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Overview

The CMS Explorer tab shows the content of every connected BusinessObjects environment as one tree and is where you start most BusinessObjects tasks in the MetaMiner Client (MMC).

Image of the CMS Explorer tab with two environments expanded, the filter panel open on the left and a Web Intelligence document selected

../../images/client/cms-explorer-overview.png

How it works

MetaMiner Server (MMS) pulls metadata from each BusinessObjects environment into the MetaMiner Database (MMDB). When you connect, the client downloads a snapshot per environment and builds the tree locally. Browsing, filtering and searching work on that local copy, so they do not load your CMS.

Actions that change content (rename, delete, paste, remap, security changes) are sent to MMS, which performs them in the BusinessObjects environment with the environment's configured account, or with your own BusinessObjects logon when per-user logon is enabled (see BusinessObjects User Logon).

flowchart LR
  BO[(BusinessObjects CMS)] -->|pull| MMS[MetaMiner Server] --> MMDB[(MMDB)]
  MMS -->|snapshot| MMC[CMS Explorer tree]
  MMC -->|actions| MMS -->|SDK / REST| BO

License and permission

The CMS Explorer tab is shown when your license includes the BusinessObjects client features (it is not shown with a Professional Edition license) and at least one BusinessObjects environment is connected. Individual actions are controlled by MetaMiner permissions; see Permissions Reference and Editions and Licensing.

What the tree contains

Each environment is a top-level row. Under it you find the folders and objects that the pull collected, for example:

Node Contains
Public folders Folders, documents (Web Intelligence, Crystal Reports, Analysis, Office and other document types), shortcuts, hyperlinks, publications
Instances Scheduled instances under their document, with schedule state
Universes UNV and UNX universes, universe restrictions (overloads)
Connections Relational and OLAP connections used by universes and documents
Categories, Inboxes, Favorites Corporate and personal categories, user inboxes, personal folders

TODO: confirm the exact list and names of top-level folders shown under an environment row

Source to check: a live CMS Explorer tree on a BI 4.3 environment.

Columns

Column Shows
Name Object name with type icon
Created When the object first existed
Updated Last update date and time
Action On / Action By Last action date and the user who performed it
Owner Object owner
Size File size
# Docs Total number of documents or objects in a container, including sub-folders
ID / CUID BusinessObjects object ID and cluster unique ID
State Schedule state of an instance

Hover over a row to see a tooltip with key properties. You can turn tooltips off in File > Preferences... (see Preferences and Shortcuts).

Key terms

Term Meaning
Environment One connected BusinessObjects cluster (CMS)
Snapshot The copy of an environment's metadata that the client loads
Marked folder A folder you marked so that Show marked folder only can limit the tree to it
Closable tab A copy of part of the tree opened with Open in New Tab

In this section

  • Filter Panel

    Narrow the tree by folder, instance state, document type, size, dates, owner, connection and universe.

  • Object Actions

    Every right-click action on BusinessObjects objects, with the permission each one needs.

  • Properties

    The Properties dialog and viewing or editing extended properties in bulk.

  • Explore Security

    See who has which access, trace inheritance, assign access levels and add principals.

  • Relationships and Structure

    Related objects for universes, connections and documents, document and universe structure, universe impact.