times better than Essbase. This was a
qualified APB-1 run on a beta version of the Solaris
operating system (v2.8). It was compliant, however, with
all operational aspects of the APB-1 specification. In
the query phase alone, Express Server 6.3 completed 3
million queries in less time than it took Hyperion
Essbase to complete 500,000 queries against equivalently
defined data sources. This included using slower clients,
slower processors on the server and with no increase in
RAM.
Collateral
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Oracle Express Objects &
Analyzer
Express
Objects is Oracle's object-oriented development
environment for Express Server. It is a powerful tool
that enables professional developers to create custom
OLAP applications for client/server and the Web. Express
Analyzer provides a powerful end-user environment
leveraging the power of Express Objects while providing a
more structured Analysis environment for end-users. The
approach of Express Objects and Analyzer affords complete
programmatic control over every object in the system for
the developer while allowing the end user to leverage
these benefits without requiring programming skills.
Current Release
Oracle Express Objects
6.3.2, Oracle Express Analyzer 6.3.2
Key Features
The 6.3
release of Express Objects and Analyzer adds to the
functionality of the previous versions with improvements
to increase productivity and ease development for the
application developer. These include:
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Major
Express Basic Editor & Debugging Enhancements
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Support
for Multi-Project Applications including
Associated Projects |
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Application
Deployment wizard and Replace Database wizard |
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Project
Compression and Backup utilities |
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40%
Smaller Memory Footprint |
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These
improve on the 2.2 release which added extra
functionality including:
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Ability
to export data from Discoverer 3.1 to Express
Objects and Express Analyzer 2.2, generating
an Express database on the fly |
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Ability
to hyper-drill from Express Objects and Express
Analyzer 2.2 to detailed data in Discoverer
3.1 |
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Availability
OEO &
OEA Versions 6.3.2 are available for Windows95/98,
Windows NT4/2000
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Oracle Express Web Agent & Web
Publisher
Express
Web Agent brings the powerful analytical capabilities of
Express Server to anyone with a web browser. It provides
a scalable, high-performance interface to Oracle Express
Server; working as either a Cartridge, plugging directly
into the Oracle Applications Server platform for network
application deployment; or via CGI (Common Gateway
Interface), enabling Express to work with any Web server.
Express
Web Publisher is an option to Express Analyzer and
Express Objects. It is a powerful tool that makes it
simple to build live, interactive, data-driven OLAP Web
sites, powered (via the Express Web Agent) by Oracle
Express Server. Web Publisher enables knowledge workers
in an organization to become Web masters, creating entire
sites in just a matter of minutes. No knowledge of HTML
syntax or programming is required. Web Publisher makes it
easy for end users to communicate critical business
information.
Current Release
Oracle Express Web Agent
& Express Web Publisher 6.3.4
Key Features
Features released in 6.3.4 include:
The intermediate release of Web Agent, 6.3.3, is only for use with
OFA and OSA 6.3.2. Features included:
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Automatic cell sizing in
Java tables |
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Saving selections |
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Measure hierarchies |
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Drag and drop sorting in the
Selector list tool |
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Multiline text support in
the Java table |
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Automatic sizing of applets
within a page or frame |
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Support for drill images and
cell formatting in an HTML table |
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Macintosh browser support
and plug-ins |
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The major
enhancements to version 6.3.2 of Web Agent (and therefore
also Web Publisher) include: Data entry for Java tables.
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Cell-level
color coding and data-driven formatting in Java
tables |
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Label
sizing of rows/columns in Java tables |
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Developer-specified
page breaks for printing Java tables |
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Pop-up
dimension names |
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Multi-line
footnotes, titles and subtitles |
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Graph
printing |
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Ability
to move a graph legend |
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New
Object, Properties, and Programs |
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Version
6.3 of Web Agent included the following enhancements New
Java table which has enhanced the earlier Java table
to increase flexibility and enable printing.
Version
3.0 of Web Agent contained a large number of enhancements
which include:
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Complete
set of data selection tools |
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Support
for the Attribute, Exception, Family, Level,
Match, Measure Exception, Range, Sort and |
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Top/Bottom tools
is now available on the View toolbar |
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Faster
start-up times for users |
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Export
all pages to spreadsheet |
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Support
for multiple OS machine configuration and
installation |
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Improved
support for firewall software |
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Availability
Express
Web Publisher 6.3.4 is available for Windows95/98 or
Windows NT/2000, while Express Web Agent 6.3.4 is a free module of
Express Server 6.3.4
Future Releases
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Oracle Sales Analyzer
Oracle
Sales Analyzer is a complete application for business
intelligence that gives users the tools they need to
analyze sales, marketing and other corporate data. Sales
Analyzer combines a central, integrated information
source with powerful online analytical processing
capabilities, enabling users to access, analyze, and
distribute information from their enterprise data
warehouse or data mart, without IS support.
Current
Release
Oracle Sales Analyzer 11i, Release
6.4.0
Key
Features
New
Features in OSA 6.4 include the following:
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High fidelity
export to Excel-2000/XP |
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Row/Column level
formatting on reports |
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Ranking/exception report creation |
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Fit-to-page
option for printing |
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Print multiple |
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Control over the
presentation of NA data in reports |
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Multi-select of
anchor in the selector family tool |
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Multiple strings
in the selector match tool |
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Non-numeric
measures in the exception tools and sort tool |
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Apply custom
aggregates, custom measures or saved selections to open document |
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Publishing
related objects with 'parent' objects |
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Oracle Portal
Integration |
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OSA 11i contains dramatic
enhancements to the Web client, utilising the new features in Web Agent
6.3.4
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Document
formatting |
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Color
coding / Stoplight reporting |
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Enhancements
to the web document tree, including modify,
search, delete, rename and move |
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Java
Graph printing |
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Single
sign-on for better integration with other Oracle
Applications. |
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An
Enhanced Webcall API, which allows custom links
which can identify and work with the selected
cells on an open report. |
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New
Measure support; a new Selector tool: Selection
by measure exception. |
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Custom
right-click actions |
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OSA 6.3
utilised the improvements in Express Server and Web Agent
6.3.0.1 including:
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Build
times can be dramatically reduced by using the
new Aggregate function within Express Server
6.3. |
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Support
for 10 dimensions in the data loader |
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Workbook
style export to Excel from the Windows client |
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The
enhanced Java table from Web Agent has been
utilised in the Web Client to increase flexibility
and enable printing. |
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OSA 6.2.1
provided a significant enhancements to the Web Client
including :
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Selector
Tools - OSA Web users will be able to take
advantage of the intuitive tools and full data selection
capabilities of the OSA Selector. |
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Custom
Measures and Aggregates - OSA Web users will be
able to customize their analysis by creating
their own calculated measures and aggregates
through the browser interface. |
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Forecast
Wizard - OSA Web users will be able to utilize
the Forecast Wizard to predict future |
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measure
values based on historical performance. |
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Document
Management and Sharing - OSA Web users will be able to manage
document folders, and publish documents and document objects
such as custom measures and custom aggregates to other OSA users
through the browser interface. |
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OSA 6.2.1
also provides a number of improvements to the Web
Analysis Library. First introduced in OSA 6.2, the Web
Analysis Library is designed to help companies distribute
key sales and marketing information to information
consumers across the enterprise. The Web Analysis Library
is comprised of a series of pre-defined, web-based
analysis templates that give the user an instant picture
of key sales and marketing performance indicators. The
Web Analysis Library document templates focus the
users attention on a number of analysis categories,
including:
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Comparisons
- What is the product mix in a particular region? |
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Distribution
- In which regions are sales increasing or
declining? |
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Exceptions
- Which channels contributed more than x% of
total sales? |
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Growth
- Which products are showing sales growth? |
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Quota
- How are your sales reps performing versus plan? |
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Rankings
- What are your best and worst-selling products? |
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Reviews
- What is the status of a particular customer
account? |
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Trends
- How has your business performed over time? |
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The OSA
11i client is available for Windows 95/98 and Windows
NT4/2000, while the server runs on all platforms
supported by Express Server 6.3.2
Future
Releases
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Spreadsheet
Add-in
The
Express Spreadsheet Add-in is distributed free with
Express Server and Personal Express, and provides live
dynamic access to Express data direct from your
spreadsheet.
Current Release
Oracle
Express Spreadsheet Add-in 6.3.2
Key
Features
The
Express Spreadsheet add-in 6.3 increases the
functionality of earlier versions by adding:
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Ability
to display up to 10 dimensions on the page edge. |
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Ability
to copy all pages to separate worksheets for
printing |
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Ability
to suppress NAs and zeroes in rows of a
particular query |
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Ability
to specify, per each edge (page, across, and
down) whether short or long labels are used |
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The
Spreadsheet Add-in 2.3 version added new features,
including:
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Ability
to write data back to an Express database |
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Right
mouse popup menu for performing various functions
on the query |
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Enhanced
data layout control |
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VBA
scripting support |
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Support
for Microsoft Excel 7.0 and Excel 97 |
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Availability
The
Express Spreadsheet Add-in 6.3.2 runs under Windows 95/98
and Windows NT/2000.
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