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Database Impact

The Impact Analysis - DB tab lists the database connections, schemas, tables and columns used by your BusinessObjects content, and shows which documents depend on any of them.

License and permission

  • The tab needs the Tab: Impact Analysis DB permission on every loaded BusinessObjects environment. See Permissions Reference.
  • The content needs a license that includes SQL database object impact analysis. Without it, the tab is shown with a "not licensed" overlay.
  • With a Basic Edition license you can browse only a subset of the database metadata; the tab shows "Your MetaMiner license allows you to browse a subset of database metadata". See Editions and Licensing.

How it works

During each pull, MetaMiner parses the SQL behind universes, Web Intelligence data providers and other documents and records which database objects they read. The tab turns that into a tree:

flowchart LR
  E[Environment] --> C[Connection] --> S[Schema] --> T[Table] --> COL[Column]
  T -.used by.-> D[Documents and universes]

Use it to answer "what breaks if this table or column changes?" before a database migration or cleanup.

Image of the Impact Analysis - DB tab with a connection expanded to schemas, tables and columns

../../images/client/database-impact-tab.png

Find the documents that use a table or column

  1. Open the Impact Analysis - DB tab.
  2. Narrow the tree with the filter pane (Connections, Schemas, Tables, Columns) or the quick search box. See Filters and Search.
  3. Select one or more tables or columns. The selection menu offers Select tables only, Select tables and columns and Select columns only.
  4. Right-click and choose View Impacted Documents.

  5. The Impacted Database Objects window lists one row per document and database object:

    Column Shows
    Environment BusinessObjects environment
    Document Impacted document
    Folder Folder path of the document
    Owner Document owner
    Last Action On / Last Action By Last access time and user
    Connection, Universe Path from the document to the database
    Schema, Table, Column The database object you selected

  6. Use the export button in the window toolbar to save the list to CSV or Excel.

Image of the Impacted Database Objects window listing documents for two selected columns

../../images/client/impacted-database-objects.png

If nothing depends on the selection, MetaMiner shows No impacted documents found.

Verify

Troubleshooting

A table I know is used does not appear

MetaMiner lists only objects it could resolve from the SQL of pulled content. Check that deep processing of Web Intelligence documents and universes is enabled for the environment (Document Processing) and that the last pull finished.

The tab is missing

Your role lacks Tab: Impact Analysis DB on at least one loaded environment, or your license does not include the BusinessObjects client features.

TODO: list which content types feed the database impact tree

Confirm with SME: universes (UNV/UNX), Web Intelligence free-hand SQL, Crystal Reports commands and tables.